3rd post - Equipment needed

kendo need alot alot equiment and therefore lots of money are needed to be spent....
this is the standard uniform of Kendo.Coming up are the protective gears for kendo.



MEN
This is used to protect the head called "men" and is made of layers thick cloth on the sides with a metal grill and leather trimmings. Padding on the inside of the grill allows a tight fit between the top of the head and the chin. A throat guard ("tsuki") is made of padded cloth with leather on the outside. Usually the tsuki will have a "X" patter of stitches which serve as a target for thrusts.


DO
This is used to protect the body is called a "do". The do is traditionally made of bamboo panels although plastic materials and even carbon fiber can be found.


KOTE
This is used to protect the fingers are called "kote" and are also made of thick layers of cloth on the wrists with padded cloth or leather for the fingers.


TARE
The lower body protector is called a "tare". The tare is also made of thick layers of cloth with leather and stitches making patterns on it.It is used to protect our sexual organs!especially for guys!



This are the equipment used for hitting the opponent shinai,katana and sodu.Kantana and Sodo are used in a later stage of kendo.
Shinai

Sodo

Katana

2nd post - history/background

The sword is an integral part of Japanese history. With the rise of the warrior class (samurai) in Japanese society in the 13th century, the sword carved lasting impressions in Japan. Before the mid-eighteenth century, the Samurai used real blades (shinken) or a wooden sword (boken or bokuto) to practice their sword skills. Unfortunately, death or serious injuries were not an uncommon occurance.

In the mid-eighteenth century, Nakanishi Chuta created Kendo as a means to practice swordsmanship without fear of injury. He created the bamboo practice sword (shinai), allowing the swordsman to execute a full blow without fear of causing an injury. In addition, he created protective gauntlets (kote), chest guard (do), hip and groin protector (tare), and a head and throat protector (men). Kendo has remained fundamentally unchanged since then.

Kendo therefore, as opposed to kenjutsu, is not practiced in order to destroy opponents but rather to train oneself in character building. It is in this aim of spritual awakening that kendo has much in common with Zen Buddhism. However, kendo is deeply influenced not only by Zen but by orthodox Buddhist, Confucian, and Shinto philosophy. The expert manipulation of the sword is only the means to the end. In a kendo match only one person may win but many people may take part. Physical prowess and technical skill are counted less important than doing everything with full spirit and participation even if there's no hope of winning. What is important is attaining mental and spiritual calm and balance.

Kendo-first week of my plan

I have started going for kendo practise every twice a week.We were break up into 2 groups to train us in 2 areas of aspect in kendo.1 is speed and the latter which is stamina.I got into the speed section.It was a tought training that day.I just recovered from my injured ankle.Training was kind of painful that.

On my plan i told myself to practise more on my free time.I had been practising my "man" cuts this week.I have a video that shows the man cuts.It is a cut that hit the head.