Korean National Team Hakama - my experience

[Chusan]

Just received and tried the "Korean National Team Hakama" these days.
Now I would like to share my experiences with this item.
A picture: http://kendoshop.com/eshop/upfiles/C6-P-2.jpg
Page: http://kendoshop.com/eshop/index.php?mode=subdetail&num=284&flag=catedetail
I`m 170 cm high (small) and bought a 180 cm length, which is okay. Just had to seam about one inch to get the hakama fitting.
The item has NO Japanese back, instead of this it has a fixed obi with a velcro. Putting on the hakama is somewhat different from normal ones because of that - but no problem. Front himo, obi and then the back himo.
Works fine.
The overall fit is very comfortable. The obi gives good support.
The hakama is very light-weighted but the black stripes and the obi are thick and add considerable strength to the hakama.
I`m very satisfied with it and like to wear it during my normal Keiko.

[kuzu70]

Is the price of the hakama only 24 US Dollars? Is that correct?

[Chusan]

Yes, correct.

[bokkenbreaker83]

wat is the american hakama color....blue? if not does anyone have a site that has them. Those korean hakamas look really nice.

[kuzu70]

American hakama is just the regular indigo blue hakama.

But, 24 US Dollars for a hakama is a damned good deal!!

[Pan-Chan]

wat is the american hakama color....blue? if not does anyone have a site that has them. Those korean hakamas look really nice.

To my knowledge, Korea is the only country that has a different colored hakama. All the other countries use the normal indigo, black, or white hakama.

[tokon]

na da wirst du dir aber einige freunde machen mit der wahl deiner koreanischen hakama; besonders bei den japanischen sensei ;-) auch wenn es eine geile farbmishung ist! ;-)


well, i don´t like breaking the traditions. and using velcro instead of himo is showing us a way, i don´t want to go even if it better works. it´s characteristic for our time. everything has to go fast, no sense for old traditions, just cause they´re to slow and therefore unpopular. there is no time anymore to pause for a moment and getting on kendo-gi oldfashioned allthogh it helps to prepare oneslef mentally for training.
the next step will be elastics (elastic himo) for getting the men fast and easily (i think hasegawa is working on it) or velcro himo for the do and tare. and last but not least electronical hitting paddings on on the hitting zones (men, do, kote) just to score the hittings without judging ki-ken-tai-ichi, zanshin etc.

in our dojo every pupil has to know how to get the kendo-gi oldfashioned. without that there´s no chance to pass the first exam. it´s the base like reiho and kihon-dosa for getting the permission. and for an exam, a seminar or tournament every pupil has to wear darkblue kendo-gi.

[rainmaker]

This Hakama is for Korean Kumdo national team but it is very popular between Korean Kumdoka. If you are being taught by Kumdo school, I think it is okay. But if you go to traditional Kendo school, I think you should get traditional Kendo uniform. I found that some Japanese Kendo sensei think this is offensive to himself and school.

[DanDan]

i wear the velcro obi type hakama @ my dojo. sensei has no problem with it.

[crabbi]

" There are two kinds of fool - those who say, " because it is old, it is good ";

and those who say, " because it is new, it is better "”

-The Very Rev William Ralph Inge (Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral, London, England - 1911-1934).

crabbi

[ben spain]

excellent quote!

[crabbi]

excellent quote!
Thanks Ben... with that and the Mark Twain quote in my signature you can't go far wrong!!

Cheers

crabbi

[Chusan]

... some Japanese Kendo sensei think this is offensive to himself and school...
Maybe.
But IMHO a sensei who feels offended by seeing two black stripes on a white hakama seems to have some problems...
Especially if one knows, that lots of so-called "Japan-made" Bougu is actually being made in Korea, China, India, Philippines etc. (if you`ve ever fixed the insides of Kote, you know what I mean - there are pieces of newspaper, quite often, in it...)

Yet I think that for official tournaments and for gradings the only choice for the normal player ist blue indigo (or white for females). Okay, no prob.

Just wanted to tell you, that the Korean National Team Hakama is fine and maybe a good alternative for daily routine.

[EzzzE]

nothing wrong with some modernization...couple of years ago one would have considered bogu too new and useless, but:

i like kendo beacuase it has some old style values

and

i don't see the mayor improvement to the obi-construction. and is time such a difference? i don't take too long for putting on hakama....

the colour combination is no concern imho, as long as they don't get that ugly as in another thread (cant remeber its name, but they were ugly, u know what i mean... *gG* )

[ISSAC RU]

Chusan:Especially if one knows, that lots of so-called "Japan-made" Bougu is actually being made in Korea, China, India, Philippines etc. (if you`ve ever fixed the insides of Kote, you know what I mean - there are pieces of newspaper, quite often, in it...)

what the hell is wrong with you ?
i take that as a serious insult...
don't u know most the bogus now on the market are made in china and korea ?
with a tiny mind prespective like yours shouldn't even be here ..
what are you ? live with ur mama ?

