How to take care of your bogu

Ok so you find yourself, it's after the annual international seminar, you had worked up a proper sweat in the October heat, and now it's your next training session at the dojo...

A few things immediately become pretty obvious

1) There is a special type of aroma that is following you around while in your kendogi. Not that typical kendo "smell", but the type of smell that's causing even your fellow kendoka to stop, turn and ask, "What is that smell", you look around with a wrinkled up nose sniffing about only to discover that it is your kendogi giving off that pungent odour. The type that will make you think that if you left you kendogi in the corner it would most probably walk off on its own. We all know that kendo is a smelly sport, but really...

2) You are bearing it through the smell, and as you line up and take men, you notice that your men is "soaking wet", the chin pad and forehead protector feel moist and gross against your skin, and if you are a girl, you are imagining the volcanoes that will be growing on your chin and forehead from this next session

3) As you put on your kote, you also feel that they are wet, cold and moist, Completely grossing you out and making you think...what can I do about this

Taking care of your equipment will ensure that they last longer. In general your bogu is not something you wash after every practice, but mold growing on your armor is a very likely scenario. That is why you need to take care of your armor and gi, especially after extremely intense training sessions during the typical south african summer.

I have searched for videos to help you guys with this. Please do not just go and you tube any video regarding bogu maintenance. Not all of them are correct. I have looked at these videos myself and they fit in to what i have been taught. So please refer to these videos, and if you have any other additional questions, do not hesitate to ask a senior at class.

Firstly: Hakamma and Gi

I personally do not wash my hakamma and gi after each training session. Washing them too regularly causes the indigo dye to leak out and naturally will cause some wear and tear of the fibers. If you have 2 kendogi (shirts/tops), i would recommend using one for general training that you wash more frequently and one for special events like competitions or seminars. The kendogi is easy in the sense that you can just chuck it into the washing machine. Remember all other items will stain BLUE, and do not add too much soap and softener.

My hakamma is different, in that i was it only a few times a year, or when it is specifically very dirty. I do not have a cotton hakamma (if you do, refer to Andy fisher's videos. He is a good source for all things kendo related). When i do wash my hakamma, i first fold it like i would normally after the end of class, paying special attention to removing hairs or fluff and also making sure to fold perfect lines. In its folded up state i wash it in a bathtub with just clean cold water. Sometimes if it has a particular smell to it, i add a few drops of tea-tree oil (natural antibacterial solution) to the water. I move and swirl the hakamma in the water for about 15 min, pressing on it and rubbing to facilitate cleaning. The water will eventually discolor as time passes. I leave the hakamma to soak for at least 8 hours, going back to agitate the water with the hakamma every now and then. Once that is done i hang the hakamma up in its full length folded position. This ensure that i can straighten the pleats, it also driers out quicker than keeping it completely folded up.

IMPORTANT to note. Any and all kendo equipment must air dry in the SHADE!! No direct sunlight, as this will just cause damage.

Ok for the bogu. I have been doing kendo for almost 5 years now and i have only once every washed my bogu and that was only to test out the feeling of how to do it. There should be no need for you to wash your bogu, but in the case that something happens please look at Andy Fischer's videos on how to do it properly. There are parts of the bogu that if they get wet will get damaged beyond repair!!!! You have been warned

For the most of it you need to "clean" your armor after each training session. This entails, wiping your men and kote with a CLEAN towel (using a dirty one that had just been wrapped around your head for practice will only spread more bacteria) The very last video by Paul Shin, shows nicely how to take care of your bogu after practise.

Tips on how to get your bogu smelling nicely and to get the excessive smell of kendo out of your gear....teatree oil. Add a few drops to water used to clean equipment, on the nape of your kendogi neck, on the armpits, on the chin pad and forehead protector of your men and rub it in with a clean cloth, allow to air dry. This naturally kills bacteria and makes your gear smell a bit fresher

Andy Fischer: Hakamma and Gi video