Battōdō Dōjō Equipment Guide
The dōjō maintains a selection of training equipment for beginners and those attending their first classes. This allows new students to begin training without having to purchase a complete set of equipment immediately.
As students progress, however, they should begin investing in equipment of their own. These purchases are not required before the student has completed their first grading and should be made gradually, in consultation with the instructor. This ensures that everything purchased is suitable for the training undertaken within the dōjō.
Equipment Required After the First Grading
1. Synthetic Bokken
Students will require a heavyweight Cold Steel polypropylene bokken for paired practice, basic cutting movements and weapons exercises.
Because of the nature of our training venue, conventional wooden bokken are not used. Wooden weapons can split, splinter or break under repeated contact, creating a potential hazard for students and leaving fragments on the tatami used by other groups. The heavyweight polypropylene bokken has therefore been adopted as the standard training weapon within the dōjō.
Students should not purchase a different model without first speaking to the instructor, as the weight, dimensions and construction must be suitable for our method of practice.
2. Dōjō Uniform
Students will require the following items:
Kendo-gi 剣道着
Hakama 袴
Obi 帯
A correctly fitted uniform is necessary because the sword must be worn securely and positioned properly during training. The obi supports the sword at the correct angle, while the hakama and kendō-gi allow unrestricted movement and maintain the formal appearance expected within the dōjō.
Our uniforms carry the association’s mon and Japanese kanji. Branded uniform items should therefore be ordered through, or approved by, the dōjō.
3. Footwear
Students should wear approved indoor footwear suitable for use on the tatami. This may consist of indoor tabi 足袋 or approved soft-soled Furoshiki-style footwear.
Footwear must be clean, secure and reserved for indoor training. Outdoor footwear, hard soles or footwear capable of marking or damaging the tatami must not be worn.
Battōdō Kata Equipment
As the student progresses into formal Battōdō kata, they will require a suitable sword of their own.
For regular kata practice, we use a mogitō 模擬刀, also commonly described within martial arts as an iaitō 居合刀. This is an unsharpened metal training sword constructed and balanced to represent a katana without presenting the same risks as a live blade.
A student should not purchase a sword without first consulting the instructor. Blade length, weight, balance, tsuka length and the security of the fittings must all be appropriate for the individual practitioner.
Live-blade cutting is undertaken only under direct supervision. A suitable dōjō sword will be loaned for this purpose until the student has reached the required level and has been authorised to obtain and use a personal shinken 真剣.
Possession of a live blade does not in itself qualify a student to use it during dōjō training. Permission remains entirely at the discretion of the instructor.
KENSA Protective Equipment
The dōjō holds a limited amount of protective equipment for students beginning KENSA training. As participation becomes more regular, students should purchase personal equipment that fits correctly and can be adjusted to their individual requirements.
The required equipment consists of:
Fukuro-shinai 袋竹刀
The fukuro-shinai is the principal training weapon used during KENSA practice. Students should purchase only the type approved by the dōjō, as its length, weight, construction and degree of flexibility must be suitable for dynamic paired training.
Body Protection
Students will require:
Kendo dō 胴
Kendo tare 垂
Fencing mask
Protective hood
Elbow and forearm guards
Protective gloves
The fencing mask and protective hood are worn together to provide additional coverage to the head and throat. The dō and tare protect the torso, abdomen and hips, while the arm guards and gloves protect areas exposed during striking, receiving and weapon control.
All protective equipment must fit securely without restricting vision, breathing or freedom of movement. Ill-fitting equipment can create additional risks and should not be used simply because it is inexpensive or immediately available.
Purchasing Equipment
Students are not expected to purchase everything at once. Equipment should be acquired progressively as the student moves into the relevant areas of training.
The normal order of purchase is:
Synthetic bokken
Kendō-gi, hakama and obi
Approved indoor footwear
Mogitō or iaitō for Battōdō kata
Fukuro-shinai and personal KENSA armour
A shinken, only when authorised for advanced live-blade practice and tameshi-giri
Before purchasing a sword, protective armour or specialised training weapon, students must consult the instructor. Buying unsuitable equipment often proves more expensive than waiting and obtaining the correct item in the first place.
The purpose of personal equipment is not merely ownership. Properly selected equipment allows the student to train consistently, safely and with equipment adjusted to their own size, ability and stage of development.