CHAKUSO- THE WAY TO WEAR YOUR EQUIPMENT
The way in which a practitioner wears his or her Kendo-gi, hakama, and training equipment is an indication of his or her attitude to kendo .
- A poor chakuso can make you look weak.
- Good chakuso is required in order to pass Kendo examination.
- Bad chakuso prevents you from practicing Kendo properly.
1. HOW TO WEAR GI AND HAKAMA PROPERLY.
Take the inner left string (Himo) and attach it to the inner right string.
Next, attach the outer left himo to the outer right himo.
Important point: the knot need to end up horizontally (yoko musubi) and not vertically (tate musubi).
Above the hip bone, pass the Obi behind
and back in front then cross them
then create a V on one side
pleat and flip the Obi over
and tie the Obi relatively low but not too low
Put the Hera (peg) into the Obi
and hold Obi on both sides
Flip the Obi in the front,
cross and tie it around the Hakama's previous knot
Put the Obi end on the side
Straighten the Keikogi to get rid of the wrinkles
Meaning of the pleats of the Hakama
The pleats of the hakama each have a meaning. Here are the generally accepted meanings for Kendo. There are other interpretations of the meaning of the pleats.
The pleats of the hakama each have a meaning. Here are the generally accepted meanings for Kendo. There are other interpretations of the meaning of the pleats.
How to wear the kendo bogu(armor)
1. Tare(Waist armor; Gahb-sahng); Place the tare against your abdomen and cross the cords behind your back. Bring the cords to the front and tie them in a bow under the center flap. Tuck the strings up under the waist band. Pull the tare down onto your hips.
a. In kneeling position, put the tare on your lap and wrap the cords around behind you
b. then tie them in a bow under the center flap.
a. In kneeling position, put the tare on your lap and wrap the cords around behind you
b. then tie them in a bow under the center flap.
c. The cords should cross just under the back plate.
2. Do(Cuirass; Gahb) ; Next, rest the do on your thighs, and cross the long cords behind you and tie them through the opposite leather loops. Tie the bottom himo behind your back in a bow. The do should fit slightly loose, allowing freedom of movement.
a. place the do against your chest and bring the left string (himo) across and around your back to the top right. Fasten the himo to the leather loop using a special slip knot. Repeat on the other side.
b. Tie the short cords behind you in a bow.
a. place the do against your chest and bring the left string (himo) across and around your back to the top right. Fasten the himo to the leather loop using a special slip knot. Repeat on the other side.
b. Tie the short cords behind you in a bow.
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There are some ways to make a special slip knot. Refer the below pictures.
Method A
Seen from in front(Left)-- Seen from your point of view(Right)
Seen from in front(Left)-- Seen from your point of view(Right)
Method B
Seen from in front(Left)-- Seen from your point of view(Right)
Seen from in front(Left)-- Seen from your point of view(Right)
Method C and D
Seen from in front(C)--------Seen from in front(D)
Seen from in front(C)--------Seen from in front(D)
3. Tenugui (Head Towel ; Myun-soo-gun) ; The helm (men) is next, but first you must place a head towel (tenugui) on your head. There are three methods for tying the tenugui.
Fitting it exactly. Be careful not to make it too thick over your ears as it will become painful.
a. Hold the ends of the tenugui.
a. Hold the ends of the tenugui.
b. Bring the tenugui to your forehead and slide it up until the edge lies on your forehead, with your hair gathered within.
c. Bring the right corner of the tenugui to above and behind your left ear, holding it taught. Keep it in place with the other side of the tenugui.
d. Bring the left corner round to above and behind your right ear, and tuck it in.
e. Lift up the flap formed in front of your face.
f. Your ears will be exposed.
f. Your ears will be exposed.
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B. Second Method: Wrapping it around your head.
a. Hold both ends of the tenugui,bite the middle of the edge and draw it back over your head.
a. Hold both ends of the tenugui,bite the middle of the edge and draw it back over your head.
b. Wrap it round your head, left to right and then right to left.
c. Swap hands and tie the two ends in front of your forehead.
d. Lift up the front and tuck it in.
e. Pull it down on both sides.
f. Your ears will be hidden.
f. Your ears will be hidden.
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4. Men (Helm ; Ho-myun) ;
1. Now you can put on the Men. Take hold of it so that you hold the Himo between your pointing fingers and your thumbs so that it doesn't slip out of your hands when putting it on.
2. First place your chin in the inner cushion, then push your forehead against the upper internal cushion. Use both hands to guide the Himo below the back of your head.
3. Pull the Mend firmly at both ends and fasten it with knots and a bow.
4. By sticking your thumbs in the loops as shown and taking hold of each of the loose ends with your pointing fingers, the ends and the loops are pulled to the same length and pulled tightly with a jerking motion so that the Men sits firmly. Be sure that the helmet sits firmly and that there is not too much playroom!
5. After the Men is fastened, be sure that the bands of the helmet are not twisted, and that they remain flat and parallel.
Notice: From the knots, hanging down from the back of the head, the bows and ends should have the same length, a maximum of 40 cm (from the knots to the ends). New Himo are longer when you first get them, and they are expandable. These must be shortened. Be sure to ensure through sewing or pasting the ends of the Himo that they do not split open.
Equipment
shinai – 竹刀 – bamboo sword
Image from All Japan Kendo Federation Kendo Dictionary
Components of the shinai:
– kensen – tip
– sakigawa – leather covering the tip
– sakigomu – rubber piece inside the tip to keep bamboo slats in position
– take – bamboo
– monouchi – best cutting region, which is the top quarter of the entire shinai
– (also see datotsu-bu)
– nakayui – leather strap tied around the shinai to identify the datotsu-bu
– jinbu – “blade” or cutting side
– tsuru – string to signify the side opposite the “blade”
– tsuba – guard
– tsubadome – stopper to hold the guard in place
– tsukagawa – leather covering the hilt
– tsukagashira – bottom of the hilt
– chigiri – square metal piece inside the hilt
– kensen – tip
– sakigawa – leather covering the tip
– sakigomu – rubber piece inside the tip to keep bamboo slats in position
– take – bamboo
– monouchi – best cutting region, which is the top quarter of the entire shinai
– (also see datotsu-bu)
– nakayui – leather strap tied around the shinai to identify the datotsu-bu
– jinbu – “blade” or cutting side
– tsuru – string to signify the side opposite the “blade”
– tsuba – guard
– tsubadome – stopper to hold the guard in place
– tsukagawa – leather covering the hilt
– tsukagashira – bottom of the hilt
– chigiri – square metal piece inside the hilt
bokuto – 木刀 – wooden sword, used in kata; also referred to as bokken (below right)
kodachi – 小太刀 – short wooden sword, used in kata (below left)
kodachi – 小太刀 – short wooden sword, used in kata (below left)
Image from Kendo Sport