Issue with men

[kawasumiimaii]

Hi i'm new to the forum. But im having some issues and i kind of need responses asap.
I recently bought a new bogu set, and i tried on my men but im not sure if its too small? I can put my chin in but my forehead doesn't touch the padding on the inside. Is it supposed to touch? I was reading other forums and they say that it will become looser as you break it in, but i don't know if i should should just exchange it for the next size up. help please!

[rfoxmich]

It's supposed to touch. Your men is too small.. exchange it.

[Alicia]

Hi,

I had this problem when I got my men a few years ago, I was really upset about it at the time. But, then I squeezed the sides of the men inwards, and it made the top a little bit higher, just enough that my head fitted perfectly. So now it is a perfect fit. I think it was just a little squished from transport, or maybe just like that anyway.

Does this help?

Alicia

[kawasumiimaii]

is there a way to stretch it? cause i would have to ship it back and that would cost an arm and a leg.

i think its more like my head is too fat to fit inside of it. like i feel alot of pressure on my cheek bones and the bone on the top of ur head that pops out when u clench your jaw

[Alicia]

Well, if your face is too wide as well, then I guess my method won't work for you. I don't know about stretching it sorry... I don't think they would stretch that much though, or they would lose their fit over time? Maybe the padding compresses a little eventually..

[kawasumiimaii]

Ahh thanks though alicia. does anyone know how to stretch it? i tried with my hands a little bit just now. i can kinda of feel the forehead padding... i think it might work if i know how to properly stretch it. i called my sempai and he said to try it out. but i dont want to break my men. any advice?

[ShinKenshi]

My men was a little small when I first got it. I had a hard time getting my forehead to touch the front but after a couple months (practice once a week) it finally was broken in and fit perfectly. My head was able to reach the front no problem and I haven't had a problem since. It could just be that it's new so it will take some time to loosen up a little and conform to your face. Have your sempai and sensei check it out for you.

[Shinsengumi77]

Ahh thanks though alicia. does anyone know how to stretch it? i tried with my hands a little bit just now. i can kinda of feel the forehead padding... i think it might work if i know how to properly stretch it. i called my sempai and he said to try it out. but i dont want to break my men. any advice?

Odds are that you'd break before your men does. It's made to take punishment so you don't have to. But I would exchange it if possible. If it takes a while to get the cash for it, then oh well. Practice without bogu or something. You just have to be patient. More basics can't hurt right?

[Neil Gendzwill]

Your men isn't a little small. It's too small. But to be sure, have your sensei check the fit.

[kawasumiimaii]

i only see my sensei on Saturdays and by then it would be too late to exchange it. i swore i measured my head correctly. i tried again a few times in case i was like crazy. and it still came out to 26inches. it was even tightly measured either. just kinda loosely around my head. should i just go ahead and exchange it then. *sigh this is so depressing.

[Shinsengumi77]

What do you mean too late? You have your whole life to do kendo; it's not going anywhere. Your sensei is the best person to ask, so just wait until you see them. Again, be patient.

[kawasumiimaii]

the exchange time is 7 days, i acnt exchange after that. i would have to buy a whole new one. ><

[yoda-waza]

Use your head and think about it. The men is meant to protect your head from breakage so why in the world would you use your head to break in the men? Return it and get properly fitted.

[Anime12478]

The best thing to do would be to just remeasure your head and see if they have better fits for your head size. But do repeats just in case there are some small changes to the measurements from human error. Most likely, you only measured once and that size was incorrect (unless you actually did that). Then you should get in contact with whoever you bought it from to get their suggestion for a more suitable size compared to your head measurements and size of the men that is currently in your possession.

[kawasumiimaii]

i measured it a bunch, like 10 times before i bought it because i was worried this would happen :[ and i just measured it again, and now my head seems to have shrunk. lol. i've measured it every way possible in case i didnt measure correctly and i even asked my roommate to measure it. and it comes out 26... maybe they sent me the wrong men? im just going to call them and maybe exchange it. thanks for the advice everyone :]

[Shinsengumi77]

Hope everything works out. Good luck.

[ReKru]

maybe they sent me the wrong men?

That's possible.

Regarding the 'stretching'. That's only feasible, if the thing basically fits but feels like it has the wrong shape (lots of room on the sides but very tight at the top f.ex. or the other way round). Can happen with some of the 'off the shelf' men from cheaper suppliers.
Then you either tie the men with your himo so the rounder shape becomes more oval (and let it rest a few days before you use it). Or you don't tie it very tightly and pull the flaps out, if it's too 'oval' and you have a lot of room at the top but your head (specially ears) get pressure from the sides.

That's only small adjustments/tweaks to increase the comfort, if the overall fit is at least "ok". It will NOT make a men protective, that is just plain too small for your head.

Your descriptions sound more like the entire thing is too small -> exchange.

[dwez]

the exchange time is 7 days, i acnt exchange after that. i would have to buy a whole new one. ><

Then you contact the supplier NOW and say it doesn't fit and you wish to return in. Then you go and get your sensei to check it and if he says it will fit eventually, what does it matter that the supplier doesn't receive a returned item? They will assume you solved the problem, or you could in fact contact them to say it will fit afterall and it won't be returned.

