Kendogu

Your bogu is what lets you commit fully in keiko and keep training for years — so fit and feel come first.

We design and produce our own armour — men, kote, dō and tare. Buy a matched set, choose a made-to-order dō, or upgrade a single piece. New to bogu, or replacing one part? Send us your measurements for a free fitting consultation, or collect by appointment and try sizes on in Sydney. Scroll down for our full guide to choosing your men, kote, dō and tare.

How to choose your bogu

Your bogu is what lets you commit fully in keiko and keep training for years, so fit and feel matter more than anything else. A set has four pieces — men (face and head), kote (gloves), dō (torso) and tare (waist) — and you can buy them matched as a set or build them up one at a time. Here’s how to read what counts, and where our range fits.

1. A set, or piece by piece?

  • Your first bogu → a set. The four pieces are matched in stitch, weight and look, you size everything once, and it works out better value than buying separately. → Beginner’s Bogu Set, Deluxe Junior Set (for kids and smaller teens), Premium Bogu Set
  • Upgrading or replacing → a single piece. Kote wear out first, and many players upgrade the men or add a custom dō while keeping the rest. Every piece below can be bought on its own.

2. Get the fit right — this matters most

Bogu only protects you when it fits, and a piece that’s too tight or too loose will fight you every session. Each piece is sized differently:

  • Men — by your head: the full circumference, the measure around your forehead, and your eye line, so the monomi (the wider gap in the grill) sits level with your eyes for clear vision.
  • Kote — by your hand: length from wrist to fingertip, and the width around your knuckles.
  • Dō & tare — by your height and waist.

Don’t measure on your own — it’s almost impossible to get right solo. Have someone help with a soft tape while you stand in good posture.

This is where buying locally pays off. We’re kendo people in Sydney — send us your measurements for a free fitting consultation, or collect by appointment and try sizes on in person before anything is finalised. Because most bogu is made to order, we lock your size in and confirm the ETA before you pay — no guessing across a size chart from overseas.

3. The futon & stitch width

The padded sections of the men and tare are quilted with rows of stitching, and the width of those rows changes how they feel. Wider stitching (around 5–6mm) leaves the futon thicker, softer and more cushioned against a strike, and it breaks in comfortably — which is why it suits daily keiko. Finer stitching binds the padding thinner and stiffer for a sharper look, but with less give. Cross-stitching, used on some of our pieces, adds flexibility in every direction and a distinct cushioning effect.

4. The men’s grill (mengane)

The grill carries the strike to your men, so its strength, weight and the clarity it gives you all matter. Our entry men uses a JURA antibacterial mengane; the premium men uses an IBB (Ideal Best Balance) grill with the top bars in titanium for strength without the extra weight, and a layout tuned for better vision.

  • Keiko Men – Ren 錬 — JURA antibacterial grill, clarino reinforcement, cotton-felt mendare. A solid all-rounder. → view
  • Premium Men – Renma II 錬磨 — IBB titanium-topped grill, deluxe cotton inner, deerskin reinforcement. → view

5. Kote — where the wear happens

Kote take more impact than anything else, so the palm material and how flexible they are decide how they feel and how long they last. The tenouchi (palm, where you grip the shinai) is the part to watch: deerskin is soft, breathable and grips well; clarino and neo-leather are tougher and easier to care for. A single kera (the wrist section) keeps the glove flexible.

  • Deluxe Kote – Ren 錬 — light, extra deer-leather reinforcement, single kera and a curved-fist design for comfort. → view
  • Premium Kote – Renma 練磨 — deerskin tenouchi, asymmetric padding (thicker on the receiving side to soften impact) and a compact thumb for a snug fit. → view

6. The dō — and making it yours

The dō takes most of the strikes to the torso, so the dō-dai (the moulded body) is built for durability, and it’s also where players show some personality. Both of ours are made to order, so you choose the colour of the dō and the mune-kazari (the decorative pattern on the chest) when you order.

Our range at a glance

Piece Model Key features From
Men Keiko Men – Ren 錬 5mm straight stitch · JURA grill $200
Men Premium Men – Renma II 錬磨 6mm cross-stitch · IBB titanium-top grill $490
Kote Deluxe Kote – Ren 錬 Light · extra deer leather · single kera $270
Kote Premium Kote – Renma 練磨 Deerskin tenouchi · asymmetric padding $350
Dō MurasakiNoMai 紫の舞 Tame Ishime dō-dai · customisable $370
Dō KuroUnryū 黑雲龍 Black Super Ishime dō-dai · customisable $450
Tare Kachiki Tare 6mm cross-stitch · tombow pattern $240

Prefer a full kit? The Beginner’s, Junior and Premium sets bring all four pieces together, matched and sized as one.

Made to order, the easy way. Most bogu is built to order rather than pulled off a shelf, so you get the size and dō you want. We confirm the ETA before you pay, and you can choose delivery by sea or faster by air. New to bogu, or not sure a piece will fit? Tell us your level and measurements and we’ll steer you right — message us.

Caring for your bogu

Bogu absorbs a lot of sweat. A few minutes of care after keiko keeps it fresh and makes it last for years.

  • After training, air everything out and let it dry fully before it goes away. Dry in the shade with good airflow — never in direct sun, on a heater or in a dryer, which can fade the indigo and dry out the leather.
  • Don’t machine wash or soak your bogu. Wipe the leather and the kote tenouchi down, and spot-clean the fabric rather than putting it through a wash.
  • Store it somewhere ventilated, not sealed in a damp bag between sessions. Check the himo (ties) now and then and re-tie or replace any that are fraying.
Not sure where to start? Tell us whether it’s a first set or a single upgrade, your level and your measurements, and we’ll point you to the right pieces — message us.