Under the Hakama

[Aries]

I started recently and i'm looking into buying the stuff, thoguht I have a few questions.

What are we to wear under the hakama?
tank? t-shirt?

and as for sports bra... firm support? or medium?
...I'm somewhat larger in that area... so how much breathing should I sacrifice for mobility?

[SmellsLikeBogu]

hakama->skirt/pants thingy :) so I would suggest panties, or whatever your liking is. you can find plenty of threads on going commando to.
what to wear under your gi(the vest) no idea, never really thought about it, I'll ask around, hoping not to get too much weird looks :D

[Aries]

sorry about that totally named the wrong part.

very much the idiot.
i'm sorry main question is what do we wear under the gi?

guess I can't go back and edit eh first meassage. sorry!

[shred_lord]

very much the idiot.No. You're not an idiot. Just a beginner. ;)

[Aries]

No. You're not an idiot. Just a beginner. ;)

and I'm so excited to be one!

hard to describe, my friends think i'm off my rocker. But it feels good. This is my secret garden, they dont get why I don't just do something I'm familiar with.

It's like i'm learing to walk all over again.

[lucy]

Hi,

I usually wear a simple sports bra and a sleeveless top. I'd take as much support as possible. :)

[bobdonny]

came across this site
http://www.shockabsorber.co.uk/bounceometer/shock.html
when my wife was looking for support for kendo, she is well endowed also ;)

Look at the site, then run the bounceometer very informative.

[Aries]

that first one looks painful.

I really dont get why guys are so facinated with the running boobs thing.

[shred_lord]

Hahhahahahahaha. Thats some funny shit!

I've never seen breasts bounce quite like that before. :D

[Ignatz]

that first one looks painful.

I really dont get why guys are so facinated with the running boobs thing.
Ever since we started walking upright there were no big swollen red monkey butts to look at, so bouncing boobs are it.

[Neil Gendzwill]

Unlike karate or judo uniforms, the keikogi we wear in kendo has ties to hold it closed. So you needn't wear a shirt underneath, or anything really although in your case you will of course want a bra of some sort. I'll leave it to the women to sort you out on those details.

[Rurouni Kenshin]

I'll leave it to the women to sort you out on those details.

OMG!!! The Kendogod doesnt have a solution.................!!! The world as we know it is ending.....:shocked:

[ReKru]

OMG!!! The Kendogod doesnt have a solution.................!!! The world as we know it is ending....

I would be baffled if he had one.

Male knowledge HAS to end somewhere or else all the mystery (and therefor fun) disappears like the great white unicorn.

Then you have a world, but is it one worth living in?

[SmellsLikeBogu]

sorry about that totally named the wrong part.

very much the idiot.
i'm sorry main question is what do we wear under the gi?

guess I can't go back and edit eh first meassage. sorry!

dont be sorry :) Kendo is all about learning, constantly. Im glad you have the enthousiasm and attitude. if you keep it up it'll bring you a long way.

I wouldnt recommand one of those madonna-type bra's though, would be kinda hard to fit a Do over that :p

[kartoffelngeist]

I'm sure Neil knows, he just thought it would be best coming from other women who could explain better...:p

[rottunpunk]

urgh, what a frightning sight on that site
im only a b. glad i didnt select to watch gg cup or something

i do iai, and its important as a woman in that not to show any chest area at all. so for my low cut gi i wear a sleevless black top.
it may not be needed in kendo, due to the ties, (though we have those too, and one of mine has velcro :eek:) and getting more hoterer from working more, but its whatever you feel comfortable with
get a comfy sports bra, not an evil one.
there may well be a thread on here discussing chest protectors too somewhere.

as for under the hakama. i prefer briefs as thongs give me hakama wedgies when doing seiza and tatehiza no bu
:p

[runsyi]

I like the champion shape 2000 sports bras and nike workout stretchy shorts. But honestly the sports bra isn't that important to me for kendo. If I come straight from work I wear a normal underwire. But, like Rottunpunk, I'm a B, so if you're blessed with more bountiful bosoms than that might not work. Whatever you wear, make sure you don't mind it turning blue. I also prefer dark blue or black shorts just in case they show through the hakama slits.

[WASHI]

Nothing :D. That´s my little secret garden :p .

[Shogun]

wow....girls have much more to worry about in kendo....i just throw on a black t shirt under my gear....

