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The equipment
The equipment used for Kendo practice are the bamboo sword (Shinai) and a set of protective armor (Bogu). The bamboo sword is made of four carefully prepared staves or pieces of bamboo that are fitted and held together at both ends by a leather handle, tip, and special string designed to designate the back of the sword. The protective equipment consists of four different parts: Men, Do, Tare, and a pair of Kote. Men is the helmet which protects the face, throat, top and sides of the head. Do is similar to a breastplate and covers the chest and stomach. Tare is the waiste protector. Finally, Kote are like gauntlets and protect the hands and wrists.
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Men The part above the temple of the head is considered as a point area. Generally Men is subdivided into three parts: Sho-men (center), Migi-men (right), and Hidari-men (left). |
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Do Do is subdivided into Migi-do (right) and Hidari-do (left). In general, Do means the right one (i.e. the right side of the opponent). As opposed to the right Do, the left Do is often described as Gyaku-do, which means the opposite Do. In olden times, Samurai wore swords on the left side so it was difficult to cut that side, since the swords could obstruct the blow. Therefore, in order to score on the left Do, the stroke has to be especially precise. |
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Kote Kote is subdivided into Migi-kote (right) and Hidari-kote (left). In general, Kote means the right one (i.e. the right wriste of the opponent). However, the left one is also considered as a valid point area if the opponent takes an alternate posture in which the left hand is in front. |
| Tare This part is not considered as a valid point area. The Tare is the protective equipment that protects one's vital part! Don't hit or poke this part because it hurts!! |
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Shinai The Shinai (bamboo sword) itself is, of course, not a point area, though, upon making an attack, to knock aside or to brush off an opponent's Shinai is an important part of technique. Shinai is the sword for Kendo-ka. It is indispensable to use it carefully as you do with a real sword. Therefore, to step over Shinai or to lean on Shinai is out of the question. |
| Dogi (KendoGi) Dogi (jacket) is not considered as a point area. Dogi is a thick jacket made of cotton and is dyed with indigo. They say that indigo has sterilizing properties and a hemostatic effect. This is why working clothes in Japan were traditionally dyed with indigo. |
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Hakama |