Kendo armour

Luke...I am your father...ahem...sorry

 

Was the helmet full metal, or was the back fabric or something?

 

TKD sparring gear has a habit of making you look like an overstuffed turtle.

Luke...I am your father...ahem...sorry

 

Was the helmet full metal, or was the back fabric or something?

 

TKD sparring gear has a habit of making you look like an overstuffed turtle.

 

Well , they did do all the Star Wars saber stuff with Kendo Shinai and superimposed the light patterns!.

 

The face mask is heavy steel , and not that easy to see out of, the head cover is very heavy cotton padded around the sides of the face to a close fit-then you lace the whole thing up so it is tight to the skull.Also we have the additional head square (hachmaki) to absorb sweat and keep the men tight to the skull.

It looks uncomfortable. TKD helmets were just thick foam, with holes in them. Most of them left the face open.

It looks uncomfortable. TKD helmets were just thick foam, with holes in them. Most of them left the face open.

At first yes, but it slowly moulds to the shape of your face , the main thing is to avoid pressure points on the cheekbones.

I would think the cheekbones wouldn't be as much of a problem as the nose and chin

I would think the cheekbones wouldn't be as much of a problem as the nose and chin

The nose is ok, the face bars stand away from it-the chin has to be very tight and given a little extra padding, otherwise there is a tendency for it to bite into the underside of the flesh.

I don't think I could stand that, I can't handle having my face covered by something like that. The simple chin-strap on my TKD helmet drove me nuts, I gagged a couple times because of it.

I don't think I could stand that, I can't handle having my face covered by something like that. The simple chin-strap on my TKD helmet drove me nuts, I gagged a couple times because of it.

You have to have this amount of protection, the contact even with bamboo is fearsome, I have had some sensationaly lurid bruising and broken knuckles (even with full protection)-hence the training in very hot and very cold conditions , so the armour is no longer an imposition . The idea is very similar to Legionary training of course , heavier practice kit -an actual sword and light kote (gloves) feel like you are holding a beautiful pliant reed instead of a heavy weapon, thus speed and technique are improved. Performing kata one feels very light and controlled .

Oh, bamboo is nasty ::grins:: it's also used for some staves. It's light weight (compared to most woods) and extremely durable. (My staff is hardwood of some variety, and very heavy.)

 

The broken knuckles usually happen in TKD because of punching improperly (you punch someone's hogu (body armor) the wrong way and you can break your hand). The bruises still happen, especially since for some reason someone's pointy elbow always manages to find its way to your foot tendons (that really hurts). I haven't had any particularly nasty injuries myself, only bruises and bruised tendons or muscles. I did break a guy's jaw though.

How much of the actual fighting stances and techniques of the Samurai have survived to modern Kendo? I have read articles and books on Japanese warfare in the Medieval era and beyond (Edo Jidai 1615-1850) and they say that many of the fighting styles of the Samurai were completely different to those practised by many martial artists today.

How much of the actual fighting stances and techniques of the Samurai have survived to modern Kendo? I have read articles and books on Japanese warfare in the Medieval era and beyond (Edo Jidai 1615-1850) and they say that many of the fighting styles of the Samurai were completely different to those practised by many martial artists today.

It would not be possible to use Kendo stances and cuts , and survive with a live sword-however the ritualised cutting is more about mental strength than technical skill (though you have to have that skill first ) .Kendo was invented to stop over eager pupils damaging each other , and the shinai cannot mimic the sword (different physics and form) but the rigour of the training is the key .I will be off forum for a day or so , and will pick this up again.

Thank you, Pertinax. I was sure that there was very little connection between the old style martial arts and the new ones practised today. I've heard of some martial artist being knocked out by a heavy thud on the head during Kendo training.