Or you could even ask them to extend the exchange policy deadline so you can get your sensei 'experienced' opinion on whether it will fit or not. That's if you wish to be totally open, honest and risk them saying 'no, sorry 7 days and that's that' although they should be named and shamed if that's their attitude to customer service!

[Neil Gendzwill]

Sizing problems are quite common. It's entirely possible they sent the wrong men, or that you measured wrong. Especially if you measured yourself. It's best to get someone who is experienced to measure you.

If your chin is properly in the cup and you can't get your forehead to touch the pad, even forcing it, then your men is too small and no amount of tying or shaping or whatever is going to fix that. Just contact the supplier, say you may need to exchange it but you need a little extra time to have your sensei check it. I'm sure they would rather avoid the exchange if possible.

[kawasumiimaii]

I actaully just tried on my friend's brand new men that is the next size up from mine which is the 68cm... i have the 66cm. and the 68cm one seems to be huge. like its sooooo loose that even the tightest that i could tie it, it was still moving all around. I had him measure my head for me, and he got even smaller then what i measured. i got 66cm when i measured. and he got 64 3/4 cm. i contacted the supplier and they asked me to ask my sensei first so i hope that means that the exchange extension has been granted.

i had my friend take a look at it while i was wearing it and he says that my forehead does seem to like just barely touch the padding. but it doesnt rest on it necessarily. if i wear the tenugui, the tenugui touches the padding for sure.
as for the spacing. i feel like the top of my head has more space then the sides. should i just try to round it out more?


your chin is properly in the cup and you can't get your forehead to touch the pad, even forcing it, then your men is too small and no amount of tying or shaping or whatever is going to fix that.

my forehead will rest on the padding if i push my head in. my friend pushed my head in and it was resting on the padding. does that mean there is a chance it will fit? cause the next size up is humungo T.T

[Alicia]

It sounds from what you are describing, that the men does fit, but you are just not used to the feel of it. How about trying some other peoples from your dojo, maybe there will be one that feels really good, or maybe you will realise they all feel uncomfortable/weird to begin with?

[Bokushingu]

I actaully just tried on my friend's brand new men that is the next size up from mine which is the 68cm... i have the 66cm. and the 68cm one seems to be huge. like its sooooo loose that even the tightest that i could tie it, it was still moving all around. I had him measure my head for me, and he got even smaller then what i measured. i got 66cm when i measured. and he got 64 3/4 cm. i contacted the supplier and they asked me to ask my sensei first so i hope that means that the exchange extension has been granted.

i had my friend take a look at it while i was wearing it and he says that my forehead does seem to like just barely touch the padding. but it doesnt rest on it necessarily. if i wear the tenugui, the tenugui touches the padding for sure.
as for the spacing. i feel like the top of my head has more space then the sides. should i just try to round it out more?



my forehead will rest on the padding if i push my head in. my friend pushed my head in and it was resting on the padding. does that mean there is a chance it will fit? cause the next size up is humungo T.T

hey this is your sempai :) so tomorrow I will take you to class and Sensei can have a look at it. Sorry i couldn't help you much over thwe weekend; i was so busy with the North south Taikai. But i'm thinking you probably had the same problem as me. I had to really stretch the sides of mines out for it to fit well.

when I picked up your bogu, I watched them pack it. If you got the extension i will be back up there next week so i'll take it back if it doesn't fit. but for now let's just let Sensei check it tomorrow.

[Neil Gendzwill]

my forehead will rest on the padding if i push my head in. my friend pushed my head in and it was resting on the padding. does that mean there is a chance it will fit?Once your forehead is touching the padding, can you open your mouth a little to speak, or is your jaw forced shut? If you can still speak then you probably just have a very snug fit, which is a good thing. Let David give you a hand, I'm sure you'll sort it out.

[Bokushingu]

Once your forehead is touching the padding, can you open your mouth a little to speak, or is your jaw forced shut? If you can still speak then you probably just have a very snug fit, which is a good thing. Let David give you a hand, I'm sure you'll sort it out.

Thanks, Neil-Sensei...when i brought the bogu to her it was around 1am so we didn't have time to check it. I'll check it b4 class & then I will have our Sensei double check it. Today for me is only mitori-Geiko so i can assist her during class :)

[kawasumiimaii]

it fits! horrah! thanks david :] and everyone else!
it just needed a little stretching but i can talk and stuff and david said it was k :]

[LarsCW]

Best thing you could do is let your sensei measure you. He/She's knows what is important and how to measure.

When measuring yourself then you migth have the angle wrong which then results in a wrong size men, kote or doh.

Just like someone mentioned before. Your equipment should be broken in and not your body to your equipment.

When you have equipment which fit poorly then it only will hurt more and it takes away the enjoyment of doing kendo.

[Sasayaki]

I have an issue with men to :P lol jk.


it fits! horrah! thanks david :] and everyone else!
it just needed a little stretching but i can talk and stuff and david said it was k :]

But either way, glad to hear that it fits, hope you have fun with your new bogu. :D