For beginners it is not necessary to meet a big expense for strip and equipment.
A sportswear is enough ( training wear shorts and T-shirt) in order to learn the basic movements and the correct posture. Kendo is practiced barefoot.
In a second phase it is needed a Shinai and a Bokuto (or Bokkèn), in order to improve the execution of these movements and put them together into a single body-sword.

After a few months of practice, after checking the level of the beginner, it is possible to wear traditional clothes: Keiko-Gi and Hakama.

Prelude to the next step, the Bogu, composed of Men (head protection), Do (trunk protection), Kotè (gloves) and Tarè (belt and legs protections).
The Bogu is perhaps the biggest investment to do, in the first year of practice (but it will be used for lot of years without replacement).
Before wearing Bogu it necessary to consolidate practice and experience, with long training and learning.

“It is noblest for us to be harmony”
This Iwaki has been taught by Syoutokutaisi, prince of Japan,1.300 years ago.

Shigeaki Inoue (Hanshi, 8º Dan)