Changes

[Hai_hai]

Does anyone have ideas about innovations that can be used to improve kendo equipment? Someone had an idea of putting an electric fan in the men in one of the topics one day.

A couple of ideas I have are the do could be made of carbon fiber over bamboo for increased light-weightness. Use of high-tech foam to replace deer hair, such as in goalie equipment. Putting teflon strips on the inside surfaces of the shinai so that staves won't wear down and thus doing away with the shinai tool (although that wouldn't prevent breakage and they still would need to be oiled).
An off-the-wall idea, which I don't think is that crazy, is to wear shoes.

I will, of course, take over Sanrio some day and make an entire line of Hello Kitty kendo bogu.

[ben]

Ah progress... One day science will mean we will be able to cure all illness, feed the hungry and house the poor. There'll be no need for wars and if all else fails, we can fly away to another planet.

Sorry, did I zoom out a bit fast then?

;)
b

[Hai_hai]

No, why would need science to feed the hungry and house the poor. Instead of kendo, all kendo people could give their money to the poor instead of paying for kendo lessons and equipment and other costs for seminars and competitions. Thanks Ben

[srt]

Now granted, I've only been wearing my bogu for a few months now, but I would pay big money if my mengane (sp?) was hinged on one side (think birdcage, or porthole on one of those old-fashioned deep sea diving helmets). Seems like as soon as I put on my men, I get an itch right under my nose, or a drop of sweat starts rolling down my face (I know, I'm trying to learn to ignore these minor distractions), not to mention problems with my goggles fogging up (yes I wipe a small amount of baby shampoo on the inside and outside of the lenses - but sometimes I use a little too much and and when the sweat condenses and drips into my eyes, well, one more distraction to learn to ignore I suppose).

Thanks for asking,

Steve

[StylophonePet]

Originally posted by srt
not to mention problems with my goggles fogging up (yes I wipe a small amount of baby shampoo on the inside and outside of the lenses - but sometimes I use a little too much and and when the sweat condenses and drips into my eyes

Steve


Babyshampoo?
Is this true or just a joke?

[Hai_hai]

Originally posted by srt
Now granted, I've only been wearing my bogu for a few months now, but I would pay big money if my mengane (sp?) was hinged on one side (think birdcage, or porthole on one of those old-fashioned deep sea diving helmets). Seems like as soon as I put on my men, I get an itch right under my nose, or a drop of sweat starts rolling down my face (I know, I'm trying to learn to ignore these minor distractions), not to mention problems with my goggles fogging up (yes I wipe a small amount of baby shampoo on the inside and outside of the lenses - but sometimes I use a little too much and and when the sweat condenses and drips into my eyes, well, one more distraction to learn to ignore I suppose).

Thanks for asking,

Steve

As a non-bogu wearing beginner, I do not wear glasses but here is some advice I would like to offer, try fog-prevention liquid for swimming goggles or for clear, hockey facemasks (the chemical smells the same).

[m_french]

Originally posted by srt
not to mention problems with my goggles fogging up (yes I wipe a small amount of baby shampoo on the inside and outside of the lenses - but sometimes I use a little too much and and when the sweat condenses and drips into my eyes, well, one more distraction to learn to ignore I suppose).

Steve

Saliva works better and won't sting your eyes. Perferably your own saliva:beard:

[Hai_hai]

Although I do have bogu, I thought of the hinged mengane idea because I see mudansha and yudansha I practice with having problems with sweat rolling down from their forehead and into their eyes. They blink a couple times or squeeze their eyes tightly to get the sweat out before they can continue. It seems to be quite a nuisance because kendo, like other martial arts and sports, requires a lot of physical effort which results in a lot of sweat.

[Karaken]

Even though I agree with some of the points made on Men and Koreans already invented velcro Hakama, I see the traditional approach has it's merits by teaching you the patience of learning the old way, finding out the wisdom associated with hudresds years old way. If comfort and speed of readiness is all that matters, we'll all wear clip-on ties. Dripping sweat and itch nose are the ones teaching you how to endure hardship and overcome all the irritants.

Center - only

[Raiza]

Originally posted by StylophonePet
Babyshampoo?
Is this true or just a joke?

No, it's true. It works. And no crying eyes either...

[junkyman]

where can one find a velcro hakama? I hate tying my hakama. Are they expensive?

[Hongsermeier]

I thought they were mostly made for kids. :cross_eye

[Paburo]

and one day replace shinai for lightsabers?

the bad thing about modernizing things, is that little by little the art ends up as something completely different from what it was meant.

makes you wonder if the equipment(specially shinai) and waza are already too different from the old kenjutsu times.

[Kiki]

Excuse me Raiza san but I am curious...Do you wear goggles because you can’t wear contacts or are you concerned about protecting your eyes? Have you considered the plexi men? Also I recognize you kitty avatar from a cartoon I once saw. Are you sending a secret message about your personality?


Originally posted by Karaken
Dripping sweat and itch nose are the ones teaching you how to endure hardship and overcome all the irritants.

Center - only

I think it would be nice to be able to open & close the grill on the men, especially for drinking fluids. As far as velcro, I would not use it. Learning to tie my men correctly and quickly was a big accomplishment. To me, properly donning the traditional attire of kendo is part of it’s art and history, thus beauty. Dealing with the challenges is part of the training, thus character building. With that in mind however, I do think people need to stay properly hydrated not just for performance but mainly to prevent injury.


Originally posted by Hai_hai
They blink a couple times or squeeze their eyes tightly to get the sweat out...

This can be an opportunity to strike your opponent. One I have used before.
IN a shiai.

[Phlebas]

"I think it would be nice to be able to open & close the grill on the men, especially for drinking fluids." -- Kiki

You're allowed to take water during practice? Lucky you! My sensei frowns mightily on that. Took me a while to get used to, but I'm OK with it now. Still... the hinged mengane would be a nice feature, and I must say I like the idea of a fan too!

[Karaken]

Originally posted by junkyman
where can one find a velcro hakama? I hate tying my hakama. Are they expensive?

I thought they were mostly made for kids.

They're not just for kids. One reason is for Koreans to be different than Japanese ( They wear White uniform during international competition ) and the other reaosn is it's convenient. Most Korean web shops have them but they may not be on English site. Let's see..

http://www.sehyun-kumdo.com/ they have it but only White and Skyblue. Thare other sites but mostly Korean-only.

They shouldn't be more expensive than regular ones. However, are there any USKF or IKF rules against wearing them? I haven't seen any but just wondering..

Center

[Hai_hai]

Originally posted by Karaken
Even though I agree with some of the points made on Men and Koreans already invented velcro Hakama, I see the traditional approach has it's merits by teaching you the patience of learning the old way, finding out the wisdom associated with hudresds years old way. If comfort and speed of readiness is all that matters, we'll all wear clip-on ties. Dripping sweat and itch nose are the ones teaching you how to endure hardship and overcome all the irritants.

Center - only

There have been a number of innovations since the origin of kendo.
solid bokken to shinai
steel mengane to IBB titanium mengane
hand-made bogu to machine-sewn bogu
plastic tsuba
man-made leather kote palms
Hasegawa clear mengane

All variations of its predecessor. Some changes are valuable without sacrificing tradition, and some aren't. Maybe a hinged mengane isn't good, and maybe it is. It's up to the IKF?