Equipment Maintenance

Gi and Hakama

Cleaning your Gi and Hakama

Please do wash your gi on a regular basis. You can:

  • Hand wash it with soap

  • Or wash it on gentle cycle in cold water using regular detergent

Cleaning your hakama:

  • Hand wash with cold water without detergent

  • Or fold your hakama properly and place it in a laundry net so you do not mess up the pleats

  • Do not use a dryer and avoid drying under direct sunlight

The dye may come off a bit, so we recommend not to wash your gi and hakama with your other clothes.

Image is found on the Shidokan Kendo & Iaido Club by John Scherpenzeel

Folding your hakama:

It is key that you fold your hakama after practice so the pleats are in place.

  1. Gently place the hakama frontside down on a flat surface and adjust the back pleats

  2. Turn the hakama over by grabbing the bottom part

  3. Adjust the 5 pleats so they are aligned with the folds

  4. Fold both sides to the middle and then starting from the bottom, fold it three times so that the folded hakama looks like a square

  5. Fold the longer straps (himo) to a quarter of the length and cross them over, forming an ‘X’

  6. Tie the left side shorter himo and the right side shorter himo

  7. Slide the right short himo through the left himo and vice versa
    You can always ask a senpai for help.

Shinai

It is best to maintain your shinai every couple weeks for safety. Most accidents can happen with broken shinai, which is why we recommend you checking your shinai after practice for any damages.

We will be doing a Shinai Maintenance Seminar with the beginners at one point during the semester.

Sanding and Waxing Shinai

  1. Untie the string (tsuru) at the bottom near the handle. Do not untie anything else

  2. Pull off the leather shinai tip (sakigawa) and the leather strap (nakayui) together. Please be aware that there is a rubber or plastic top (saki-gomu) at tip of your shinai. Do not lose it.

  3. Use sandpaper to gently sand the edges and inside of the staves of your shinai

  4. After sanding, use shinai oil or wax on the edges

Putting your Shinai back Together

  1. Ensure that the saki-gomu is placed at the tip of the shinai

  2. Slide the nakayui and sakigawa back in place. Make sure the tsuru is in line with the V-shape on the handle

  3. Tie the tsuru back on following the diagram below. Make sure that the tsuru is very taut

The diagram below is very useful as it shows how to reassemble the tsuru, sakigawa and nakayui.

Image is found on the Shidokan Kendo & Iaido Club