Spokane Kendo Club [Armor Terminology]

Armor Terminology

kendogu	Kendo armor
dogu	Kendo armor and equipment
bogu	Kendo armor
men	helmet
do	trunk protector
tare	waist and thigh protector
kote	hand/wrist/forearm protectors

*Tare (waist/thigh protector) parts:*
mae obi (hara obi)	the wide, front belt that covers the abdomen
tare himo (tare obi)	the belt that goes around the waist and ties the tare on
odare	the three large flaps
kodare	the two small flaps
nafuda	the name panel that fits over the center odare; usually shows the Kenshi's name, dojo or team name, or crest

*Do (trunk protector) parts:*
do mune	chest section
mune himo	the upper cords of the do that go over the shoulders
mune chichi gawa	the loops through which the mune himo pass
do dai	the large abdomen section
koshi-himo	the lower cords of the do that go across the small of the back (koshi = waist or hips)
do chichi gawa	the loops through which the koshi-himo pass

*Men (helmet) parts:*
men gane	the metal grill
tate gane	the vertical midline grill
yoko gane	the horizontal grills
mono mi	the widest space between the horizontal grills through which we look
men buton	the hood of the helmet
men himo	helmet cords
men chichi gawa	the loops through which the men himo attach to the men gane
tsuki dare	the throat flap
yojin dare	the inner throat flap
tenugui	the traditional hand towel worn on the head under the men

*kote (wrist/forearm protector) parts:*
kote gashira	the fist section
tsutsu	the hinge section
kote buton	the wrist section
te no uchi	the palm section
kote himo	the laces

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