[h2o]

wow....girls have much more to worry about in kendo....i just throw on a black t shirt under my gear....
Why would you use a T-shirt? :confused:
I can understand girls want to have a sports-bra, but I can't really think of any reason why a male person would wear anything under the gi.

[Shogun]

Why would you use a T-shirt? :confused:
I can understand girls want to have a sports-bra, but I can't really think of any reason why a male person would wear anything under the gi.

It helps obsorb sweat (the same reason u would wear a head band). :rambo:

[Alison2805]

Why would you use a T-shirt? :confused:
I can understand girls want to have a sports-bra, but I can't really think of any reason why a male person would wear anything under the gi.

I agree with you. A shirt may "absorb sweat" but it feels hot and crap. I just wear a comfy sports bra and a singlet if its winter.

Youll just have to find out what if best for you!! Oh, and dont wear a lacy bra - dont ask why, just trust me on that one.

[Obukan_dude]

I've actually worn a wrestling uniform under my gi. It soaks up the sweat, and it dosen't show. Wedgies can sometimes be a problem, though, but I'm fairly sure nobody wants to hear about that...:p

[Alison2805]

eeeewwwww.....

[Obukan_dude]

eeeewwwww.....
Oops. Well, I've learned my lesson now...

[Obukan_dude]

Oops. Well, I've learned my lesson now...
No sarcasm intended, btw.

[nebosuke]

It helps obsorb sweat (the same reason u would wear a head band). :rambo:

A person would wear a headband to absorb sweat and prevent it from getting in their eyes (or maybe because they thought the '80s was the height of fashion). Eyebrows also perform this function. What is the t-shirt doing that the keikogi isn't already taking care of?

[Aries]

so that one does not have to wash the gi as often?

I do that with my work uniform, wear somehting underneath so i can be lazy and skim on the dry cleaning, though i don't sweat at work.

[Alison2805]

No sarcasm intended, btw.

Hahaha! I said ewww to the mental image of a guy in a sweaty wrestling suit running around with a wedgie. Good grief, I bet you only did that once! Must have been really uncomfortable!

[SmellsLikeBogu]

Ok, Ive been doing research :p
There are girls who wear nothing, some girls a sportsbra, somegirls a regular bra, somT-shirt, and others combine.
so. anything goes it seems. just expirement and see what you feel most comfortable with :)

[Kirinhale]

I'd say find yourself a comfortable sportsbra that gives you the support you need if you're 'larger' in the area, and perhaps a tank top if you're cold. And alison, what's the problem with lace bra's? :p seriously, I've never had any trouble with them.

[Neil Gendzwill]

A t-shirt to absorb sweat makes no sense. Now if you had a polypro sports t-shirt like dri-fit or whatever, that makes more sense - it wicks the sweat away from your body and into the keikogi. This is the principle behind some of the newer two-layer keikogi.

[rottunpunk]

I'd say find yourself a comfortable sportsbra that gives you the support you need if you're 'larger' in the area, and perhaps a tank top if you're cold. And alison, what's the problem with lace bra's? :p seriously, I've never had any trouble with them.

my advice too, though i would wear a sleevless tshirt regardless on account of feeling less exposed that way

lacey bras are itchy itchy itchy
:p

[Kirinhale]

Ah, mine aren't :p

[Landorph]

I thought they used to tape wrap chest all around.. so nothing moves..

[Alison2805]

That used to be done in Japan - before sports bras, as far as I have been told.

As for lacy bras, they irritate when it is COLD and you are doing highasuburi :((:

[lucy]

I'd never think of wearing lacy bras for keiko... Much to uncomfortable.

The sleeveless top I wear for the same reason as rottun, not to absorb sweat. The keikogi doesn't fit perfectly well, so I rather wear something underneath. :o

[stephanie dee]

Under the Hakama... sports bra and top with french knickers. Simple as!

I dont wear anything like t shirts or anything... nah, none of that for me thanks!

[Kenzan]

I know this may be spam but....
As luck would have it, I just so happen to sell all sorts of Sports Bra equipment.
(Non standard, Highly customized, of course.)

Now, for an exact fitting, I'll need you to send me several photos of your chest and....
:D

[euclid]

I know this may be spam but....
As luck would have it, I just so happen to sell all sorts of Sports Bra equipment.
(Non standard, Highly customized, of course.)

