Am I putting my tenugui on correctly?

[NefertariNami]

When I put my men on, my tenugui is either in my eyes or too far back. Does anyone have any suggestions?

[rfoxmich]

Be sure that the back of the tenugui catches below the bottom of your skull...and tie it on tightly.

[NefertariNami]

When I do that, it still slides down a little and gets in my eyes...

[JoonShik]

first, how do you put on your tenegui?

[NefertariNami]

I hold it in front of my face and then put it so it's in back of my head. I put the right side on the left, then pull the left over and tuck it in.

[j.noh]

Why don't you ask a Sempai or your Sensei?

[JoonShik]

all you have to do is pull the on the first side tighter and pull the other side around until you cant pull anymore.

[euclid]

This is definitely one of those "ask your sensei/sempai" questions. Without seeing what you are doing, no one can really offer a productive answer

[bobdonny]

When I put my men on, my tenugui is either in my eyes or too far back. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Superglue or a staple gun ;)

If you want tho' just practice it yourself at home till it feels tight.

[NefertariNami]

Thanks. I'll ask.

[neko kenshi]

I have the same problem, but I've asked my sensei and sempai, and I think I'm doing it correctly. My new theory is that I'm not tying my men tightly enough (or that it's still too stiff, as it's brand new, to be tied tightly enough) and the sliding around causes my tenugui to move. The odd thing is that my men starts perfectly tight, but 10 minutes later it's hanging off my head. I can't figure it out.

[mark]

Some people dampen their tenugui with a spray of water before putting it on. It helps the cotton stretch a little more. most people have troubleputting on their tenugu for a while. As a senior to go through it with you again.

If you are still having problems ask your sensei if he can recommend an alternate method of tying your tenugui. There are several different ways to tie tenugui. Maybe one of the other ways would be easier for you.

[enkorat]

I've found that if after you tie the tennugui on, and you take the palm of your hand and place it on the back of your head and pull down slightly towards your neck, it will "tighten" the tennugui a little.

I'm not sure if thats a solution to your problem, because a lot of beginners have lots of problems with tying on tennugui and men, and really the only way to put it on is to put it on correctly and keep practicing. There are a number of "tricks" people individually do to keep things from tangling and such that aren't written in books or handouts, its something one generally has to either be taught or figure out what works best for them.

[NefertariNami]

Thanks! I'll try doing other methods before asking my sensei.

[yoda-waza]

If you're struggling with a simple tenugui, thank your lucky stars you're not aspiring to be sufi or sikh. Then again, had you been one or the other, the tenugui would have been a piece of cake.

[Nash]

It's definitely worth trying other methods, and perhaps ask other members of your club how they tie their tenugui, as well as asking your sensei. I find that within my club there are several different ways of trying everything ie; do himo, men himo, tenugui etc.

If you are having trouble keeping it on your head, perhaps try the method in which you fold it on the floor first, as this may help it hold it's shape better once on your head.

[NefertariNami]

???...o...kay? Umm... Thanks?

[dohrt]

In my own experience, if you tie your tenegui loose enough to fall off if you bend over, it doesn't matter so long as you tie your men correctly. Tie your men wrong, and all is wrong with the world. Too tight, you get a headache, and your tenegui slides everywhere. Too loose, and your tenegui slides everywhere.

Your tenegui should be tight enough that it stays on your head (I exagerrated at the beginning) but that is hard to do with a "fresh" tenegui. Take a break after you've put some sweat on it, come back, and it ties like magic. But either way, fresh (and loose) or not, I still say that if you tie your men right, it doesn't matter because the men holds it right either way.

But then the men is a whole nother ball game, isn't it? Hehehe.

marcos

[bullet08]

.. and tuck it in.

don't tuck it in. that only gives false security. but when that thing pops out, the whole thing will move around.. or at least that's how it works for me. just pull the ends tight enough for you, then pull up the front flap and pull it back with your plam slightly. if it feels secure, it should stay on. if not do it again. it's about the only thing i picked up from watching all those all japan championship dvds..

pete

[Martch]

Practice. Practice at home while you're watching TV so it's second nature in the dojo. That's the only reason you're having problems, you've not done it enough times. Sounds like you've got the basics right, you just need to tailor it to your own cranial topgraphy and learn how it should sit for you.

