DOU: Bamboo VS. Fibre

[KhawMengLee]

Now we all know the dream of every kendoka...well, most...is to own a 60 piece bamboo DO(or maybe a same Do "sharkskin"). Now one of my sempai was telling me that paper fibre DO's(often called Yamato etc,) are actually stronger than bamboo.

What are your opinions on this? Is the bamboo DO just a hype?

I currently use a fibre DO and will come into ownership of a bamboo DO soon. But what about the people who own such a set?

Also, with the various designs offered on the bamboo Do, would you use one or is it too precious?

MENG

[taiwnezboi]

I don't even know what the DO I have is.. it's black.. I always thought it was lacquer or something..

[AlexM]

I've used both (rental bogus).

Bamboo felt lighter (although not considerably and I might be imagining this) and it seemed to absorb shocks better (i.e. it was stronger and it spread the force of the blow around a bit more).

[S. Takamori]

For more info...

Usually you can find three kind of do at bogushops; the basic fiber do, which is cheap but without real comfort, second category is the "yamato fiber do" which is made on the same process as the bamboo one's by assembling pieces of fiber staves and finally the bamboo do which are usually made by assembling 43, 50 or 60 pc of bamboo on which a buffalo leather is coated and finished by lacquer. The process is all handmade for these do and this is the main reason for their prices. The shocks on bamboo do are much better absorbed due to these separate stave system.

Also of course embroidery, real leather, shark skin etc... can make it more expensive...

Quality for bogu is expensive, but you'll use it without problem for many years!

[cklin]

Bamboo dou is probably not suited to dry climates or to climates in which the humidity fluctuates dramatically -- the staves will shrink/expand.

[inner_cent]

I'm currently using a Bamboo Do (thanks to a friend of mine, who decide to cahnge with me fibre one. Its too big and too heavy for her).

The real defierence is when you wear them. Bambo absorb shocks better than fibre by far, but its quite heavy company to fibre. When a Bambo Do receives a hit, most of the shock are absorbed. As for Fibre, alot of the force went straight through and into the body.

When I first wear them, at first, I can't get used to it. But after awhile, you will find its alot more comfortable.... especially when the club decide to train on Do. Or becomes a motodachi for the beginners.......

[Confound]

My problem is a little something like this:

I bought my bogu from a very reliable shop almost directly after i came to Japan, with help from my school. Unfortunately, I have no IDEA what any of it is... Well, obviously I know which parts are which, and where they go, that's a given. The problem is, I don't know if the dou is bamboo, or the buu measurements, or any of the technical specs of my bogu. I do know that the inside of the kote are deerskin. i've seen enough deer skin to know that much.

any recommendations on identifying which dou are which?

c

[stk]

here's a picture of a dou with bamboo slats: http://www.eguchi.net/1_tezashi_do.jpg

[S. Takamori]

Dear Confound,

Do you speek to your teacher?

S. Takamori

[Kuri]

The higher spec fibre do look like bamboo do (ie. vertical slats on the inside) A bamboo do will have a greater thikness and generally be heavier. It's easy to tell the difference when you have a reference, but without any experience with both types it's best to ask an expert (your teacher)

[Confound]

Mr. Takamori...
I do indeed speak to my teachers, all four of them, often at length, however I have more important things to ask such busy men. Three of them don't even see me in my own bogu, I keep it at the dojo where I most infrequently practice. (It's a very long, and entirely logical story involving the theft of my bogu bag, and unwillingness to bang up my bogu dragging it back and forth every week.)

Since the sense who does see me in my bogu is somewhat uncomfortable with gaijin, and is a rather busy man in general, i'd rather not talk to him about it. he's only comfortable with me when i'm wearing a men, and he can't see my funny looking hair, skin and eyes. Old Japanese men are like that sometimes, much more rarely than old Japanese women, however.

I'm guessing mine is not a bamboo dou, mostly because of the price (it wasn't ridiculously expensive).

However, everyone else, thanks for the good advice.

c

[stakenaka]

Hmm... I am surprised you don't have the pexi-glass do listed. They are light, cheap, but bend a lot. Provides protection for most do hits, but feels like you are wearing nothing when fighting more experienced people.