Now, for an exact fitting, I'll need you to send me several photos of your chest and....
:D


It's not so much spam as it is pretty poor taste.

[Kenzan]

It's not so much spam as it is pretty poor taste.

Sheesh...everyone's a critic.. :D

I give you people gold I tell you, GOLD!
:D

[euclid]

Sheesh...everyone's a critic.. :D

I give you people gold I tell you, GOLD!
:D


I didn't mean to be rude, just that is is the women's forum. I think the idea is that this is suppossed to be a place where they can post and not worry about come ons or unwanted sexual innuendo.

I'm sure they don't have a problem with us fellas posting in here, but certain types of comments are just inappropriate given the forum.

:)

[Kenzan]

Understood.
My apologies.
(whirls cape over shoulder)
Thus hence, I shall take my leave of here.
(walks down the hall)
...A priest, a rabbi and a naked Kendoka walk into a bar, and...
:D

[satsumaruma]

I think the idea is that this is suppossed to be a place where they can post and not worry about come ons or unwanted sexual innuendo.

I'm sure they don't have a problem with us fellas posting in here, but certain types of comments are just inappropriate given the forum.

Where "they" can post. - Such syntax can be construed as alienating and degrading although I am certain this would not be your intention. I mention this though because you have pulled up a fellow forum member for their 'inappropriate' use of language.

As for come ons and sexual innuendo - it is not my place to speak on behalf of women in general but.......women are


A- more than capable of saying what they are happy with and what they are not happy with.
B - more than capable of fending off any UNWANTED come ons or innendo
C - more than capable of devising their own come ons and sexual innuendo.

As for "certain types of comments are inappropriate..." - who decides what is and what is not? On a woman's forum is it right that it should be a male. And even within women on a women's forum? some may be of the opinion that kenzan's comments were uncalled for but some may say that he was merely being jocular.

We live in strange times where perception is everything and intent is now deemed irrelevant. Surely one of the raison d'etre of such forums is to ignore the lunacy of the world at large and speak without fear of pedanticism from any PC lobby.

[Ignatz]

Well said. Pehaps all Englishmen are not goat buggerers afterall.;)

[Kenzan]

To the kind person who wrote this:
"Try to be less silly, you're hard to take seriously because of it."

To this, I raise my mug of high octane alcoholic beverage to you and I proudly proclaim:
I yam what I yam, and that's all what I yam!!! :D
I never take myself seriously.
I fail to see why anyone else should either!
:lick:


(Looks around)
..Now then...
where's my pants?

[neko kenshi]

A t-shirt to absorb sweat makes no sense. Now if you had a polypro sports t-shirt like dri-fit or whatever, that makes more sense - it wicks the sweat away from your body and into the keikogi. This is the principle behind some of the newer two-layer keikogi.

I don't understand this whole wicking concept. Where does it wick the sweat too? I'd rather have my sweat absorbed evenly across my gi than gathering at the bottom in some soggy mess or dripping off. Does anyone have any experience with these wicking gis?

[Alison2805]

To the kind person who wrote this:
"Try to be less silly, you're hard to take seriously because of it."

To this, I raise my mug of high octane alcoholic beverage to you and I proudly proclaim:
I yam what I yam, and that's all what I yam!!! :D
I never take myself seriously.
I fail to see why anyone else should either!
:lick:


(Looks around)
..Now then...
where's my pants?

The womens forum are holding them for ransom.

I havent been offended by you yet kenzan, keep trying :tongue:

[Aries]

well i got to start swinging/cutting today... thoguth i don't think i'm at all ready for it.
but i think i've found my answer as i was wearing ym normal sports undergear that i use when i work out and such, but i noticed that the extra curvature would chafe or squeeze throwing off the form of my arms. hence i didnt squeeze properly allt he time and my cuts would stop a bit high as sides of arms are resting on the side of the curve.

going to have to find something that tucks them in more, they have this chest binging thing in taiwan that my friend uses becuase she hates being a girl, looks like a kevlar vest. but then again i dont want to have a hard time breathing.

[kartoffelngeist]

Well said. Pehaps all Englishmen are not goat buggerers afterall.;)

That's quite a compliment coming from Ignatz.

