How To Pick Your First Kendo Bogu Set
For about 2 years, I was using club owned Kendo Bogu provided by my dojo. Although I am very grateful for that, when i finally had the budget to purchase my own. The comfort and custom fitness it had completely changed my experience while practicing, being able to freely move without my Bogu occasionally jiggling around truly satisfying.
With that being said, I understand the pivotal step of one who is planning on buying their first set. You do not want to spend a hefty sum with high expectations, only to receive a set for it to “feel off” when you put it on.
Here we shall discuss about all the things you should know about the specifications relevant to its performance in practice.
Machine Stitch Vs. Hand Stitch
While keeping the technical explanations off the table. Machine stitched Bogu will always cost less than hand stitched Bogu, usually at the cost of of the being less flexible (therefore less comfortable) and less protective due to the limits of how many layers that can be machine stitched into a men futon.
Hand stitched Bogu will naturally have a cost due to its labour intensive production process but provides better qualities of protectiveness, flexibility, and durability.
Despite the fact, current technological advances have allowed craftsman to produce quality machine stitched Bogu. Practitioners starting Kendo should not be overly obsessed with how its been produced rather focusing on the grade of stitching and materials a Bogu uses.
Stitching Width
The stitching width is the length between the rows of stitching on a men/kote determines the overall feature of a bogu.
Handstitched Bogu are referred to units of measurement in Bu(分), which is around 3.03 mm per Bu, while machine stitched Bogu is referred to in mm.
Wider stitching (8mm, 10mm) provides more protection and tends to be more comfortable and flexible but provides less durability. While Tighter stitching (2mm, 3mm) is more durable at the cost of more rigid and less protective.
For beginners getting their first set, I personally recommend getting a machine stitched set with 6mm stitching or similar as
it offers an overall balanced Bogu.
Reinforcement Material
Different materials can be used for reinforcing the futon pieces of the Bogu. Currently, there are 4 kinds of materials being used in the market – Konkawa, Gyukawa, synthetic leather, and Orizashi.
The most expensive material used is Konkawa (Deer skin/leather). It is a strong durable material that does not dry out after reacting to moisture, keeping a smooth tactile feel. It also complements well with Aizome (Indigo-dye).
Gyukawa (Cow leather) is a less common substitute compared to deer leather. In comparison, it does not react well with moisture and becomes stiff to manipulate after drying.
Synthetic leather (Clarino leather) is a common material used in more affordable Bogu sets. Although it does not compete to deer leather in terms of durability or color fading over time, it is much cheaper to produce.
The most popular choice in the modern age of Kendo is Orizashi. It is a thick cotton fabric that is also used to make Kendogis. It has high breathability and fast-drying properties but has low durability.
Kote Filling
The knuckle portion or the Kobushi part of the Kote is filled with one of 2 materials: synthetic wool or deer hair.
Synthetic wool is the cheaper but still durable material that is antibacterial and can be washed easily. which means you can even wash them in the laundry machine (although I still recommend hand washing them so as to not distort the shape of it).
Deer hair is the traditional high grade material that is more flexible than synthetic wool. The fibres of deer hair are described to be “hollow”, therefore it shapes more fittingly when you break into a Kote with deer hair filling.
The catch is not only that it is usually more expensive, it is also requires higher maintenance. Poor quality deer hair may also smell over time as it may not have been properly sanitized and cleansed prior to manufacturing.
If you want a full detailed guide on each piece of Bogu’s specifications, Andy Fisher Sensei (Kendostar) created a webinar that explains in-depth on how each Bogu part is made and how different materials perform.
Setting The Right Expectations
When considering the material of a Bogu. I recommend first answering the following questions:
What is your budget?
How often do you practice?
Do you have good maintenance habits?
What aspect do of the Bogu do you prioritize/value most? (weight, protectiveness, comfort, durability)
Once you’ve identified your need and preferences. You should be able to make educated decisions while browsing what’s available and cross referencing the specifications with this article.
Proper Sizing (IMPORTANT)
When you’ve found your ideal set you want to purchase. It is very important to make sure that you have good understanding of how the sizes for Kendo Bogu works.
It would be a disaster if you had input the wrong measurements for a custom made set, or choosing the wrong sizes for the sets they have in stock.
Kendostar and Tozando have great visual instructions for exactly how to measure your head and hands for the best fitting Men and Kote.
Beginner Recommendations
For those that have just started Kendo and are ready to look into buying their first set. Here are some notable recommendations at more affordable prices:
E-Bogu: High Performance – KAITEKI 6G
Tozando: 6MM DELUXE PITCH ORIZASHI – KURAMA
Kendostar: Essential Protective – VANGUARD BASIC v2
All Japan Budogu: 6MM ORIZASHI – ITADAKI KURO
Budogu Zen: 6MM Air Stitch – ISSHIN
Aoi Budogu: Custom FB-5MM Machine stitched Kendo Bogu Set
Bogushop: 4MM Machine Stitched ORIZASHI/Clarino – SHOSHIN
Final Wrap Up
It is no surprise to say that buying the perfect set of Bogu for Kendo take a lot of research and consideration. Especially if outside of countries like Japan with plenty Kendo supply stores to choose from. That is why practitioners from around the world help each other out by discussing the products they’ve purchased with insightful comments. If you have any questions, I encourage you to take a look at reddit. You can also e-mail me at kendobaka@gmail.com and I will do my best to answer your questions. Thank You!
If you’d like this article, check out how you should pick out the right Shinai for you.
Source
https://bushizo.com/media/201906/3276/
https://zennihonbudogu.com/futon-stitching/