How do you tie your Men himo?

[Phlebas]

I have only recently been made aware of the two basic styles of tying the men himo and wondered which is most popular here on KWF, and just how many other methods there are. Forgive me if I have misunderstood, but this is how I understand what I have read so far:

KANTO (apparently also known as "Shindo Munen Ryu") is the style that attaches the himo to the bottom of the mengane, usually the fourth bar from the bottom.

KANSAI (aaka ""Hoku Shin Itoh Ryu") is the style that attaches the himo to the top of the mengane at the centre bar with a single piece of leather.

I have been led to believe that the KANTO style and its variations are more popular becasue it is less time consuming, but I have also heard that the KANSAI style of tying sits the men more firmly on your head and helps with the "ringing ears" phenomenon because of this.

Also, if anyone has a link or image showing how to tie in KANSAI style, I would love to see it. I have read descriptions but I'm having trouble visualizing it... I think I was reading poorly translated text or something. It wasn't very clear.

[Neil Gendzwill]

It's not that hard to do. Instead of two leather bits attaching the himo to the mengane, there's one with two straps. It's attached to the centre bar at the top. The himo go from there around the back, then across the top of the nodo (the throat protector). From there it continues just as if you were tying it the other way, ie the himo go across the back, then thread under the centre bar, then to the back where you tie the knot.

To do this, you need the different leather bit (easy to make once you've seen one or you can buy them), plus longer himo (the 8 shaku ones instead of 7 shaku). Also you need more time as you can't start with everything threaded like you do with the other style. It is more secure but I've found it not to be so much more secure as to justify the extra fiddling. If everyone else in the dojo is doing it the fast way, you're going to be holding things up.

[Phlebas]

Thank you Neil, that's very clear now. I can see why it takes a little longer to put on! Perhaps someday I'll try it, when I wouldn't be holding anyone up and I have the correct himo.

[Steve]

I'm a bit curious now. I used to tie my himo using the method that goes across the chin, (Kansai style i think its called) but i used the two regular leather bits to hold the himo on the centre bar. is this incorrect? Should i just use one leather bit?

it is more secure, and once you get used to doing it, you can do it quite quickly. I switched back to the "regular way" when i went to get graded, just to make sure i wasn't going to have a n off day and be slow putting on my men. I haven't switched back yet....laziness maybe?

[Chusan]

I`ve been using the Kansai-style for about ten years and it works very well.
BTW, I`m yet the first to have my men proper on my head :-)

[Phlebas]

Chusan, does the leather piece attach the same way as Kanto? Is the the actual leather different and/or is it tied to the mengane differently? Just curious... I've never seen Kansai close enough to tell.

[Steve]

i was watching a Kumdo video today, and saw (very clearly) another way of tieing your men himo.

The two leather bits are attached at the bottom of the men gane in the usual place (3rd or 4th rung), and crossed over the back. But instead of the himo being put in through the top of the men, they are put through one of the lower rungs around the level of the persons temple (i believe).

looked kinda neat anyway.

[Karaken]

I'm using a modified version of Kansai style only because my bogu is new and if I try to hit men, regular method almost take my men off. If I tie it to tight, then my ear hurts.
I've asked this forum whether it's O.K. and two people said they saw their sensei doing it so I use it..

Start with regular ( Kanto style?) that's already thresded cross back of your head, instead of tying there bring it down to Tsuki ( Nodo) and tie around your Tsuki. Bring them back to your head and tie them going up. Yes, you may need longer himo even though mine is quite OK with 7 shaku. This method gives me real secure men.
I might go back to regular Kando style once my men is broken in since that never gave me any trouble till I got new set of stiff bogu ( 1.2bu ).

Center..

[Chusan]

Originally posted by Phlebas
Chusan, does the leather piece attach the same way as Kanto? Is the the actual leather different and/or is it tied to the mengane differently?
Hi Phlebas,
the leather piece is to be attached completely different, since it is a different piece of leather, too. It gets kind of ´wrapped-around` the very top of mengane`s central bar, has got ´holes`(sorry, I can`t find a better word just now) at both ends where the men-himo are to be attached.
It´s easy to do but difficult to describe.