[Ignatz]

When I put my men on, my tenugui is either in my eyes or too far back. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Learn to put in on correctly?:confused2

[NefertariNami]

Learn to put in on correctly?:confused2

Heh... I think I am, but I'll try some more! Thanks again!

[NefertariNami]

Hey guys, I used some of your techniques and guess what... I PUT MY TENUGUI ON CORRECTLY!!! :) Thank you all for helping me!

[dukboy123]

Has anybody seen those teneguis that have elastic in them and you just pop them onto your head? What's the feeling/policy/tradition regarding these things?

[JoDuncan]

A kippah?

I hear they're very popular amongst devout followers of the Torah...


:p

Or are you menaing one of these?

Unorthodox Tenugui (http://thebestsportsblog.com/images/alig.jpg)

[dukboy123]

Auughh, the net Nazi's at my work have blocked that site....

The teneguis I'm referring to have the Japanese writing on them and seem to be purpose made for wearing under the men (which I guess is why they're called teneguis :wink:).

During our last testing session, I saw some people from another club putting them on. I was just wondering if these things are frowned upon in general or if it's one of those traditionalist vs. new wave things.

[sparky2488]

I've not even started yet (start in 4 weeks time), but can second the post that says just practise over and over again until it becomes second nature, I sat and watched at the back of the room all the students on my sons beginners course, the two things which stood out from a total outsiders point of view was tying the knots on the Do and doing their Men / Tenegui correctly. As I'm sat at the back watching my son all the time I decided to bite the bullet and sign myself up on the next course, but the one thing that stuck in my mind was watching them struggle to get to grips with things so I have been doing what I can prior to even starting to ensure I dont make the same errors they did.

As others have said, sit at home and do it over and over again until you can do it in your sleep. For me, I have found the wrapping around one side then the other, tucking the ends under to hold it and flipping the front bit over the head to be the most comfortable and as long as it's tight it does hold it's self on . . . I have tried the folding it flat and making a cap you just put on to be easy but I find it gives two points on the top of your head that the Men presses on which I find annoying. Theres enough information out on the web where you can try all the different ways to tie them . . give it a go in the comfort of your own home.

[JoDuncan]

Sparky:

Good on ya! Wish you all the best!

And well done for going and looking at kendo and finding things out for yourself. You'll probably not need to worry about tenugui for a while but if you know the hows and whys then you have a good bit of knowledge that will mean extra training time doing cool stuff rather than dojo time spent tying knots etc.

and Duckboy:

How about one of these:
9circs head and chin all in one tenugui (http://www.ninecircles.co.uk/product_details.asp?ProdID=83&CatID=64) ?

Don't worry about what is frowned upon, as long as it is approved by your sensei & ajkf then it's fine.

[lucy]

How about one of these:
9circs head and chin all in one tenugui (http://www.ninecircles.co.uk/product_details.asp?ProdID=83&CatID=64) ?

Don't worry about what is frowned upon, as long as it is approved by your sensei & ajkf then it's fine.

My sensei would kill me for that one... :D

[shred_lord]

I've not even started yet (start in 4 weeks time), but .....It amazes me how many beginners fail to grasp this. Good post.

[dukboy123]

Sparky:

and Duckboy:

How about one of these:
9circs head and chin all in one tenugui (http://www.ninecircles.co.uk/product_details.asp?ProdID=83&CatID=64) ?

Don't worry about what is frowned upon, as long as it is approved by your sensei & ajkf then it's fine.

No, it wasn't one of those. That really looks prohibitively hot and cumbersome. Too much material to deal with along with the gi, men, etc.

I guess I'll learn from Sparky and start to practice putting on my tenegui even though I'm still a ways off from wearing bogu. Man, I'm still having a hard time tying/putting on my obi and hakama! :confused::smiley:

[SmellsLikeBogu]

No, it wasn't one of those. That really looks prohibitively hot and cumbersome. Too much material to deal with along with the gi, men, etc.

