Breaking in new bogu

[kenshiwannabe]

My first bogu is on the mail (e-bogu 6mm). Could anyone give me any ideas on how to break it in? I know something has to be done, at least with the kote, but I have been unable to find any thread dealing with this issue.

[Hai_hai]

I've never done anything to my kote.
I would pull the men flaps up to the side while it is in storage.

[Miravil]

Some of the sempai told me that hitting the bending part of the kote will make it soft enough for moving the wrist while practice. I have not done that.

[Optomitrist]

Your kote wear with... well wear. The palms will stretch out and stuff during practice.

[LarsCW]

I got club bogu last tuesday and was lucky enough to get new kote and tare in the set. I haven't been told to do special things to break them in by my sensei. He only told me they would be more souple over time.

[Optomitrist]

Just understand that new bogu hurts. (a good example is your ears) Once you get past that you will be okay.

[tantadi]

Chiba bogu have a segment on their website about breaking in kote. It works to do what they suggest.

[k3narki]

here it is, hope that helps

http://www.chibabogu.com/catalog/information.php?info_id=14&osCsid=b56771a12a4d3677ddfb34eb2f964fa1

[joekc6nlx]

I've never had to do anything to break in my bogu. As long as you let it dry after you take it off, there should be no reason for you to need to break it in.

For your men, make sure you do NOT handle it by the throat protector, that will bend it out of shape and make it useless. Hold it by the mengane (grille) or the cloth portion at the top of the head. When you put on your men, make sure you put it on chin first, then slide it over your head.

For your kote, the palms will be wet, all you really need to do there is gently (key word) stretch the leather so it's somewhat flat. Store your kote on a flat surface palms down. I usually rest the mengane on the kote, just as you would have them in front of you during seiza. I don't put my bogu in the bag until the night before keiko, so I know it's gotten a good airing out.

For your do, really not much to do to it, but if you find bits and pieces of your lunch getting embedded in the embroidery on the mune, take a toothbrush and brush them out. Same for the tare.

Whatever you do, don't wash your men, tare, or kote. There are washable kote available, but I've only seen them one time. If you get salt stains bleeding through, take a damp cloth and gently dab it over the stains. Don't use hot water, warm will be just fine. Some people use Fabreze or similar sprays to make their bogu smell fresh, but I use a nylon mesh bag and fill it with whole cloves, tie it up, and place it inside my men when it's in the bogu bag.

If all else fails, be sure to ask your sempai or sensei what to do. That's what they are supposed to do, give you guidance about all aspects of kendo.

[Michael_St_A]

Yes, kote need breaking in. Follow the link to Chiba bogu.


You will also need to break in the men 'flaps'. Some men have a stitched vertical line running down the sides. That is where you bend them upwards. Bending them correctly means that your ears will have no problems. Tare does not need much attention but you might want to bend the 'flaps' outwards.

You will probably need to attach the men himo yourself. There are two different ways to do that. Ask a sempai to show you how.

Storing the bogu correctly after every session will help a lot. Many people do not store their men properly resulting in men 'flaps' that bend the wrong way. Ask a sempai for advice assuming they know how to do that. Also make sure you store the tare in a way that the tare himo do NOT twist and - over the months - turn into rope.

:-)