[Mikeyprime]

Chusan:Especially if one knows, that lots of so-called "Japan-made" Bougu is actually being made in Korea, China, India, Philippines etc. (if you`ve ever fixed the insides of Kote, you know what I mean - there are pieces of newspaper, quite often, in it...)

what the hell is wrong with you ?
i take that as a serious insult...
don't u know most the bogus now on the market are made in china and korea ?
with a tiny mind prespective like yours shouldn't even be here ..
what are you ? live with ur mama ?
Wow, settle down beavis. He is just trying to distinguish that just because it is korean does not mean you cannot use it at a tradtional japanese dojo. (that is his point not mine). Be open to others' opinions.

[D'Artagnan]

I really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really want a pair!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just can't seem to get them from anywhere!

If i try and order through Kendoshop, then i get diverted to ninecircles.

I don't know where else i can get them shipped to the UK!!!!

I want go faster stripes! I want velcro!

[ben spain]

I hate it when Kendoshop does that!!

I wanted to order something on the Kendoshop site that ninecircles does not stock, and I sent them three emails which they just ignored!!!!

You could try phoning ninecircles and asking if they could get one for you - but I bet you will end up paying a lot more than you would through kendoshop!

[Chusan]

Chusan:Especially if one knows, that lots of so-called "Japan-made" Bougu is actually being made in Korea, China, ,,,
...
don't u know most the bogus now on the market are made in china and korea ?

That`s exactly what I wrote. Plus: lots of bougu is made in India, Phillipines etc. Look at the pieces of newspaper inside kote und you`ll see it.
Fact is: many Japanese are proud of their "made in Japan"-stuff and just don`t know, that their Japan-made bougu has been manufactured by children in these countries.

[rainmaker]

I am not saying where uniform is made. I am talking about design of Kendo uniform. Stripes on a white Hakama represents Korean Kumdo style. Traditional Kendo uniforms are either white or indigo color. It is like wearing red uniform to Taekwondo school which is very inappropriate. Sometimes, sensei might not say anything but they might think you are not respectable.



Maybe.
But IMHO a sensei who feels offended by seeing two black stripes on a white hakama seems to have some problems...
Especially if one knows, that lots of so-called "Japan-made" Bougu is actually being made in Korea, China, India, Philippines etc. (if you`ve ever fixed the insides of Kote, you know what I mean - there are pieces of newspaper, quite often, in it...)

Yet I think that for official tournaments and for gradings the only choice for the normal player ist blue indigo (or white for females). Okay, no prob.

Just wanted to tell you, that the Korean National Team Hakama is fine and maybe a good alternative for daily routine.

[fighting mochi]

the stripe is symbolic with the korean martial art of tae kwon do. so i'm sure that the stripe is representative of korea. as for wearing one in your dojo, you might want to ask your sensei first to see if it is all right to wear for practice. most sensei will be all right with it if you sight the difference in price. but i'm certain they'll ask you to have a traditional one for testing so you won't offend the judges. of course if you do wear that, you'll have to wear the white top go with it.

and i also think they are cool looking and wouldn't mind having one. but my i'm sure my sensei in japan would just laugh at me. not because he would be insulted(he's cool that way) but because he knows i like to try new things.

[Kaoru]

That`s exactly what I wrote. Plus: lots of bougu is made in India, Phillipines etc. Look at the pieces of newspaper inside kote und you`ll see it.
Fact is: many Japanese are proud of their "made in Japan"-stuff and just don`t know, that their Japan-made bougu has been manufactured by children in these countries.

How do you know? Somehow, I think you have your information wrong. I don't think a kid could make a safe bogu. It's way too detailed and difficult. Plus, so far, I also have only heard of bogu coming from China and Korea. Where did you hear it was made elsewhere?

Did you really find newspaper in a kote? Did you actually cut it open to see? I never heard of such a thing yet. Has anyone else? *curious*

Maybe some of the sensei here could comment?

Kaoru

[Kaoru]

the stripe is symbolic with the korean martial art of tae kwon do. so i'm sure that the stripe is representative of korea. as for wearing one in your dojo, you might want to ask your sensei first to see if it is all right to wear for practice. most sensei will be all right with it if you sight the difference in price. but i'm certain they'll ask you to have a traditional one for testing so you won't offend the judges. of course if you do wear that, you'll have to wear the white top go with it.

and i also think they are cool looking and wouldn't mind having one. but my i'm sure my sensei in japan would just laugh at me. not because he would be insulted(he's cool that way) but because he knows i like to try new things.

