Bringing gear to the dojo...

[nodachi]

I figure I may as well as clump these together as they are related so sorry for shinai/bokuto questions here, but...

How is the best way to move bogu AND shinai and bokuto to practice? I like to ride my bike to practice so I can avoid train fare. Sorry, I am poor. :)

What should I look for in a bogu bag and shinai/bokuto bag that will make this easiest, or is it simply not possible and really obnoxiously to even attempt.

I can manage one shinai, but I borrow the rest of the gear which is patiently waiting for me at the dojo. When it is time, what carrying gear should I look for?

[Critical_Bill]

well, some people just stash the bogu at the dojo, a friend of mine has all his equipment in the dojo locker, and uses a bike for transport ;)

[Paburo]

if you plan on riding your bike and carrying the bogu you'll probably need a backpack. something like this:

http://www.ultimateracquetball.com/_borders/backpack.jpg

some guy in our dojo does just that (he comes in motorbike).

the other choice would be carrying your stuff like this:

http://www.isu.edu/stunion/craftshop/backpack.jpg

be sure to buy a life insurance tho if u choose the latter... abunai desho~

[Kendoboy]

I don't think there is any type of bag made for a bike that will accomodate bogu, but you could try a gym bag, and put it on a rack in the back with bungie cord.

Or you could just store it at the dojo.....

[JSchmidt]

Nike at one point made a bag which was perfect for a bogu...unfortunatly they dont make it anylonger.
You can get backpack style bogu bags (Koei makes them anyway), which might be the answer you're looking for.
And yeah...I'm fed up with dragging my gear around town, but as I'm practicing at 4 different locations, there's no way around it.
(None of them have storage space anyway).
Getting on the underground in the rush hour is always a lot of fun (not!)

Jakob

[mark]

Hi Nodachi,
I have seen several backpacks which accomodate bogu. The best one I have seen so far is made by Invectia. It cost 50 U$ and has a second pocket that is big enough to hold a wet hakama, keikogi, and towel.
It is the shinay bag that worries me. If your bike frame is long you could tie your shinai bag to the horizontal bar. Just make sure it does not stick out too long in front or in back! You would not want to spear a car or take out a pedestrian's eye when you are turning.
How do you carry it now? If it is tied vertically to your Bogu bag aren't you araid to hit some truck's mirror when you pass underneath? That is one dangerous way of practicing stucki!

Take care,
Mark

[chidokan]

I used to pedal to work nightshift straight after kendo. bogu bag on my back, sandwiches on the rear rack above the back wheel, and shinai/bokken on the crossbar, no problem, until one of the bogu bag straps broke and nearly flung me off! shinai are shorter than bikes so they dont stick out much beyond the headlamp.
Now I just use a car, its easier...

Tim Hamilton

[mingshi]

Nodachi, I bet going by bike is more of a tradition in Japan. Gaijin prefers driving... Read in Manga that they carry their Shinai bags at their back like a Ninja, and bogu at the backseat of their bike.
*****
The Hong Kong dojo was really far from my home... The fastest way is bus+train+train+train so it's quite troublesome when I have to drag my Bogu across the platforms. I used to take a bus which took 1.5hr and a bit of walking, but once I missed a bus stop (obviously fell asleep!), and have to rush to the dojo from 1 Km away... Was late already, but can't believe that I managed to get there in 15 mins, against all the pedestrians in the overcrowded streets.

Still use the old strap-n-shinai-on-shoulder carrying method. But people have been using grandma-trolleys nowadays. That's for walking only, of course it all depends how far your dojo is...

:)

[nodachi]

Right now I borrow the bogu from my sensei and he takes it home with him. The shinai gets strapped to the side of my backpack. Soon i am getting my own bogu though and I am trying to research in advance so I don't goof things up when it is time to buy the bag.

[Confound]

Nodachi, occasionally I bike my bogu around a bit. There is a bag from bujin (http://www.bujindesign.com/bogubag.html) that has back straps. It's really big, but I put it on my back and ride with it. May I suggest that you try to find something smaller, unless you're a strapping 6 foot 5 lad. (I'm not so tall, only 5 foot 6 inches or so, and the bag almost dwarfs me.)

If you can't find anything else, buy the bujin bag. it's huge, but it is tough as nails.

c

[iwatekenshi]

Yeah Confound I agree. I've got the same bag. Before getting a car I would use that when riding a bike, or later my motorcycle. The backpack option is just great! Ordering it was a long wait but well worth it.

[nodachi]

For bags with back pack straps like the one from bujin, how awkward are they?

Or does it just feel like a heavy school backpack (for those of us who know what that feels like, sorry, unfortunately I was a nerd :) )?

[iwatekenshi]

Whatever your are going to carry your bogu in is going to be awkward anway, but this is probably the best thing out there.
It's not a pain at all, and when you don't use the straps they can be packed away using an outside pocket that is under the straps.

[Jerry Wellbrock]

I have several of the Bujin bags....I have the large bogu bag and I would recommend the regulars size bogu bag....less expensive and still plenty big...the shoulder straps are wide and sturdy and can be zipped inside the back of the bag when not in use. Lots of room for clothes and bogu.

[Confound]

I agree with Mr. Wellbrock. Unless you are lugging around two sets of bogu, kendou and iaidou stuff, the regular sized one is very roomy. bloody hell the person next to me won:t stop humming really loudly...

c

[Kendoka]

I'd suggest it would be better to bring beer to the dojo.

For <ul>after</ul> of course!

[kendoka_ca]

I have one of the regular Bujin Design bogu bags, and I have had to lug it through airports a couple of times. I did so using the backpack straps that can be stored away in a zippered compartment on the back of the bag when not being used. It worked fine. I can see how it would work on a bike. But what about carrying a shinai bag on a bike?

Confound, how do you manage your bogu AND shinai bags? The next time you are biking to the dojo, you have to have someone take you picture and post it!