white bogu?

[cruzemi]

hello everyone i have another question to ask( i feel bad always asking questions but i don't know anyone else who does kendo). i will hopefully be buying my first bogu next month and i was wondering if i should buy the white bogu. I don't really understand the difference between the white one and the blue one? is it made to fit a womens body better or is it for show? My sister told me she wanted me to buy the white one no matter how much it cost. but i don't want to stand out and get my butt beaten. What would you do if you saw a beginner wearing a white bogu? Maybe i should just buy the blue one?

[Alison2805]

There have been a few threads on this already - girls generally are allowed to wear white (if your sensei is happy with that of course). It isnt made any differently to blue bogu in terms of fitting a womans body. Unless you are ok with standing out and are happy to take the time and effort to look after white bogu, then go with blue.

I personally love my white bogu and would never change to blue.

[Kenzan]

Hello Cruzemi,
Generally speaking, White Bogu is for girls, and Blue is for the rest of us slobs, but truthfully, most people, men and women, wear the Blue type. the spare Bogu colors that there are don't really a firm rule anywhere, it's just sort of an unspoken thing, and varies from Dojo to Dojo
You'll also see high ranking Sensei wearing White Bogu, but not often.
To be honest with you, during Keiko, I am not thinking of Bogu color, but you may get a few stares if you choose white and you are not a girl though.
The choice is up to you of course, but If it were me, I would:

1. Ask my Sensei
2. Get the regular Blue Bogu.

Right now you are just starting out. It will help to focus on things like Bogu maintenance, (which BTW white Bogu is notoriously hard to clean, Just ask Alison) and just getting used to the feel of it, putting it on and taking it off, and so forth. You should not have to deal with the added pressure you might feel with getting something no one else has.
There will be plenty of time for that later as hopefully you decide you like Kendo and it's for you.

Good luck,
I hope that helped you in some way.


P.s.
And whatever you do, don't get the infamous Red Bogu:
http://www.satorido.com/images/bogu_red_5mm.jpg

That's reserved for me when I make Hachi-dan.
:D

[cruzemi]

LOL i swear i will never wear the red bogu.

yeah i don't wanna stand out and i clean it. I told my sister that but she insists on me getting it. I guess since she is not going to be the one scrubbing away the blue marks she doesn't care. BTW i'm a girl.

thanks for the advice!

[motolorax]

Wow,
love the red bogu - add a red hakama and kekogi and you'll look just like an imperial guard from star wars! I think I'll commission a nice green bogu when I get to Hachi-Dan

[Alison2805]

hehehe, as long as you leap out of sonkyu like a frog.

[motolorax]

kendo frog - I like it. perhaps the frog hop could be my way to get round my frankly awful fumikomi

[Neil Gendzwill]

I've added the following to the bogu FAQ (http://www.kendo-world.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11737):

White bogu, usually with red doh, are sometimes worn by women. Feel free to get a white bogu if you are female and it's OK with your sensei. You should be aware of some problems with white bogu. They are hard to keep clean, and best worn with white keikogi/hakama for that reason. Also most of the more serious women wear blue because better quality sets usually aren't available in white.

[Kagerou]

P.s.
And whatever you do, don't get the infamous Red Bogu:


That's reserved for me when I make Hachi-dan.
:D

I think you'd be the first Hachi-dan to be excommunicated from the ZNKR.

Besides if you wear red bogu you need this (http://hometown.aol.com/chajonshim1/images/pf%20kendo%20hakama.jpg)
and you'd have to wear it like this (http://www.by-the-sword.com/acatalog/images/100810.jpg)

get all three, wear them to class, take a picture of yourself dressed in all that, survive the wraith of you sensei and I'll +rep you daily for a year

how's that for a deal?

[benwagner1988]

I think you'd be the first Hachi-dan to be excommunicated from the ZNKR.

Besides if you wear red bogu you need this (http://hometown.aol.com/chajonshim1/images/pf%20kendo%20hakama.jpg)
and you'd have to wear it like this (http://www.by-the-sword.com/acatalog/images/100810.jpg)

get all three, wear them to class, take a picture of yourself dressed in all that, survive the wraith of you sensei and I'll +rep you daily for a year

how's that for a deal?

ROFL Made me laugh for ages that. Particularly love the backward hakama guy... one of those who just bought it for fun rather than actually training.


+Rep

[bobdonny]

Also most of the more serious women wear blue because better quality sets usually aren't available in white.

Maybe most of the serious women you met do but i hardly think it is that clear cut. I know there are handmade white sets that go for far more than the equivalent indigo sets.

[still learning]

this (http://hometown.aol.com/chajonshim1/images/pf%20kendo%20hakama.jpg)


Proof that many people have no shame - and rarely look in a mirror with a critical eye.....

[bobdonny]

Proof that many people have no shame - and rarely look in a mirror with a critical eye.....

You miss the point...

You opponent is so dazzled trying to count the ying/yang images that you whack them on the head with your wallhanger!!

