From CityUltima
When you begin Kendo you do not need to use armour right away, so the cost is just the cost of club membership? and the practice fee for each session. In the U.K. you are also required to join the B.K.A. (about 60 GBP depending on your status) the membership of which provides you with insurance whilst training. After some sessions you may want to buy a Shinai to practice with at home, (about 25 GBP). When you are ready to wear armour, a certain amount will be available at the club to borrow during practice. Therefore you may practice Kendo cheaply for many months while finding out if it is for you. Eventually you will want to buy your own armour, which range from second-hand sets from 150 GBP to thousands for hand-stitched sets. Armour quality can vary a lot, due to the way it is constructed and where it comes from. Basic differences in armour are: a) stitching; measured in millimeters - smaller stitching is better/more expensive, hand stitched is more expensive than machine stitched. b) 'Do' (chest protector); the number of pieces of bamboo used, usually between 40-60 pieces - the more pieces the more expensive. c) 'Mengane' (face-grill); material used from steel (cheapest) to various alloys and Titanium (most expensive). d) decoration - there are many subtleties to the decoration which can enhance the armour (and its price), including how many lines of decoration on the 'Tare' (waist protector), decorative stitching on the 'Men' and 'Do-gawa' , to the materials used in the 'Do' - (cherry wood is a beautiful finish on some more expensive 'Do's). For beginners a good-fitting cheap, machine-stitched 'Bougu' from a reputable supplier? or bought carefully second-hand is fine, and will last you for a good few years. Events
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