BOGU - PROTECTIVE ARMOR

BOGU - PROTECTIVE ARMOR
The type of Bogu (protective armor) used in the Koei-Kan system was developed by Onishi Eizo Kancho Sensei in 1957 and was tested on March 24th that same year at the Shikoku area Championship of the All-Japan Karate-Do Association, held at the Kenmin-Kan in Matsuyama city.

The use of Bogu is an integral area of training in Koei-Kan. It is not totally unlike the gear worn by European and Japanese fencers. The Bogu enables practitioners to apply their techniques with full contact against a moving, thinking opponent. In this fashion a realistic atmosphere exists, which allows practicality and an understanding of effectiveness and efficiency to guide the student in overall development. In all marital entities there is an undeniable need for the reality that actual contact breeds. Without such contact practice often degenerates to a level of swimming on dry land. The necessity of contact has been realized in the martial arts and ways through out the ages. Two excellent examples of this can be found in Kendo and Judo.

Between 1765 A.D. and 1770 A.D. Nakanishi Chuta of Edo (now Tokyo) designed a set of protective armor, which was the forerunner of today's Kendo gear. It was used in conjunction with a type of dummy sword known as Shinai1, made of bamboo strips, which allowed for a certain "give" when contact was made. This greatly enhanced the practitioner's training and ability because positive conclusions could be drawn as to the significance of techniques.

Around 1882 Kano Jigoro (1860-1938) began to make popular his new martial system, which he named Judo. In this system Kano made use of a special type of Tatami (straw mat) to enable students to throw each other with full force repeatedly during practice. This differed greatly from many of the earlier schools of Jujutsu2, which trained on hardwood floors. From these examples we can clearly see the beneficial possibilities that can be derived from the use of Bogu.