[Lady_Kitsune]

I want to wear white cos I think the white bogu is pretty and my sempais like the idea. The thing etween that and me is that is a bit more expensive than the blue bogu, so for now I have a blue one, but if your sempais and sensei is ok with it and you have the money and you have onle you like, please go for ir you won't regret it.

[Badger]

P.s.
And whatever you do, don't get the infamous Red Bogu:
http://www.satorido.com/images/bogu_red_5mm.jpg

That's reserved for me when I make Hachi-dan.
:D

Ah, If I had the money I would so order that as a joke.

[Naginatagirl]

don't get the infamous Red Bogu:

LMAO That is freaking AMAZING. ooooomg. I really really wanna see someone wearing that hahahahha

[futabachan]

Besides if you wear red bogu you need this (http://hometown.aol.com/chajonshim1/images/pf%20kendo%20hakama.jpg)
and you'd have to wear it like this (http://www.by-the-sword.com/acatalog/images/100810.jpg)

I think this (http://www.cjmas.com/index.php?main_page=popup_image&pID=2350) goes with the red a little better, and there aren't any confusing himos to tie or koshi-ate to misplace. Throw in the jacket from this (http://www.cjmas.com/index.php?main_page=popup_image&pID=1436), and you can have the total Imperial Guard look. And you can listen to your MP3 player instead of your sensei as you train!

So, if they make red bogu, do they make red suneate? The Imperial Guard were armed with naginatas or yari or some other polearm, IIRC....

[Oroshi]

I think this (http://www.cjmas.com/index.php?main_page=popup_image&pID=2350) goes with the red a little better, and there aren't any confusing himos to tie or koshi-ate to misplace.
Is there a reason for the kanji to be written in reverse order on this?

I'm genuinely curious.

[Badtz-Maru]

Alison and I have had this discussion before, but I think women look great in White Bogu. When I trained in Japan for the first time at my mother's highschool in Fukushima, all the girls had the white ensemble. This was in 1991 (I was 18) so they proved to be a distraction since they all looked so cute. I asked a lot of them out (with disappointing results) just beause they looked so good in those ensembles.

A man wearing white reminds me too much of that guy Storm Shadow from Gi Joe.

That red Bogu had me stunned. I have never seen that before. I wonder how legal that would be in comeptition and gradings in the AUSKF or otherwise. The Imperial Guard thing had me cracking up too. I could just see myself flung up against a wall for wearing that by an old Sensei just like Yoda did to those guards in Episode III.

If you put blue flames on it, you can look like Optimus Prime from the movie. Or like Maximillian from that movie "The Black Hole." Anyone remember that one?

The red Bogu would go well with those plastic Korean Men...

OK, I'm done rambling now.

[Neil Gendzwill]

Alison and I have had this discussion before, but I think women look great in White Bogu. When I trained in Japan for the first time at my mother's highschool in Fukushima, all the girls had the white ensemble. This was in 1991 (I was 18) so they proved to be a distraction since they all looked so cute. Some of the serious women don't like white bogu for that very reason - too cute, and popular with casual players. Plus it's hard to find a good set in white.

[Alison2805]

Im going to come over and train with you one day Badtz! I need help to make my kendo look as nice as my bogu...

[cruzemi]

I would look so bad in white bogu. I am not the cute type, i'm such a tom boy. Plus i don't wanna seem like a show off and i would have to buy my hakama and gi white aswell. I have a blue hakama and a blue and white pattern gi.

[Kagerou]

Is there a reason for the kanji to be written in reverse order on this?

I'm genuinely curious.

So when you look down at your hakama you can read about just how cool you are.

Oh yeah! :smoker:

[Nakura]

I asked a lot of them out (with disappointing results) just beause they looked so good in those ensembles.

Did you tell them it was just because they looked good in white? :-D But I'm with you on that one: Japanese girls are very nice, particularly the kendo ones... ;-P

[Budo Angel]

don't get the infamous Red Bogu:
...it hides your bleeding at least...


should buy the white bogu
...it hides nothing...not blue stains, blood, sweat, not you & not your kendo - but you will look cute for all of 10 seconds it remains clean - he he he - before you get hit.


better quality sets usually aren't available in white
http://www.eikobudogu.com/
These guys do custom white sets, they're flashy stuff and top quality, about US$8,890 for the white & tan trim one ;-)

http://www.eikobudogu.com/shopping/tokutyu/index.html (tip: click on graphic to see white bogu...)

[Neil Gendzwill]

I couldn't find the white one other than the picture on the first page. They didn't even have any stock machine-stitched ones, unless there's an option in Japanese somewhere there that says "available in white". Can you provide a more direct link?

[futabachan]

I couldn't find the white one other than the picture on the first page. They didn't even have any stock machine-stitched ones, unless there's an option in Japanese somewhere there that says "available in white". Can you provide a more direct link?

Roll over the graphic on the second link; it shows a collage of different sets, including one in white with tan trim.

I can't decide which would go better with the red bogu: the red do with the dragon on it, or the do that looks like fur.

[Neil Gendzwill]

Yes, I saw the picture. I'm looking for more information.

