Correct Kendo Equipment Knowledge taught by Artisans Kote with low impact absorption not only hurt, but can cause serious injury. What are good quality Kendo kote? Many people will give answers like “You can move your wrists easily.”, “soft”, “easy to use” or “light”. Those are obviously points demanded by Read More
For wooden swords wood from trees such as the bamboo-leaved oak, the Japanese evergreen oak, and the distylium racemosum have been used. For top quality swords, the Japanese plum tree, ebony, and sunuke have been used. Sunuke refers to the core wood taken from distylium racemosum (isunoki) that has grown Read More
Japanese Red Oak; Akagashi is generally found in the mountain ranges in the west part of Japan and has gotten its name from the fact that the wood has a distinct red hue to it compared to other oak woods. The Japanese red oak can mostly be found growing naturally Read More
“Japanese oak” is a collection of evergreen tall trees, from which long oval green leaves with an elegant luster and uneven edges grow. The Japanese oak is native to many countries in Asia, including Japan, China, Korea, Thailand and Vietnam, having more than 150 varieties. In Japan, the trees can Read More
The isunoki tree (English; distylium racemosum), often shortened to isu in Japanese, is an evergreen, broad-leaved tree that stretches up to 20m in height. It grows mostly to the east of the Kanto region. Often the leaves will have insect galls forming on them. In the old days, children picked Read More
The IBB Duralumin Mengane uses the IBB technology for superior balance. While regular Duralumin Mengane are light weight and comfortable to wear, they tend to get damaged after some usage and are prone to deformation. However, while the IBB Duralumin Mengane is made mainly from Duralumin, it features 2 Titanium bars at Read More
IBB, or Ideal Best Balance, is a special design technology that is used for making Mengane for Kendo Men. The Men is meant to protect the head of the Kendo practitioners, one of the most important parts of the human body. This is why Kendo practitioners are always looking for a Read More
The IBB Titanium Mengane features an all titanium construction which uses the I.B.B Technology in which the base-ring, center vertical spine, and horizontal bars are all thicker than in a Standard All-Titanium Mengane. The greater thicknesses of the materials, and in particular, the greater cross-sectional area at the points where Read More
Titanium is a lightweight metal with strength comparable to steel. It’s also known for being highly corrosion-resistant, making it an ideal material for the Mengane. The standard All-Titanium Mengane is recommended for adults engaging in regular practice, or any practitioners performing at the national team level.
Duralumin or Duraluminum is an Aluminum-alloy, in where the main components are copper, manganese, and magnesium. It’s the lightest and least expensive of the all-metal options for Mengane. Duraluminum is mostly recommended for children and lighter Kenshi, or for those who engage only occasional Kendo practice. The light weight makes it comfortable to Read More
