The chest of it

[Sekhmet]

Yes, it had to come, but since I'm a girl I guess I'm allowed to bring this up and won't be put in a box with that guy someone called "16 year-old who wants to talk about boobs" or what is was. So, a serious boobs question.

Ok, the thing is, I'm now several months old in the kendo world, and I have caught a vibe from my sensei that bogu time is not too far off. Since I'm the only woman in our dojo apart from some young girls (in bogu), I hope some of you here can help me:

As I've observed the do of my fellow male kendoka, the thing obviously wasn't constructed along the lines of the female physique! The bulges going the wrong way and all that. I'm quite tall and a typical hourglass figure with a good bit on top and a long, small waist, and I don't see myself fitting comfortably into that half a tied-on barrel.

Since I've never tried on the piece, what I keep thinking is, how does it sit on the body? From the guys, the flap bit above the plastic shell thingy (ooh, this is bad - must consult glossary before posting next time) seems to sit tight-ish against the top of the chest, which is fine for them. But not for us, right, or how do you not get all squashed?

The pictures I've seen of female kendoka are mostly tiny little Asians who don't really have a problem, or else they have been slightly big Westerners and worn a gigantic do which looked completely ridiculous. I hope a huge do is not the solution to fitting one's chest inside armour, because then it can't fit the waist - or?

I'd really appreciate anyone's words of wisdom, or at least of experience, so I can make preparations for when the time comes.

Many thanks,
S

[Nochi-no-tsuki]

first off welcome to the forum!
to try and answer your question:
the doh won't squash your chest as much as you think, because you tie it as tight as you need it. also, it doesn't tie flat against your chest, it ties down. ask one of your sempai if you could try their doh on after practice sometime and see how it fits, you will understand the tying method i am trying to describe better.
the doh does not 'fit' the waist, that is, it's not tight on your waist so no worries there. you're pretty much going to look a little odd no matter how you are shaped, doh is not flattering on anyone.

so don't worry, no one looks hot in a doh...except maybe Kenzan but that's neither here nor there.

[Neil Gendzwill]

I hope a huge do is not the solution to fitting one's chest inside armour, because then it can't fit the waist - or?

Actually the bigger doh for women is usually to fit their wider hips. Unfortunately then it can interfere with the arm movement a little. There was a thread on this a while back but I can't find it, search function seems to be a little wacky today.

[namabiru]

I'm also a little big in the chest (then again, big everywhere...) but all you have to do is adjust how you tie your do. So if you're more hour-glassed then just tie your bottom himo a bit tighter.

Also, the do tends to squish your boobs a bit. Not in a bad way though.

[Ignatz]

If you have money you might consider getting a do with the taller mune, the side portion is a bit larger and might protect against wayward do strikes that would only sting a guy but can hurt gals a lot.

Unfortunately we are talking $$$

[Sekhmet]

Thanks guys, that's really helpful already. Tying options sound like a solution. I was dreading women had to get a pricey, custom one, but it seems most women just wear a normal men's one?
I'll see if I can try a regular one and hope it'll do. (no pun intended!)

Thanks again.

[namabiru]

*Doh!* (in Homer Simpson talk...)

[Sekhmet]

Yes, quite!

[PhilMcLaughlin]

Not such a daft question (tho you can supply full details if you like ;-> )

If you have enough up top to spill over the edges of the do then Id say at least wear a sport bra to keep them under control (out of control boobies are much fun but not in a keiko context) and you may want to consider a karate style chest protector , especially as you are new to armour and dont really know how to defend yourself yet

best of luck

phil..

[Old Warrior]

Thanks guys, that's really helpful already. Tying options sound like a solution. I was dreading women had to get a pricey, custom one, but it seems most women just wear a normal men's one?
I'll see if I can try a regular one and hope it'll do. (no pun intended!)

Thanks again.

This is another solution used in European fencing:

http://www.amazon.com/Budget-womens-.../dp/B0002Y9H7Q

[namabiru]

If you have enough up top to spill over the edges of the do then Id say at least wear a sport bra to keep them under control (out of control boobies are much fun but not in a keiko context)

wow. Enough to go spilling over? Are you kidding me? Does that actually happen to people?

[Bailee]

Spilling over....that'd be nice...except in kendo (ouch!).

I agree, I good fitting sports bra works wonders. It won't solve all the problems, but helps keeping things out of shinai range just a bit.

[Sekhmet]

Tut-tut, I knew it was going to get someone's imagination racing. Well, we're definitely not at 'spilling over' levels, so I'll just stick with a sports bra and hope for the best.

As for not knowing how do defend myself yet - I'm still at the point of spontaneously apologising when I manage to get a good cut through! Ah, such a long way to go …

I'm mainly looking for women's experience of the whole chest/do clash thing, but thanks for the interest shown by the gents too in coming up with interesting scenarios, I guess.

[hnicholsh]

I was also worried when I got my do. I am a fairly average girl with average breasts, about 5'4''. Mostly there's been nothing to worry about. The do fits fine on me and all of the girls in my kendo club (there are close to 8 of us). The worst of it is when the do cut is too high, but really sharp and you can feel it through the protector, but it's not more than a few seconds of pain.

[PhilMcLaughlin]

Tut-tut, I knew it was going to get someone's imagination racing. Well, we're definitely not at 'spilling over' levels, so I'll just stick with a sports bra and hope for the best.

snip....

Well,, we only have your word that youre "quite big up top with a long thin waist" so we are just guessing based on prior expereience. You might be fibbing and in fact have a marmite jar figure ;-)

Forensically I think you should post a picture revealing salient sizing points (with an object or scale of known size in the picture) so that the commnuity can use their collective experience to estimate the degree of stickyoutedness likely to be encountered and thus offer you you more scientifically based advice.

Failing that a sports bra and fencing protector are likely to do the job - Good luck when you get your armour. Someone else made a very valid point to ask others in your dojo if you can try their kit on - its good advice - as in all kendo matters - do it, dont think so much about it

regards