bougu

The bougu (防具) is a form of armor used in training and competition for kendo and other Japanese weapons-based martial arts. It's composed of four parts:

  • Men (面): Combined face mask & shoulder protection.
  • Kote (小手): Hand and forearm protection, usually with a mitten-like glove.
  • Dou (胴): A breastplate for chest & stomach protection.
  • Tare (垂): A belt of heavy cloth flaps to protect the groin and waist. The center flap often has a place for the name of who the competitor is representing.

Practitioners of naginatajutsu also wear:

See also