[Ettiominiw]

So, tonight was my first night in bogu. It took my sensei a while to find gear in my size amongst his substantial collection of training bogu. But, he came through in the end. Since we're about the same size, I ended up with some of the first gear he trained with in Japan, way back when. So, while were lined up to bow in, we're faced with an unusually small class, no doubt due to the nearness of the holiday. Sensei wanted to go through the warming up and then work on kata, since we had a few new people. Nope, the seniors wouldn't hear of it. They were getting me into my bogu and I was going to get beat on.

I think I presented myself fairly well, though I started to run out of gas pretty bad by about the fifth or sixth jigeiko. It was just such an amazing thing to be down, getting out of my bogu, instead of at the other end of the line, watching.

My right forearm is sore from missed kote, my legs feel like wood, my voice is raspy from kiai, and my head feels like its been massaged by a ballpeen hammer.

I'm so excited I can barely sit still enough to write this. Now I have judo to look forward to Saturday. Life is good.

Namo AMidha Butsu

[SerycegeBunny]

Congrats, your a real man/woman no turning back now.

[Zzvukttz]

In the fine tradition of aggieland


WHOOOP!!!!. Congrats man

[obegeLype]

Congratulations! Those first men strikes are always the most intense, but once you've gone through keiko in bogu, you feel as though you've "arrived". Not quite there, but having made a big step toward "it".

It might be helpful if those who report their first experiences in bogu would make a comparison between keiko in bogu and keiko without bogu. You can see how many threads have been started by people who "can't wait to get into bogu", after their first or second keiko. I'm not saying they shouldn't be enthusiastic, but they haven't experienced enough kendo to understand that training with bogu is a lot harder than they think.

My sensei told me that I had to wait at least 6 months or so before I could get into bogu, plus I would not be eligible for testing until after I had gotten into bogu. Because of an injury, it took me 18 months before I was able to test, but the wait was worthwhile.

For those of you who have just started kendo and are already shopping for bogu, be patient, learn the fundamentals without worrying about bogu. Every day you use to practice proper kendo without bogu is one more day you will improve and become more ready for bogu.

[2puO4Rhf]

Welcome to the Joy of Bogu! EVERYTHING changes when you put on a men - but now you know that!

[TubOppomo]

My right forearm is sore from missed kote, my legs feel like wood, my voice is raspy from kiai, and my head feels like its been massaged by a ballpeen hammer.

Life's good indeed, congrats.

[Sotmoigma]

Thank you, everyone, for your kind words.

[dasneycomrov]

Well, congratulations to your "introduction" in bogu ... one of my ex-teammates declared it as a kind of "sacral moment" to get his first men blow ... well, I hope you did so, too!

Get pleased of your new "drug" ... welcome in bogu!

[MeeveStesia]

Indded, my first men was memorable, as it was administered by one of the sandan in class, and the most senior student. I'm the biggest person in class currently at about 6'4" and around 260 lbs, but my vision went white when this skinny, five-and-a-half foot tall Japanese laid that first shot on me. He was laughing as he moved past me. I don't know if he saw my face through the mengane, or if he noticed my legs starting to buckle before I caught myself and turned.

I consider myself fortunate that my first hit wasn't from my sensei, who, he admitted, in his youth had a talent and interest in knocking people out to watch them flop around on the floor.

He says that now, looking back on it, he feels bad.