Question from one female student to another...

[Koori]

I have a question, mainly directed to the female population of the board. I am a fairly new female student to the world of Kendo and I am finding it hard to execute my cut properly.

Let's just say that I was blessed with lg attributes...

I am curious as to how the other ladies compensate. Had a most interesting keiko yesterday, with my instructor working with me one on one and him trying to politely explain that I was not performing the cut properly. Most embarassing.

What to do?

Any suggestions from fellow female students, most helpful.

Ps, I have just about an all male dojo.

-Koori

[Raiza]

I'd recommend that you have a look at this thread.

http://www.kendo-world.com/forum/showthread.php?t=284

If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

[gill]

Hi Koori,

Unfortunately theres not a not you can do about it - save plastic surgery. :shocked:

I suggest investing in a good sports bra, and find a comfortable position to tie your do, then do lots of suburi, this will get you used to the movement, and given time the cuts will come more naturally, and it will be easier to correct any problems

As for the embarassment with the Sensei, don't be - its nothing to be embarassed about

Hope this helps!

Gill :D

[Koori]

Thanks for the replies...

Raiza-- thanks for the link to the thread. Most of it was helpful.. at least the parts that pertained to the subject... yeish!

I am also glad to see other "blessed" women in the forum that practice Kendo. Very encouraging :ditsy:

I am going to try a couple of the suggestions and go from there with the one that works best. I have a couple of girls in my dojo but they are young enough to be my daughter! Also they don't always come to class.

Gill-- I have a really good sports bra but it just doesn't flatten me as much as I need it to...
As for my sensei, he is nice and attentive and I think he was just as embarassed as me. I never saw a sensei blush before. :wink:

-Koori

[Old Warrior]

Go to: www.santelli.com

Product #84 under "plastrons and protective gear" (scroll to bottom) is described as:

Women's Plastic Chest Guard Highly recommended for the best possible protection of the front chest. Worn like a regular bra with adjustable straps. Sizes: Junior, A, B, C, D.

It is used by all women epee fencers and it is highly effective.

[gill]

Old warrior,

Thanks for this, its really interesting. My only concern with moulded plastic is tai-atari (of which I am quite fond......) however there is a good range here and certainly better than anything I have seen in the past

Gill :D

[Old Warrior]

Moulded plastic means that you can shave it to fit, with a knife or you can use a hair dryer to soften it and then change the shape. Keep in mind that since it is "solid" that any strike has the energy somewhat deflected across the material. Perfect, it's not, but I'll bet it provides some help for those shots just above the do and since it is shaped to hold the breast, the mune is less likely to pinch. Forgive me, for noticing these things, but I am probably old enough to be your father and would want to save my own child from undue pain.

[Catherine]

Hi Koori,

I am new to the forums. I was quite interested in this problem for a long time. What I did to solve it is to tie my do rather high - so that the mune is above my chest.

When I ordered bogu - I ordered standard bogu (not women's bogu) but asked them to make the mune shorter. This means that the tsuki-tare will sit over the mune. I have noticed that a lot of women world wide wear their bogu this way and it tends to fit in with the solution for women with hips - ie tying your tare around your waist instead.

Good luck.

Catherine

[kendo_chick]

Hi Koori,

I am new to the forums. I was quite interested in this problem for a long time. What I did to solve it is to tie my do rather high - so that the mune is above my chest.

When I ordered bogu - I ordered standard bogu (not women's bogu) but asked them to make the mune shorter. This means that the tsuki-tare will sit over the mune. I have noticed that a lot of women world wide wear their bogu this way and it tends to fit in with the solution for women with hips - ie tying your tare around your waist instead.

Good luck.

Catherine


Hello everyone,

I have been practicing kendo for 2 years now and it has taken me almost as long to find a comfortable position for my do. And the position of the do is by far the most difficult part of executing a straight cut. I was the same way for a long time, (and I will be humble and admit that my cut is still not, nor maybe will never be perfect, as is the nature of kendo) but once you find a comfortable position for your do you should be fine. That and don't be suprised if you endure bruises on the inside bones of your elbows from rubbing on your do, totally normal. those should go away soon and your cut will become much cleaner and easier to execute. And I highly recommend a sports bra that flattens a little but not too much. I also have a little trick that might help your do fit a little better too. after you practise and your do is a little (ew...) sweaty, it will be a little easier to bend. Gently bend your do at the point between the plastic and the mune. This will help to mold the do to your "endowments". It has helped me tremendously.

Good luck and have fun!

[LadyGinevra73]

Dear girls, first i'm glad to know that i'm not the only one with this little problem, second to solve it i buy a good sports bra and i'm looking for a comfortable position of do, i think that it's only a problem of time (i put bogu only 3 times...)
Finally i try to concentrate for a good and a correct position not thinking so much at this problem

bye :rambo:

[swrdply400mrela]

I remember the girls in Tae Kwon Do had these:

http://www.e-bogu.com/fechgu1.html

http://www.e-bogu.com/fechgu.html

Maybe these may help.

[Kiki]

Product #84 under "plastrons and protective gear"

This is probably the best protection you can find especially for those missed dous that land just below the armpit. I would have purchased this if I had found it sooner. If you customize it I am sure it would be comfortable for taiatari....

...Correct me if I am wrong - your chest should not be hitting the other person full force in taiatari. Your arms should be shock absorbers allowing you to keep some room to move rather than being jammed up. This will also protect your thumbs/hands from getting mashed between the two chest guards.

[Koori]

Thanks for everyone's advice on my "problems".
I have gotten a tighter sports bra and it is helping. Also at the most recent practice an older sensei was working with me and he was showing me some tricks to execute the cut correctly. His advice was to make sure that the tsuba of my shinai was level with my shoulder of my right arm.
So far so good.

Thanks for all your help.
arigatoo gozaimashita

-Koori