What should I Do? (ho, ho)

[David J]

Dear all, opinions appreciated.

I have a mixed bogu right now - nice 3mm Men from Tozando, nice Kote (origin unknown), nice 3mm Tare from Tozando, cheap old plastic Do.

Question - is it worth the extra for a slatted do? How about bamboo? I can see that its worth having a good Men, and also good Kote, but how about the Do?

Question 2 - how should it sit? I have wide hips for a guy, and my existing do gets pushed north by them - the result being that the tsuki-dare sits in front of the do-mune, which a) feels wrong and b) prevents me from lowering my head when I want to. Should I go for an XL size or is this actually how it should sit?

Thanks all

<rei>

Dave

[KhawMengLee]

Yup, XL time..or they can make it wider for you. I like the bamboo...it feels nicer but paper fibre has been said to last longer.

Contact your dealer and explain what you need. He should be able to get your size. With the bamboo dou the back can also be made wider so that hould not be a problem.

MENG

[Neil Gendzwill]

Your doh is too small. The doh should overlap the waistband of the tare and should be able to move freely. Fibreglas dohs only go so big, if you are a big boy you'll need to buy a take-doh to get a custom size.

An alternative to spending extra money is to stretch your fibreglas doh (caution, not sure if this works with the ultra-cheapo plastic ones). Cut some old shinai staves to the width you need your doh to be and brace the back open with them. The staves should go between the corners where the himo attach. You can only spread the doh 1 or 2 cm at a time using this technique, if you need more room you'll need to repeat a few times. Set up a hair dryer on low, aim it at the centre of the inside of the doh. Let it run overnight. Turn off the hair dryer and leave the doh sit with the staves for a day to cool down and take the new shape.

This technique also works with take-doh but you need to use steam instead of a hairdryer.

[David J]

Thanks guys. Looks like its time to spend some cash. Cant believe no other kit freaks have commented on the bamboo / fiber / plastic issue.....

<rei>

Dave

[kendokamax]

yo keep the small do!! the target will be less big, so no more nuki do (I hate do uchi, it should be ban from kendo)....but also maybe you would get hurt more often?

seriously you should buy some nice same do-. XL of course
go for it!

[kanyil]

...Let it run overnight.
isn't that just a little dangerous? leaving an unattended blowdryer running for a whole night? won't it overheat and melt itself down in the middle of the night?

[Neil Gendzwill]

Not if it's on low. If your hairdryer only has one setting, don't use it for spreading your doh.