[Nakura]

...it hides your bleeding at least...

So will you be getting a red iaigi/hakam? :-P

[imouto]

...it hides nothing...not blue stains, blood, sweat, not you & not your kendo - but you will look cute for all of 10 seconds it remains clean - he he he - before you get hit.

What bogu hides your kendo? Curious minds want to know. :)


Some of the serious women don't like white bogu for that very reason - too cute, and popular with casual players. Plus it's hard to find a good set in white.
But it's possible right?

[Alison2805]

yep, its possible.

[Nakura]

What bogu hides your kendo? Curious minds want to know. :)

I think she meant bogu that makes people stare and either wonder what you were thinking buying it or think "whoa, cool bogu" thereby distracting them from your kendo :confused: Nope, doesn't make sense to me either...

[Budo Angel]

Quite... sea of blue blur.... one white bogu - "hey look"... loads of blue bodies, you're more hidden except to your partner, or people who are deliberately identifying you :alien:

Also perspective: its way easier to see a big white kote target, its harder for darker colour, ie blue - this is setting aside other factors. I'm not against others wearing white, I'm justing saying the list is too long for me personally to buy it. BUT the arguement for wearing white hakama/gi as women or summer attire, is in my book a different arguement :confused2... thanks Nakura

[D'Artagnan]

Yes, I saw the picture. I'm looking for more information.

You won't find more info about it on the web, as its all custom-made, the pic on the site is probably an example of what somebody had made, not an example of an 'off the shelf product'. So if you want more info about commisioning a set of white bougu from them, you'd have to contact them to discuss your specifications.

I have seen a set of eikobudogu bougu in white at the WKC, it was te-zashi and good quality, if a little tacky in design...

[Neil Gendzwill]

OK. So we've got custom on the one end, and low-end machine stitched sets on the other. Where's the set for people who want to spend a reasonable amount of money (say, under $2K) for a working set?

[Obulco]

OK. So we've got custom on the one end, and low-end machine stitched sets on the other. Where's the set for people who want to spend a reasonable amount of money (say, under $2K) for a working set?

This is a 3mm set that is about 1,500.

http://zen-sankei.co.jp/products/1_siro/white3_eng.html

[Neil Gendzwill]

I guess... frankly that one looks overpriced based on the specs. But even looking at their overall catalog you can see my point - two choices for white, lots more for blue.

[Obulco]

I guess... frankly that one looks overpriced based on the specs. But even looking at their overall catalog you can see my point - two choices for white, lots more for blue.

It does look overpriced. This other is in Canada and has more "regular" features: choice of deer leather, titanium, etc.

http://www.cktsports.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=73&products_id=283&osCsid=f8cb25442ddc4eebb2d534de0b5c1315

[Eliza]

Our school has connections with a bogu manufacturer in China. I got a nice custom 3mm machine stitched white bogu for under $600(not including shipping). I don't want to sound like I'm advertising but if you are interested contact me.
Sorry I don't have a better picture: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=76481&l=432e6&id=501961588
My kohai borrowed my white bogu that day...

[Lady_Kitsune]

That and the one with the butterfly on the mune are the most amazing white bogus I've ever seen.

Again if you have the money, you like it and your sempais and sensei are cool with it, go for it!

[turboyoshi]

Sorry I don't have a better picture: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=76481&l=432e6&id=501961588


kyuuute. oh yeah and the bogu too. :smiley:

sean (c'mon guys, you know someone was gonna say it)

[imouto]

That and the one with the butterfly on the mune are the most amazing white bogus I've ever seen.

Again if you have the money, you like it and your sempais and sensei are cool with it, go for it!

Butterflies? You can get butterflies?!?!?!?

[squeals in delight!]

[Lady_Kitsune]

yeah, is like this
http://www.tozandoshop.com/Miniature_Bogu_Set_White_p/0205-mbsw.htm

As you can see the mune is forming a Butterfly. If I had the money I would buy this one without hesitate at all, is soo beautiful.

Cute isn't it?

This is a copy for adesk top display, but you can also find this type of mune on real women bogus, but they are a lil bit hard to find... I only saw it once on a japanese kendo magazine. But if you find it go for it cos they are sooo cute!

[cruzemi]

wow!!! its so pretty.I want to buy some white bogu now. If i do get it in white i have to get a cheapo one so i guess i will wait when i get more money and more experience.

[Eliza]

I am so glad you gals like it. You can special order the butterfly pattern too but it might cost more and take longer to make.
That mini bogu is soooo cute Lady K!

[imouto]

I am so glad you gals like it. You can special order the butterfly pattern too but it might cost more and take longer to make.
That mini bogu is soooo cute Lady K!
I think I've just decided what my bogu is going to look like for when I do swap over to white.

[Hook]

the red bogu reminds me of the infamous 'red shoes' my fellow students and i used to joke about when i was still studying chinese long fist. real bright red shoes that basically screamed 'you had better be able to fly like in the movies if you are wearing me or else you will look real stupid' all over the place. i am amused.

:smoker: