Ugh, too small Men?

[Zaichev]

I'm trying to figure out if I did something wrong.

My mother measured me for my men. She did the exact shape of my head.

The men I have (and can't return) seems to fit. Everyone tells me it fits. I can get my forehead in, etc. If I press all the way down on the top, so it is flat against my head, I have just enough room under the chin to insert my index finger.

The problem is, in my Kendo class, one boy hits ((so hard)). It gives me a really bad headache and is kind of discouraging me from even going. I loved Kendo before I bought the bogu and was being hit by this boy all the time. I don't think he is hitting right, because when our teacher hits me it had a lot of force in it but does not hurt.

Now, is it my fault though? I purchased a thin men pad, but when I put it into the men and tie it on right it is extremely uncomfortable. This is not the case with the men pad is not in, leading me to believe I have a correctly fitted men.

My question is, would it have been smarter to have gotten a larger one, so a pad could fit--or just get the one that fits? I can always sell this men as used and buy another one, although I really don't want to.

[hanratty]

You could try asking him to not hit so hard :p
Ask the other kendoka if it bothers them too.

[skilled]

I'm trying to figure out if I did something wrong.

My mother measured me for my men. She did the exact shape of my head.

The men I have (and can't return) seems to fit. Everyone tells me it fits. I can get my forehead in, etc. If I press all the way down on the top, so it is flat against my head, I have just enough room under the chin to insert my index finger.

The problem is, in my Kendo class, one boy hits ((so hard)). It gives me a really bad headache and is kind of discouraging me from even going. I loved Kendo before I bought the bogu and was being hit by this boy all the time. I don't think he is hitting right, because when our teacher hits me it had a lot of force in it but does not hurt.

Now, is it my fault though? I purchased a thin men pad, but when I put it into the men and tie it on right it is extremely uncomfortable. This is not the case with the men pad is not in, leading me to believe I have a correctly fitted men.

My question is, would it have been smarter to have gotten a larger one, so a pad could fit--or just get the one that fits? I can always sell this men as used and buy another one, although I really don't want to.


If he hits you hard

you should raise more your head so he only hits the men part where the protection is , maybe you show your head too much so his shinai hits you a litle far than when the men protection is.

[dillon]

A larger men probably won't protect better. In fact, you might then deal with the men slipping around which can be unpleasant.

A men pad may also change the balance of the way your men sits on your head. You can try it, but be aware it may make things worse (as it did for me). It's also something you might not notice right away as it took me about halfway through a practice before I realize the men pad was putting the balance of the men forward so there was more strain on my chin.

I would do what the others have already suggested, tilt your head up a bit so the force is taken on the rim of the mengane and let your dojo-mate know that he's hitting too hard. A good cut shouldn't feel like you're being clubbed to death. Generally people hit harder the less experience they have. I'll admit I still use too much strength and regrettably make some dojo-mates wince.

[bobdonny]

I'm trying to figure out if I did something wrong.

My mother measured me for my men. She did the exact shape of my head.

The men I have (and can't return) seems to fit. Everyone tells me it fits. I can get my forehead in, etc. If I press all the way down on the top, so it is flat against my head, I have just enough room under the chin to insert my index finger.

The problem is, in my Kendo class, one boy hits ((so hard)). It gives me a really bad headache and is kind of discouraging me from even going. I loved Kendo before I bought the bogu and was being hit by this boy all the time. I don't think he is hitting right, because when our teacher hits me it had a lot of force in it but does not hurt.

Now, is it my fault though? I purchased a thin men pad, but when I put it into the men and tie it on right it is extremely uncomfortable. This is not the case with the men pad is not in, leading me to believe I have a correctly fitted men.

My question is, would it have been smarter to have gotten a larger one, so a pad could fit--or just get the one that fits? I can always sell this men as used and buy another one, although I really don't want to.

You must inform your seniors / sensei.

Recently in our club we have stopped anyone from hitting new people in bogu. Only a senior may practice with htem until they get comfortable for this reason exactly... only seniors will have the control to not hurt you as you are getting used to being hit. After you are used to it, then you will be in a better position to judge what is excessive force and what is not.

A larger men would not stop the problem overall, it may make things more difficult in other area's. Sounds like it fits fine.

In the short term, when this boy hits, look upwards so the force is taken on your mengane as opposed to your head... only a little tho, too much of an ange and he will hit the mengane directly and you risk splinters.

Let us know how you get on.

[Shinsengumi77]

Sounds like it fits fine...it may just be (as the others have said) that a) you're not used to being hit yet, b) that guy hits too hard or with his right hand or whatever, or c) you're showing too much of the top of your head.

I'd like to note that some people who are shorter (is that the case here?) tend to lift up their head to compensate but develop a bad habit of looking up too much, which can make receiving tsuki a bit dangerous (if parts of your neck/collarbone are exposed/unprotected).

[Tsunemori]

Be aware of the "monomi" - the wider gap between the (usually) 7th and 8th bars of your men-gane. That's the space where you should be looking through, so technically in a short vs tall fight, the shorter should be looking very slightly up, and the tall very slightly down.