There are probably many kendo practitioners who say that they were grateful for the jersey kendo uniform during their school days, when they had to practice every day during the hot summer! Although jersey kendo uniforms are highly functional, fewer people wear them as they become adults. Also, many people consider them unacceptable for matches and examinations. How do kendo practitioners view jersey kendo uniforms?

table of contents

1. The benefits of wearing a jersey kendo uniform

2. Disadvantages of jersey kendo uniforms

3. Jersey Kendo Uniforms and the Sportification of Kendo

4. Considering the original meaning of kendo uniforms 

The benefits of jersey kendo uniforms

Jersey kendo uniforms are said to be highly functional, but what makes them so great? We will introduce four key points.

1. The cool jersey fabric is breathable, so it doesn't get heavy like cotton even when you sweat. It stays dry no matter how much you sweat, making it ideal for summer practice.

2. Quick-drying: In summer, if you hang it outside or use a drying room, it will dry in just 2-3 hours. This is very useful when you have multiple practice sessions a day, such as at a training camp, or when you use it every day for club activities.

3. It's safe to wash in the washing machine It is recommended to hand wash cotton kendo uniforms, and indigo dyed uniforms will lose their color quickly if washed repeatedly. However, you don't have to worry about that with jersey kendo uniforms. You can easily wash them in the washing machine, and there's no need to worry about color fading. 4. Lightweight: It's extremely light, making it easy to move around in. It's not bulky, so you can move your body smoothly.

Disadvantages of jersey kendo uniforms

Although jersey kendo uniforms have many advantages, they also have some disadvantages from a kendo perspective.

1. Not suitable for competitions or judging

Although wearing a jersey kendo uniform is not prohibited during matches or examinations, it does not give a very good impression. In fact, you rarely see anyone wearing one at matches or examinations. In kendo, where not only technique but also dignity and style are valued, it could be said that a foundation for the acceptance of jersey kendo uniforms that emphasize functionality alone has not yet been established. Compared to regular cotton kendo uniforms, jersey kendo uniforms are inevitably inferior in terms of weightiness.

2. It hurts

Kendo uniforms are originally designed to protect the body, so they need to be thick to a certain extent to avoid pain. However, when pursuing quick-drying and lightness, the fabric inevitably becomes thin. If you wear a jersey kendo uniform, you will have to endure a certain amount of pain when hit with a bamboo sword.

3. It's cold in winter

Since it is cool in the summer, it is naturally cold in the winter, making it unsuitable for cold weather training.

4. Can children and beginners wear it?

Some people wonder whether it's okay to have children or beginners who have just started kendo wear jersey kendo uniforms from the start, but there's no problem with using them. It can be a problem if they get used to only wearing jersey kendo uniforms, but rather than ending up hating kendo altogether because of the summer heat and the weight of the uniform due to sweat, it's better to adopt something more comfortable. Jersey kendo uniforms are easy to fold, so they're also suitable for children and beginners. Use them in conjunction with regular cotton kendo uniforms to ensure they're used appropriately.

Jersey Kendo uniforms and sporting

Jersey kendo uniforms have advantages over traditional cotton uniforms, but some people may be concerned that "if we only pursue functionality, won't kendo eventually become just a sport?"

Let's compare it to judo, which is a representative example of the same martial arts framework. Sports manufacturers Mizuno and Adidas have already entered the judo uniform market and boast a high market share.

Olympic athletes and Brazilian national team athletes also wear MIZUNO judo uniforms in official matches. Incidentally, the top model they wear is not made of 100% cotton, but contains polyester for superior functionality. This may be an unlikely trend in the world of kendo, where heavy, dignified kendo uniforms are worn in matches.

However, the process of judo uniforms becoming more and more popular as a sport was not an easy one. Let's take the example of the colored judo uniforms that are now commonplace at the Olympics. The first time colored judo uniforms were worn was in 1988. This began when a Dutch athlete, a gold medalist at the Tokyo Olympics, wore one at the European Judo Championships.

However, it took 11 years of debate before the International Judo Federation decided to adopt it and it was introduced into the Olympics. Several countries, including Japan, opposed its introduction, but the majority supported it, citing reasons such as it would reduce judging errors and would look good on television, and the result is well known. This is a clear example of how voices emphasizing practicality were stronger than those insisting on the spiritual aspect of "the heart of judo is pure."

Although it is a bit of a leap from the jersey kendo uniform, the emphasis on functionality means that it has the potential to become a sport. However, in Japan, there are currently very few sports manufacturers involved in the kendo uniform market, and tradition tends to be valued.

Considering the original meaning of kendo uniforms

In the book "A Dictionary to Understand Kendo (edited by the Kendo Specialist Subcommittee of the Japanese Academy of Martial Arts)," Professor Yuji Arita of the University of Tsukuba states the following:

"Since the origins of kendo, the collar of the kendo uniform has been tightly fitted to the neck, like a samurai facing a life-or-death battle, (omitted) and it is believed that wearing it securely and neatly and neatly without coming undone and maintaining a clean and neat posture will lead to the continuation of culture, safety, and a fulfilling mental attitude." For students who practice in the scorching heat or who have club activities every day, a tracksuit kendo uniform is a great help. Times and environments change, so it is never a bad thing to actively adopt new and good things.

However, if you pursue a kendo that only emphasizes speed and functionality and is only concerned with winning and losing, it will be difficult to continue practicing kendo for a long time. Kendo may have an athletic aspect, but it is essentially a way to learn the samurai spirit. We must not forget that the kendo uniform and hakama are the formal attire of the samurai. This is something we must understand as we study kendo.

summary

The word kendo first came into use in the Taisho era. Since then, the functionality of kendo uniforms has improved dramatically. Comfortable items like tracksuit kendo uniforms are naturally popular. However, rather than relying too much on them, we must consider why things that have been passed down since the time of the samurai remain to this day. By incorporating the good things of new things while still feeling the spirit of the samurai, we can experience the fun of kendo even more.