[ THIS MATERIAL RETRIEVED FROM HAWAIIKENDO.COM WEBSITE, September 21, 2016 ]

KENDO-GI, HAKAMA AND KENDO-GU: PROPER DONNING AND CARE
Rev. January 2000

PREMISES

• KENDO equipment represent the armor and weapons of SAMURAI; SAMURAI took great care of them because their lives depended on them and they were also status symbols; modern KENDO equipment makers take pride in making good equipment which are functional and aesthetic
• CHAKUSO is an important criteria in consideration of DAN promotion
• With proper care, KENDO equipment remain useable for decades


KENDO-GI AND HAKAMA

• KENDO-GI is worn left sleeve first and taken off right sleeve first; this is to ensure that right hand remains free as much as possible
• Wear HAKAMA left leg first, and take right out first; front hem lower than back with front touching top of feet and back at ankle level; HIMO tying styles
• Final check: correct baggy or wrinkled back; straighten collars; straighten HAKAMA HIDA


CARE OF KENDO-GI AND HAKAMA

• KENDO-GI folding: lay flat on the back; fold sides at the seam; overlap front collar; fold right third in, then fold excess sleeve back out; fold left third in, then fold excess sleeve back out; fold the lower third up, then the next third
• HAKAMA folding: hold up from the back, push the partition inside to the right and lay flat on the floor with back side up; fold HIDA so that they overlap; turn HAKAMA over; straighten the sides at the seams, then fold the front HIDA; fold the sides in to the width of DOGU BUKURO; fold the lower third up, then the next third; flip over, then tie the HIMO
• "Five": five front HAKAMA HIDA and five nodes of bamboo SHINAI remind us of GOJO, moral teachings from Confucianism: JIN (good, humanity, compassion, benevolence), GI (duty, obligation, justice), REI (respect, courtesy, etiquette), CHI (knowledge, wisdom), SHIN (trust, faithfulness); this number may also represent GOKOKU HOUJOU, five sacred crops and grains of ancient people: KOME (rice), MUGI (wheat), AWA (foxtail millet), KIBI (millet), MAME (legume)
• "Two": two back HAKAMA HIDA represent the two mythological deities of BUDO (TAKEMIKAZUCHI NO ONO KAMI or KASHIMA JINGUU and FUTSUNUSHI NO KAMI or KATORI JINGUU) who brought peace to ancient Japan, and the KOSHIITA represents the Creator of Japan AMATERASU OUMIKAMI who unites them
• Hang dry KENDO-GI after KEIKO; wash KENDO-GI or HAKAMA in cold water (initially with vinegar to retard fading) and drip dry; soak folded HAKAMA in a tub so that HIDA will not become undone


SHINAI

• Assembly of parts: SAKIGAWA, NAKAYUI, TSURU, TSUKA
• Periodic care: remove splinters by shaving; oiling with vegitable oil; rotating; recycling parts


WEARING AND CARE OF KENDO-GU

• Wear TARE in SEIZA; TARE WAKIHIMO stabilizes the KOSHIITA; tuck in excess HIMO under KODARE
• DO: tie the HIMO so as not to damage the CHIKAWA; bottom of DO should not be above top of TARE OBI; remember to tie the short HIMO; the DO makers spend much effort in creating the artful SHOKKO, so special care should be given
• Wear left KOTE first, or take right off first; keep the TE NO UCHI unwrinkled; no direct sunlight when drying
• TENUGUI: before wearing it, hold in front as if hanging a frame so you can read the words
• MEN: length of HIMO after tying should be 40 cm; placement of MEN on the KOTE; placement of TENUGUI on the MEN; inside can be exposed to sunlight for sanitation
• Avoid damaging or wrinkling when putting the KENDO-GU away


REFERENCES

• T Baba. Kendo Reiho to Saho. (1990) Physical Education and Sports Publishing, Tokyo
• All Japan Kendo Federation. N Sato, ed. Kendo Fundamentals, vol 2. (1994) Tokyo
• Special editorial. Bogu Hyakka. Kendo Nippon 1981;6(3):2047

 

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