The equipment needed to play		 KENDO EQUIPMENT

Kendo players wear clothing based on traditional Japanese designs. The pleated, divided skirt, called a, hakama, is light and comfortable, giving freedom of movement to the legs. The heavier cotton top, keikogi, protects the wearer from being chafed by the straps which hold the armour in place. The armour is cloth, metal and lacquered bamboo or plastic and consists of 4 pieces:


Men
Protects the head and face, made from heavy cloth with a metal face guard.
Kote
Protects the hands and wrists, made from heavy cloth and leather.
Do
Covers the stomach and sides, made from lacquered bamboo or plastic/fibreglass.
Tare
Cloth flaps protecting the hips and groin.
The sword used in kendo is called a SHINAI. It is made from four pieces of split bamboo held together at the handle and the tip. It is light and flexible and produces a loud crack when it makes correct contact with the armour. If you armour is correctly fitted, you should feel the blow as a solid but NOT PAINFUL blow. Injuries in Kendo are minimal, certainly compared to other martial arts.

 

Shinai Maintennance

Shinai Maintennance