Kendo equipment consists of the swords, uniform and armor. There are two types of wooden swords used. First, the bokken or bokuto, a solid wood sword made of oak or another suitable hardwood. The bokken is used for basics and forms practice (kata). Second, the shinai, is made up of four bamboo staves and leather. The shinai is used for full contact sparring practice. The uniform or dogi consists of woven cotton top called a keikogi and pleated skirt-like trousers called a hakama. The armor or bogu consists of four pieces: the helmet (men), the body protector (do), the gloves (kote), and the hip and groin protector (tare). Modern Kendo armor design is fashioned after the Oyoroi of the Samurai.
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The cost of Kendo equipment is very dependent upon several factors: the retailer, the current value of the yen, and the quality of the equipment. Bokken of average quality can be readily found for $10-15 at most martial arts stores. Shinai for adults will usually cost about $20 and up. The uniform is usually not needed for beginning students until they are ready for armour. Uniforms start at $80 for adults, and slightly less for children. Kendo armour has a very wide range of prices. A children's set can be purchased starting at about $250. Adult sets can be purchased for about $300 and up. Kendo armour seems expensive at first glance, but is very reasonable since most armour will have a useful life of 10 or more years for a average quality set with the exception of the kote. Armour can usually be repaired to give it additional life as it wears.
