Equipment

In Kendo, the bamboo sword – Shinai - is used. It replaced katana and bokuto, as, in combination with special equipment, it allowed training with no harm to health at all. Shinai is assembled of four split parts of bamboo, with a haft put on it (“tsuka”) and a pike (“sakigawa”) of leather, and holding them together with the help of a belt (“nakayui”) and a strong carbonic string (“tsuru”). Shinai is flexible and strong and allows striking blows at full force. It can reach the size of 118 сm. Shinai weighs no less than 500 grams and, therefore, such blows are well felt even in a special outfit. To protect wrists, a special protection of firm plastic is put on the haft or several layers of the specially processed leather (“tsuba”).

Bogu — the outfit for protection, replicates ancient armour of Japanese warriors (“busi”). Certainly, the armours were simplified and modified, besides, modern materials started to be used in manufacturing, but one has remained unchanged: a tribute to tradition and history.

Bogu consists of several parts: protection of groin and thighs (“tare”), protection of chest and belly (“do”), protection of arms and wrists (“kote”), protection of head, throat and collar bones (“men”). Tare is protection of thighs, lower part of chest and groin. Do is an armature, protecting bosom and a part of chest. It is made of hard stripes of bamboo, covered with leather and varnished several times. Ribbons — himo — are accommodated as crossing suspenders and two ribbons on the back prevent forward movement. Hachimaki is a kerchief, protecting head and neck from the mask’s rubbing, and eyes from sweat dropping from forehead. Men is a steel mask on the face, to which stripes of thick cotton cloth, protecting neck and collar bones, are sewn. It is fastened by wide stripes on neck and nape. Kote are thick leather mittens, consisting of two parts — palms and forearms. Inner part of the mitten is made of very soft leather, which allows holding the sword well.

Clothes of kendoist consist of a black, blue or white shirt (“keykogi”), black or white skirt-like trousers (“hakama”), the back part of which is slightly raised (“kosiate”).