I guess I'll learn from Sparky and start to practice putting on my tenegui even though I'm still a ways off from wearing bogu. Man, I'm still having a hard time tying/putting on my obi and hakama! :confused::smiley:

you wear obi for kendo? I've heared about this before. I do it sometimes to if the kendo is right after iaido practice,
tying obi is still a bit tricky for me, trying to get a decent knot so it doesn't look like Im hiding a baby on my ass under my hakama :p

[Neil Gendzwill]

Beginners often have trouble, and especially if the tenugui is new and still a little stiff. One way to make things easier is to dampen the tenugui a little bit before putting it on. It holds much better that way.

[sparky2488]

Sparky:

Good on ya! Wish you all the best!

And well done for going and looking at kendo and finding things out for yourself. You'll probably not need to worry about tenugui for a while but if you know the hows and whys then you have a good bit of knowledge that will mean extra training time doing cool stuff rather than dojo time spent tying knots etc.




My son had always wanted to start as a second martial art to Karate, for Christmas we paid for him to do the beginners course at Nagamitsu in Birmingham, he's been attending now for six months . . . I swore blind I wouldn't want to try, but the longer I've sat quietly at the back the more I want to get out there and have a go . . .so my name is down for the next course starting in September. I suppose I have the advantage that I've sat and watched everyone else make their mistakes so in my head I know most of what they do already . . . just got to put it all into context now which is daunting but exciting at the same time.
I know some will frown but I already have my Bogu, I had a nice pay out from work which my Mrs offered to spend for me so it was kind of buy what I needed now and put it away or she'd have spent it. It has given me time to get used to putting it on and even being shown things by my son, which he enjoys as much as anything as he gets to hit me . . I'm in no rush to wear it for real, but nice to know it's there for when I'm ready and has given me time to learn about it's care and to get used to getting into it all.

[JoDuncan]

Your sensei will decide when you put on your bogu, frowns or not from the internet budo police.

In the mean time you can "break it in" so that when it comes time to put it on for the first time in dojo the wings of your men won't get in the way of your arms.

[dukboy123]

you wear obi for kendo? I've heared about this before. I do it sometimes to if the kendo is right after iaido practice,
tying obi is still a bit tricky for me, trying to get a decent knot so it doesn't look like Im hiding a baby on my ass under my hakama :p

Yes. The first time I wore my uniform I didn't bring it to class because I never saw any of my classmates wearing one. Of course, in my ignorance, I assumed it was worn on the outside like a Kimono obi, not knowing it was worn around the gi but under the hakama. MY sempai said to bring it next time, which I did and he showed me how to tie it. Of course, I forgot exactly how. Actually, from the very, very, very, limitied time I have wearing the uniform, I like the way the obi feels when it's wrapped tightly around the torso. It helps me with my posture and one of the other sempais said it also helps with getting power from your hara (sp?). Makes sense to me.

[NefertariNami]

What is an Obi?

[dukboy123]

An obi is a long strip of fabric, with varying widths for different purposes, that is used to secure pieces of clothing by wrapping it around your body and clothing and tying if off into different knots. In kendo/iaido, as I just learned, the obi is tied around the gi to keep it from coming untucked out of the hakama. After wrapping it around your body 2 or 3 times (yes, they're that long) you tie it off in a special knot. Then you slide the whole contraption behind you so that the knot is, well, behind you. When you tie your hakama, you use the knot to keep the hakama strings down by tying the hakama strings below the knot. The martial arts obi is usually a plain woven fabric with maybe some embroidery on it.

In regular Japanese clothes, the obi serves the same purpose but it is worn outside of the kimono and unlike the martial arts obi, the obi worn around the kimono can be quite decorative with complicated weavings. I have several displayed around the house as they are very beautiful and considered works of art.

[NefertariNami]

Wow... Who would've guessed...? They make EVERYTHING, don't they... XD