[Neil Gendzwill]

I don't understand this whole wicking concept. Where does it wick the sweat too?Into the outer gi, so that the layer near your skin is relatively dry and comfortable but the outside is wet. Other high-output athletes have been using this concept for some time now - not too many serious athletes wear cotton next to the skin anymore.

[Ignatz]

I wore a cotton shirt in my first half marathon. Big mistake. It weighed about ten pounds at the end of the race.

[neko kenshi]

Really? I often run over a half marathon in cotton, and it doesn't bother me. But I suppose I'm used to it, and don't sweat terribly much anyway, especially at night when I run. But that explains it; thanks. I was just remembering someone talking about their wicking gi not working well a few years back, so I guess I was misconceived about the concept.

[D'Artagnan]

I often wear products from this range for keiko - http://www.nike.com/nikeproeurope/?l=en_gb&ref=http://www.nike.com/nikeproeurope/gateway/

I have to say they are rather good!

[satsumaruma]

Well said. Pehaps all Englishmen are not goat buggerers afterall.;)


But they are soo very cute;)

[Kenzan]

But they are soo very cute;)
http://www.jumpstation.ca/recroom/comedy/python/images/twit3.gif

[Kitsune]

Well, maybe not all of them, but most of them are very cute.

Love that pic!

[Kiki]

Sports bra and workout shorts. If I forget to pack the sports bra I’d rather go without than wear that under wire.

I think it looks sloppy if your T-shirt or sweat wicking body amour shows above the gi – or out the arms. At my dojo, the sensei respectfully point this out to people who wear hi-neck under shirts, etc.

[namabiru]

It depends on temperature. In the summer, I merely wear a sports bra under my top, and usually panties (or if it's bad enough I'll actually go commando). In the winter, when I was in Japan, I wore a t-shirt and shorts underneath because it was that cold. Here in the States, I told my kohai, when she was beginning, that for practice purposes it was perfectly acceptable to wear a t-shirt under her top if she was cold, but tactfully make sure it's the same color as her gi.

A lot of the kids in the junior high bukatsu wore their PE clothes underneath, partially so Mom didn't have to wash all the time, but also to keep warm.

Just don't wear pants, or a long sleeved t-shirt, yes?

Not a stupid question. The only stupid questions are those not asked. Or, to be funny, as Mr. Garrison said on South Park, there are no stupid questions, just stupid people. But you aren't in that camp :)

Oh, and every dojo is different. At mine, for warmth purposes, we did wear shirts under our gi so as to not catch cold. If your dojo seems not so open to wearing t-shirts, one solution would be to go to Walmart, get a cheap t-shirt the same color as your gi, and cut the neckline low enough so it doesn't show.

For shiai or shinsa, of course, do NOT wear a t-shirt where the neckline shows.

[Oni]

A thermal layer will do, it keeps the sweat off your body and your gi will absorb it! I use these shirts for multiple sports but not for kendo:happy:

[namabiru]

That's true too. The shirt I tended to wear was a short of "cool/dry" material, not actual, cotton, now that I recall with assistance.

[Benkei]

Wear what you are comfortable in. Tshirts underneath the gi are generally frowned upon as unnecessary. If you choose to wear one, make sure it's a v cut so it doesn't show above the v in the gi neckline and it shouldn't offend anyone's sense of propriety or aesthetic. For us guys, below the waist options are also based on comfort and hygiene. Some go without undies, but depends on how much you sweat and how much movement you can live with comfortably - I trust I needn't have to explain.

[KendoKidd]

I wear a regular bra (32D) and a sleeveless tank top that I stole from my brother when he came to visit. I like wearing the tank top because I feel that it soaks up sweat and also it absorbs the dye from my gi so my bra doesn't get stained.

It's all about the comfort factor. Do whatever you need to.

[TheCorgiWoman]

I have to wear my normal dobok pants because I have a Tae kwan do black belt review directly after kumdo.:laugh: I usually wear an underarmor type shirt under my keikogi for sweat absorption. Maybe after my blackbelt test I'll start wearing shorts under hakama instead.;)

[smilingassassin]

Just a good sports bra under your gi. I buy navy or black because I don't like the navy stains my gi leaves on my white ones.

Wear whatever underwear you feel comfortable in under your Hakama. Some of us beginner girls find our Hakamas start to slip down our hips during a hard training session because we're still trying to work out where on our waist/hips to tie it so it doesn't move! :-) A girl I know wears bike pants because she's paranoid about loosing her Hakama.

