Eguchi Machine-stitched Bogu

[Tachi]

I've heard many good things here about Koei's 3mm S-22 Bogu ($1295), but has anyone tried Eguchi's 3mm set? It looks like a pretty fair deal at $1450 considering it includes 60 bamboo doh, shipping and a bag. Does anyone own or has seen this set?

[Blueman]

"has anyone tried Eguchi's 3mm set? It looks like a pretty fair deal at $1450 considering it includes 60 bamboo doh, shipping and a bag. Does anyone own or has seen this set?"

I received my A2: 3mm set about a month ago. I am quite impressed with not only the quality, but the fit as well. The men was custom fit to my face (I have a slim face) and the do was a custom made 64 piece bamboo as well (this took a little longer). I have not fought in it extensively enough to give a complete recommendation, but have no complaints to this point. Highly recommend it on two distinct points, Japanese quality and Eguchi's customer service.

[Will]

I hope this is neither of your first sets of bogu...

As my second set of bogu, it's pretty good. Though I did have defective kotes, but that's been taken care of. (I.E. good customer service). Definitely better quality goods from a a known manufacturer (none of that secret source stuff that people are trying to give off lately). I've had my set for about a year now, and it's still together, the do still shines like new and the men is still, well the men. Yeah.....

[steliosk]

I hope this is neither of your first sets of bogu...

Do you mean it is too good for a beginner or that it is overpriced?
Just curious, it looks pretty nice to me ( I do not have bogu so I don't have an opinion really on such things :) )

[Hai_hai]

I hope this is neither of your first sets of bogu...

If they care more about the looks, then it is definitely their first bogu. They blab about all the details to the point where their kendo comes second to bogu. It's pathetic.

[ALI G]

If they care more about the looks, then it is definitely their first bogu. They blab about all the details to the point where their kendo comes second to bogu. It's pathetic.

Itz mow patheticz whenz you talkingz aboutz Boguz when youz D-M-B.

[Will]

Do you mean it is too good for a beginner or that it is overpriced?
Just curious, it looks pretty nice to me ( I do not have bogu so I don't have an opinion really on such things :) )

What i'm trying to say is that it is not too good, but rather too expensive for the first set of bogu. Beginners should always get a cheaper set for their first bogu simply because it makes sense. They might realize kendo is not for them (and be glad they didn't drop a G in equipment) or a change in life occurs where they can't use the bogu. Plus it's kind of nice to get a nice set of bogu after you get your shodan or a yudansha rank kind of as an award.

But yeah, even eguchi admits that the bogu that is cheaper than the 3mm set is for yudansha and experienced kendoka.

Unlike nike commercials lead us to believe, it's not the shoes that make the performance, it's the man (or woman) that does. So a good set of bogu won't help you out in the end as much as good kendo. But I bet everyone is saying, "well duh."

But then again, there's the philosophy if you can't play good, look good :smiley:

[Tachi]

If you still don't know if Kendo is right for you by the time your Sensei suggests buying bogu, well, I don't know what to say...
I believe you should get what you can afford. Like most things in life, with Bogu you get what you pay for. Six months or a year from now I don't want to be wishing I had spent a little more for a nicer set. My wife and I went for the Koei S-22 as opposed to the Eguchi set, and yes, this is our first Bogu. We are VERY happy...the Bogu fits great, and will last us long after when/if we reach Shodan and above. Maybe then we will reward ourselves with a Hand-Stitiched set...and still have a great old set to practice in, instead of throw away!

[Neil Gendzwill]

If you still don't know if Kendo is right for you by the time your Sensei suggests buying bogu, well, I don't know what to say...
Really depends on the dojo. In our dojo, they've likely been using club bogu for 2 years or so before we say "buy your own so a new beginner can have that club set". But some dojo don't have any club sets, so the first set you ever use is one you've bought. In that case, a lot of people don't know yet if kendo is right for them, and buying a good set may well be an expensive mistake. The experience of kendo in armour is very different from the basics practice without it, and many people quit soon after earning bogu.

[Tachi]

Yeah, I have to remember that other Dojo's are not necessarily like ours. Still, I think it's crazy if someone invests the 6 months to a year before Bogu and then suddenly quits after wearing it, but I guess it happens! Neil, which do you think is harder to sell, a used nice set of Bogu or a used budget set? In lightly used condition, I'm thinking you could probably get a good bit of your money back either way.

