New men hurts on the sides

[Darknails]

I've used my new 4mm men bought in Tokyo for the last 2 months, training 3 times a week on average. The problem is that it starts to hurt half way through the training, on the sides, a couple of cm above the ears. I think it's due to the pressure from the himo. But if I didn't tight the himo so tightly, then the men drops during the training.

Does someone have the same experience?

[LarsCW]

When you put the men on you can pull the men to the outside to give your ears more space.

This is something that you have to get used to, a correct way for you to put on your men without it falling off or hurting too much.

[Ignatz]

After you tie it as tight as tight can be, reach around the back and grab hold of the flaps down at the back and pull them out along the line of your shoulders.

Also, train harder so you sweat more and the men molds to your head forming little ear cups.

[Darknails]

When you put the men on you can pull the men to the outside to give your ears more space.

This is something that you have to get used to, a correct way for you to put on your men without it falling off or hurting too much.

Thank you both for your advices. I do grab the flaps and full them apart every time after tightening my himo. In fact, when it hurts I also do it, but it doesn't make a difference. My ears are fine, but as I said, it's the sides of my head above the ears that hurt.

[ZtefaNNN[K]]

I had the same issue. try tying your tenogui differently, I now use the method of biting it and then wrapping it around.

[tango]

Thank you both for your advices. I do grab the flaps and full them apart every time after tightening my himo. In fact, when it hurts I also do it, but it doesn't make a difference. My ears are fine, but as I said, it's the sides of my head above the ears that hurt.

2 months, eh? i say it's still not broken in yet...

that said, you might try experimenting with where you feed the himo through the mengane.. try a different rung(s) and see if it helps.

but overall, i think it's just not broken in yet.

[rfoxmich]

1. Place the himo above the ears not across them.
2. In putting your tenugui on put it on so the ears are on the outside of the tenugui.
3. As everyone else says, once tied, pull the men-dara outward and forward to create a spacea.
4. As everyone else says, the men will eventually break in.
5. I disagree with Tango's suggestion about experimenting with where in the men-gane your himo go.
This can adversely affect grading tests if you do.

[tango]

5. I disagree with Tango's suggestion about experimenting with where in the men-gane your himo go.
This can adversely affect grading tests if you do.

specifically what i mean to suggest is that if he's got the himo running through the top-most rung of the mengane, try moving it down ONE rung and see what happens.

he's not tying the himo right on top of his ears --- his first post says that -- rather, he's tying it just above the ears. Now, maybe it's still too close to the ears, and MAYBE moving the himo down one rung will help.

you make it sound like i'm suggesting he try and run the himo through the monomi..

running the himo through the 2nd-to-the-top rung is not going to get anybody failed on a testing.

[mugen no junin]

a little trick given by a japanese sensei last month...take an old tenugui, fold and put it inside the men where your ears are placed. Then take a wooden or a rubber hammer and soften the men where you have placed the folded tenugui.
Never tried, but I think it could work.
Hope it helps, cheers.

[Darknails]

thanks for posting, everyone! I'll try flexing the futon with my hand often to soften it. It does have thicker futon than most other men.

I'm however still surprised that no one seems to have exactly the same problem as I do..

[MAZ77]

thanks for posting, everyone! I'll try flexing the futon with my hand often to soften it. It does have thicker futon than most other men.

I'm however still surprised that no one seems to have exactly the same problem as I do..

No, i get it too sometimes. Believe it or not, sometimes it can just be that you tied it too tight. Occams razor eh?

[ZtefaNNN[K]]

Try tying your tenogui differently. trust me.

[Jearom]

Try soaking your tenougi in cold water before practise.

[StevestonKC]

Try soaking your tenougi in cold water before practise.

I second this