Equipment
Kendo and iaido use a variety of equipment. Below you will find a description of each item, along with common price ranges.
| Bogu | $300 and up | |
| Bogu consists of men (helmet), kote (gloves), do (chestplate), and tare (hip and groin protector). Bogu is essential to practice kendo, but it is not required until the kendoka has become comfortable with the basic waza of kendo. | ||
| Bokuto | $25 | |
| Bokuto are wooden swords. They are used for kata practice in kendo, and by beginners in iaido. Two types are used in kendo: tachi, a long, two-handed sword, and kodachi, a short sword. The short sword is used by shidachi in the last three kendo kata, which are not required until testing for third dan. | ||
| Iaito/Mogito | $200 - $2000 | |
| Iaito (also called mogito) are aluminum alloy swords that became popular after the Second World War, when the US imposed strict limits on the number of real swords that could be produced by Japanese smiths. They are like a real sword in every way except that the blade is made of an aluminum alloy, creating a lighter and somewhat more flexible blade. While generally considered "unsharpened," they are often as sharp as a dull kitchen knife. | ||
| Keikogi and Hakama | $40 - $200 | |
| A keikogi is a cotton shirt worn during practice. A hakama is a pair of pleated pants. Kendo keikogi tend to be thick and heavy in order to provide some measure of protection against blows which miss bogu. Iaido keikogi tend to be of lighter construction, to be more comfortable during practice. | ||
| Kneepads | $10 - $20 | |
| Kneepads are an unofficial part of many iaidoka's uniform. As many of the kata of iaido involve moving about while seated or kneeling, many practitioners find that wearing kneepads makes practice much less uncomfortable. | ||
| Obi | $25 - $100 | |
| The obi is a belt worn over the keikogi and under the hakama by practitioners of iaido. It is a critical piece of equipment, as it is what keeps the sword at ones hip. | ||
| Shinai | $20 - $100 | |
| A shinai is a bamboo practice sword. It is the most essential piece of equipment for a kendoka. They consist of four pieces of bamboo, a leather handle, a hand guard, and a string signifying the back of the blade. | ||
| Shinken | $2000 and on up | |
| Shinken are real swords. Laws concerning the production of swords in Japan dictate how and from what they are made, enforcing traditional construction methods. Because of the price and inherent danger involved, usually only advanced practioners of iaido train with shinken. | ||
| Tenugui | free - $10 | |
| Tenugui are cotton towels worn on the head under the men. They help absorb sweat, provide a little extra padding, and help keep the men clean. They also keep hair from getting painfully tied up with the men himo. They are often given as gifts and souvenirs. | ||