[Will]

Yeah, at my dojo we ran out of club sets (I think because people took up kendo and then quit, never returning it. Yeah, what the hell, let's not talk about it since it's off topic though). But, I just feel there is no need to drop a G in equipment if you're just starting. Just seems like a waste of money. I know for some people that's nothing out of their pockets, but still it seems weird to drop so much money for something you're new at.
Oh, and it's always kind of weird when people buy their own bogu and then quit Kendo. I really wonder what happens to their bogu after they quit. I know they don't sell it back to my club. Does it just sit there, and they forget they spent a couple hundred on it? GeEz.

[Nanbanjin]

Yeah, at my dojo we ran out of club sets (I think because people took up kendo and then quit, never returning it. Yeah, what the hell, let's not talk about it since it's off topic though). But, I just feel there is no need to drop a G in equipment if you're just starting. Just seems like a waste of money. I know for some people that's nothing out of their pockets, but still it seems weird to drop so much money for something you're new at.
Oh, and it's always kind of weird when people buy their own bogu and then quit Kendo. I really wonder what happens to their bogu after they quit. I know they don't sell it back to my club. Does it just sit there, and they forget they spent a couple hundred on it? GeEz.
Plenty of people spend thousands on mountain bikes, golf clubs etc. just to leave them sitting in the garage gathering dust. At least with a good set of kendo gear you can display it on the mantlepiece if you never use it. Well, maybe not.
By the way, what do you think of the following set?
http://www.genbudo.com/STORE_Folder/KENDO_Folder/or-tesasi_Folder/b-171v.jpg
Anybody seen anything like that in use?
I usually recommend about a grand AUD for bogu. I bought a set for a few hundred dollars a few years back and it fell apart. I've seen stuff from Korea and Taiwan for about AUD700 (USD$500?) that looked pretty good though.

[Neil Gendzwill]

Neil, which do you think is harder to sell, a used nice set of Bogu or a used budget set?
The expensive set is harder to sell, because you've got a smaller and pickier set of potential customers. They want what they want, and they want it to fit right. Whereas most beginners are probably happy to get something cheap that fits them sorta OK, and upgrade later. Used bogu of any kind is hard to come by, though - usually it gets worn until it's pretty thrashed, then donated to the club.

One problem we're seeing right now is that prices have come down so much in recent years that people who want to sell old bogu are competing with new bogu. They are pretty disappointed to find how it has devalued over a few years.

[Yowai]

This thing? http://www.genbudo.com/STORE_Folder/KENDO_Folder/or-tesasi_Folder/b-171-v.html

I bought eight of those sets as a New Years gift for my nephews.

[Nanbanjin]

This thing? http://www.genbudo.com/STORE_Folder/KENDO_Folder/or-tesasi_Folder/b-171-v.html

I bought eight of those sets as a New Years gift for my nephews.
None of my relatives play kendo so I was really stumped for prezzies this year. Had to settle for new cars.

[Kirin]

Eguchi has very quality after care service. (unlike other korean or chinsese bogu shops)
Their price is very competitive or the best considering all Made in Japan.


Just call or e-mail them and talk to Lisa... she will help you with exactly what you need.

[steliosk]

If you still don't know if Kendo is right for you by the time your Sensei suggests buying bogu, well, I don't know what to say...
I believe you should get what you can afford. Like most things in life, with Bogu you get what you pay for. Six months or a year from now I don't want to be wishing I had spent a little more for a nicer set. My wife and I went for the Koei S-22 as opposed to the Eguchi set, and yes, this is our first Bogu. We are VERY happy...the Bogu fits great, and will last us long after when/if we reach Shodan and above. Maybe then we will reward ourselves with a Hand-Stitiched set...and still have a great old set to practice in, instead of throw away!
I know this is an old thread, but how are the kote and the men holding up so far? I am thinking of getting the kote and men from the S-22 together with cheaper tare and do, I'd appreciate any feedback :smiley:. Have you needed any repairs so far? How long was the lead time to take delivery?
Thank you!

[jfluh9]

:wink: Yeah I hope that people still read this...but I just bought the eguchi a2 set because of the good sizing options. this is due to me height (6'6"). so most of the peices had to be special ordered. especially the do....completely custom hand made because none of the sizes were even close to fitting....so sometimes you have to buy better bogu so that it will fit you right. :wink:

[streetcleaner]

congratulations!
man, a $1400 bogu for "studying for Ikkyu" is cool ;) hope i've got something like this for my shodan ;)