[MithLuin]

Yeah, I wear a pair of basketball shorts under the hakama, mostly just so I don't have to worry about any circumstance in which the hakama could come undone and leave me standing there indecent. I can't say I'm actually worried that is going to happen, but I figure there's no harm in wearing it, and that way I don't have to spare it a second thought.

I don't wear a t-shirt under the gi, but I do wear a sports bra. I figure the support is a good thing.

The handicap stall in the girls' bathroom is essentially a private changing room, so I don't really have to consider what other people will think if they can't see any of this.

[yoda-waza]

As a guy, I gingerly enter here to respectfully ask: Has the technology of female support advanced in the 4-1/2 years since this thread began? Commandos are curious, that's all.

[tiffany]

Hey, sorry I'm bumping this thread too. I used to get eczema on my arms and legs, but now it has spread across my back. I wear a cotton singlet under my gi because it's easier to wash, but looking at some above comments I'm getting the impression cotton might not be best? This may be futile, because sweat makes my skin flare up and I'm going to sweat regardless, but does anyone have any thoughts they can offer? I'm 22 so I'm still only just figuring out what I can and can't do, but so far I've found for most of my clothes I have to stick to cotton as sometimes more complicated threads (particularly wool) irritate it also. This may be a losing battle but thought for the sake of desperation I'd ask anyway!

Also, this may not be just Kendo related, but considering I feel itchy once I come home from it I figured it was the main reason. Other factors may include: Japanese washing powder, tatami floors, living in another country, humidity...

Anyone with anything similar have any advice? I will take anything. Also, sorry to gross all of you out.

[turboyoshi]

tiffany, have you checked with a doctor? That would be my first resource. Isn't there medication or lotions you can use that might help?

[tiffany]

Been to a few in NZ, eczema's hereditary so while lotions will help alleviate it, they'll never make it go away. What brings it out differs from person to person, but generally you get an idea of what you can and can't wear/do/etc. Haven't been to a doc in Japan because I live in a tiny village and don't speak Japanese, but if it's anything like NZ they'll just tell you pretty much the exact same thing. I guess I'm just curious as to the health/irritation factor of having sweaty cotton next to the skin as opposed to gi or another fabric, if anyone knows!

[MithLuin]

I imagine you'll have to use trial and error, since what makes your skin sensitive might differ from other people's. But if what you're worried about is the sweat irritating it...have you considered Underarmor or some similar self-wicking material? It should help pull the sweat away from your skin. It's not cotton, it's synthetic, so I don't know what that would do to you (at least it's not wool?)

Anyway, good luck! You could try practicing without the cotton t-shirt and see if it's better or worse than usual.


And yoda...are you really surprised that some women would enjoy talking about clothing?

[yoda-waza]

4-1/2 years is a long conversation.

[annoraderenart@]

Been to a few in NZ, eczema's hereditary so while lotions will help alleviate it, they'll never make it go away. What brings it out differs from person to person, but generally you get an idea of what you can and can't wear/do/etc. Haven't been to a doc in Japan because I live in a tiny village and don't speak Japanese, but if it's anything like NZ they'll just tell you pretty much the exact same thing. I guess I'm just curious as to the health/irritation factor of having sweaty cotton next to the skin as opposed to gi or another fabric, if anyone knows!

Hi,

I have eczema also. Sweat definitely adds to the irritation. You could try a wicking garment like UnderArmor. I have not had any better result than the cotton t-shirt. I have occasionally had to stop practicing and rinse my arm to reduce the severity of an outbreak. I have had some relief using anti-histamines like Benedryl. Hydrocortizone creams can be very useful once you have throughly cleaned up. I have also found I need to avoid like the plague both silk and wool. In addition, I am risking a flare up if I have both orange juice and tomato products in a 24 hour period.

Heredity is an annoyance, but we get to do KENDO!

PS - don't worry about grossing out the guys.

Good luck and let us know what does work for you.

[tiffany]

Hey, thanks heaps everyone! I will try underarmour, otherwise I'll probably give an antihistamine a go. Just don't want to have to take it everyday! That's interesting about tomato and orange, I might watch that too and see what happens. I usually avoid gluten and it helps a bit, except of course for the dreaded sweat outbreaks! But yes, we can still do Kendo! XD