Well, in my dojo, we have a Korean Kumdoka who is now a member of our dojo. She has a white hakama with the black stripe, since she lived in Korea and did Kumdo there and that's where she got her uniform. Sensei doesn't mind at all, since that was her uniform for her old dojang. But, I think my sensei wouldn't allow us to get a white hakama w/black stripe since we are not former Kumdoka. Our uniform is the traditional blue, but we may wear black.

Oh and I never knew mochi was a fighting ice cream/rice dessert. Hmmmm. Gonna have to keep an eye on my mochi next time I buy it. :D Yummy... Chocolate or mango mochi! *sigh*

Kaoru

[Fonsz]

At a certain time my kote fell apart, and I tried to fix it. There were newspaper clippings in it and they were Chinese. I suppose that the really cheap ones are made someplace else. If helpdesks and callcenters are outsourced why not kote?

[ISSAC RU]

Thats because you buy cheap stuff , doesn't mean Chinese only make cheap stuff.

[ISSAC RU]

Oh..it reminds me..some other day..I saw some european orbits didn't reach its destination ...I think this is not the first time i heard that..I just think maybe Ameicans gonna beat the europeans anyways..

[Fonsz]

Hiya Isaac,
As a matter of fact the kote in question was bought in Japan at a bogu shop. The reason for trying to fix it was that they were from Japan, so obviously I figured they were good quality. Cheap or affordable doesn't always have to mean bad you know. I wonder if you could explain the post about the orbits, since this thread is about Kumdo Hakama.

[Karaken]

You can pickup a Korean National Team style uniform form here..

http://www.kendomecca.com/shop/

BTW, many Korean shops also sell Indigo Blue velcro style set as well but I haven't found one with English site yet. I'll post if I do..

What do you know- I found one - can't beat this at $30 per set.

http://www.kendosale.com/html/main-frame.htm

[Karaken]

Sehyun sells them also but you know they don't do credit cards.

http://www.sehyun-kumdo.com/e-sehyun.htm

[Utotin]

Oh..it reminds me..some other day..I saw some european orbits didn't reach its destination ...I think this is not the first time i heard that..I just think maybe Ameicans gonna beat the europeans anyways..

Of course we are!!!!

[Ric Flinn]

So do the Korean national team members wear their gi tops (what are they called? Dobak?) on the outside of their hakama? I ask because the only kumdo people I've seen wore hakama-like pants with their top on the outside and a belt around it.

[Seoul Man]

So do the Korean national team members wear their gi tops (what are they called? Dobak?) on the outside of their hakama? I ask because the only kumdo people I've seen wore hakama-like pants with their top on the outside and a belt around it.

I'm new to this so please bear with me. I believe that those individuals you have seen wearing their 'tops on the outside of their hakama?' wearing "hakama-like pants with their top on the outside and a belt around it' are practitioners of Haidong Gumdo. Haidong Gumdo is the 'other' Korean sword art. Apparently they are on less than friendly terms with the Korea Kumdo Association which oversees kendo or 'daehan kumdo' in Korea and is recognized by the IKF. Haidong Gumdo is more form and cutting oriented although they do occassionally practice fighting techniques the emphasis is a softer, circular, multiple opponent approach. They also use a colored belt system so I think that pretty much pegs them. Practitioners of daehan kumdo (korean kendo) wear uniforms and armor nearly identical to other kendoka.

BTW - I think that 'kumdo' in the translated word is reserved for daehan kumdo (korean kendo) and 'gumdo' is used for the other. In the Korean language, the g and k are the same... I think, so the choice of letter is to make the distinction between the two styles in the English language.

[Ric Flinn]

I'm new to this so please bear with me. I believe that those individuals you have seen wearing their 'tops on the outside of their hakama?' wearing "hakama-like pants with their top on the outside and a belt around it' are practitioners of Haidong Gumdo. Haidong Gumdo is the 'other' Korean sword art. Apparently they are on less than friendly terms with the Korea Kumdo Association which oversees kendo or 'daehan kumdo' in Korea and is recognized by the IKF. Haidong Gumdo is more form and cutting oriented although they do occassionally practice fighting techniques the emphasis is a softer, circular, multiple opponent approach. They also use a colored belt system so I think that pretty much pegs them. Practitioners of daehan kumdo (korean kendo) wear uniforms and armor nearly identical to other kendoka.

BTW - I think that 'kumdo' in the translated word is reserved for daehan kumdo (korean kendo) and 'gumdo' is used for the other. In the Korean language, the g and k are the same... I think, so the choice of letter is to make the distinction between the two styles in the English language.

Ah, that would definately make sense, thanks. This group did also seem to concentrate on forms (lots of jumping, sommersalts, and spins; I waited and waited, but no backflips, shucks), though they did to kendo-like sparring as well.