hand stitched bogu

[Tashaki Nakata]

Hi, I'm new to this forum.
I wanted to have your advice. I am considering to buy a hand-stitched bogu set of the highest store quality, but I am not sure about buying. I earn around 800,000 (around 7000$) yen per month and such a bogu is worth 1500-2000 dollars. I just want your advice if I should buy the bogu. If it's worth it.

[KhawMengLee]

Jesus, you make nearly 100,000US a year! The best set you can buy is probably 15,000US, well there is better but jeez....even a 3mm set is good enough....

Ultimately, its up to you...do you really want to spend so much on a bogu and then have someone mark that lovely DOU with a carbon shinai? Its up to you man, if I had the cash I'd buy it :D

[kendokamax]

If you like nice things and have the money to buy it, you should buy the nicest looking bogu for sure!

hey

hm im going to japan soon,

can we become friend?

[Neil Gendzwill]

Originally posted by Tashaki Nakata
such a bogu is worth 1500-2000 dollars. I just want your advice if I should buy the bogu. If it's worth it.
$US2000 buys one of the lower quality hand-stitched bogu. That would be a pretty good price for a low-end Japanese made set or a higher end Korean set. Top-quality is well over $US10000.
For everyday use, a decent quality hand-stitched set is nice but unnecessary. A top-quality set is usually just used for special occasions. People that own such sets usually have a cheaper one for everyday practice.

[Tashaki Nakata]

KhawMengLee, you convinced me. I make less than 100 000 $, but there are many many other expences and usually very little money's left for pleasure:)
Kendokamax, okay. If you visit Kanazawa.

[kendokamax]

I dont know much about Japan
where is kanazawa?

[Tashaki Nakata]

No, No:D You didn't understand me. I meant by hand stitched bogu/store quality, that I was going to buy it from a village in Bushu from a friend of my family who owns a bogu store, and he agreed to make it for less money.
But I already ordered it, so it will be ready in 3 months. I don't know what it will be, but the men-gane will be titanium/berium (around 400 gr.), the do will be with 90 (not 50-60) bamboo segments and the tare will be with 9 lines. I don't know anything about the kote, but he told me i'll be able to write with it:) I'm SO EXCITED . :D

[KhawMengLee]

EEEE....so am I!!! I want one too :(

[Skinner]

Hi,

Can I ask, for a beginner what grade bogu would you suggest,

should I go cheep until I am of a certain standard or should I buy the best with what I can afford. ( £ 1000-1500 )

[KhawMengLee]

Hmmnnn...you have obviously made the choice to do kendo full on so...

I would get a reasonable set to train with, 1500 pounds is about 9000 ringgit which makes it about 4500 aussie dollars. With that much money you can get a real good set but I would go for a cheaper set first.

Obviously, its up to you but during the early stages of training your bogu is gonna take a beating (and so are you). It comes down to what you can afford. I started with a 4mm set which was already good(plus the DOU was a weird burnished gold and drew a lot of unwanted attention). I use this set at every training and its nice but a bit small. My advise here is to get the right measurement and then put a few extra inches in the MEN measurements. The rest should fit snug.

My 4mm MEN just fits so I cant get much padding in and thus feel the brunt of all those killer MEN cuts.

My 3mm set on the other hand is real nice. Got everything extra big so it fits nice. The MEN is a nice pricey one (100,000yen) and because there is extra space I can fit the nice thick men protector in there. The kote is just a bit large so its comfy too. I really should use this set but its my baby abd I only use it on special occasions.

Talk to your Sempai or Sensei and then choose what you feel is best. Just remember to get a comfy size. Remember you can always get a good MEN and Kote first (most important to have)with a cheap DOU and TARE. Later you can get the more expensive stuff;)

[Neil Gendzwill]

Originally posted by Skinner
Can I ask, for a beginner what grade bogu would you suggest,

should I go cheep until I am of a certain standard or should I buy the best with what I can afford. ( £ 1000-1500 )
If you are certain that you want to continue for a long time, get the best machine-stitched set you can afford. Pay special attention to the men and kote. If you want to save some money, get a cheaper doh and tare. If you get a good-quality men, there is no need to buy oversized for padding.

[KhawMengLee]

True. I've tried my 3m without the padding but I still like to be extra safe when concerning my old noggin :D

[Atama]

Skinner.........I'd advise you to get a good quality set as it'll last you 10 years if looked after properly, but you don't have to spend thousands for good quality I bought a 1.2 bu hand stiched set with titanium men for £800 shipped, my boyfriend got his hand stiched set for £690 shipped and they are both stunning sets. Check out Sehyun bogu they have a site.

I take it that your training with Billy up in Liverpool, well if you are tell him Lisa and Dave send their regards and we'll be up to see him in the new year.


Lisa (Do Shin Ken Yu Kai - Preston)

[Skinner]

Hi guys,

thanks for the advise and Yes, Kendo is now in my life for good and I am loving every minute, But still I know not what to do, one thing I do know is its defo going to be a TITANIUM MEN !!!


Lisa - I had a look at the site and I am well impressed, but my only thought is that if I turned up in any of those bogu, I would get hit 10 times harder by everyone not to mention Billy. LOL.

I am at Kata on the 30th I pass on your regards then.

[Atama]

Skinner...thats the whole point, when my set came my boyfriend couldn't wait to hit it in class , he was cracking the Do as i was trying it on.

[hamish]

Tashaki - Be careful with the do, 90 slats of bamboo will give it a very good curve, but you'll find it will also make it a lot more prone to damage, I wouldn't recommend using it for everyday practice. Speaking to manufacturers, the top limit is usually 60-65 slats if you're going to be using it regularly.

Unless, that is, you needed a 90 slat do to fit you, but I don't know many people that big!

Hamish

[Tashaki Nakata]

Thanks, Hamish. I wanted a good curve, so I asked him for 90. But now I see I'm not as fat as I thought I was:D I'll talk to him again and settle for 70. I think it seems ok.