training equipment

 

For kenjutsu practice, we wear samue for general keiko (practice).  However when you are starting out, loose comfortable clothing like tracksuit bottoms / t-shirt will be fine.  If you have practised a Japanese martial art in the past and have a gi, this is also fine initially.  We usually practise bare foot (unless there is a medical reason for not doing so).

 

Clothing required:

 

• Samue – loose Japanese casual clothing – ideal for keiko.

 

• Obi – wide belt to support sword – not coloured like karate/judo.

 

• Zori/Tabi – zori are outdoor footwear and tabi (Japanese socks with a separate big toe) are optional.

 

For embu (formal demonstrations) of Hyoho Niten Ichi-ryu kenjutsu at public events, we wear black montsuki, striped hakama and white tabi.

 

The only weapons we use in kenjutsu in kumitachi practise are;

 

• Bokken/Bokuto (wooden swords) Odachi (long sword) & Kodachi (short sword)

 

They are usually purchased as a pair as both the odachi (long sword) & kodachi (short sword) are used in general practise.