Carbon Fiber Dou

After passing my 5.dan shinsa earlier this year, I wanted to gift myself a really nice Dou. I contacted Hokubei directly and said that I really wanted a kiji dou, but couldn't find what I thought I wanted on the website. I grabbed some images from other bogu suppliers online, saying "lighter than this, darker than that, more red than this, more brown than that.." I didn't really know how else to do it, but Hokubei was VERY helpful in giving their advice and recommendation. Working with them was so easy! I felt pretty confident we were on the same page, so I picked out a mune and made the order. I think it took right at 3 months to complete, but when it arrived, I was absolutely stoked! The color was dead-on target of what I had envisioned and the fit (I must have made 10 different measurements of my existing dou) was exceptional. I've been using it now for about 3 or 4 months (3x/week practice) and after plenty of motodachi kaeshi-dou strikes and hours of jigeiko, there is not a single mark on the do-dai. It is incredibly protective and SO LIGHT WEIGHT. It is, by far, the nicest and most comfortable dou I have ever used in 30 years of kendo. These dou are pricey (and with kiji, even a bit pricier), but I think this is a real investment that is worth the money. Frankly, I feel I got more dou than I paid for!

I wasn’t really in the market for new Bogu but that changed suddenly when I was scrolling through social media and a post from my good friend Yong wook Back came up. There it was…. Black, grey and silver shimmering all at once and paired with an Indigo Mune with Grey and Black stitching. I found myself whispering in a voice that resembled that skinny bloke in Lord of the Rings….” The Precious “…I knew I had to have it. In no time at all my order was efficiently processed and I was regularly updated on progress in the making of this special Do Dai.
My order arrived in the UK within the promised time and to say I was delighted with the Do Dai would be an understatement. Not only does it look unique and finished to the highest possible standards but it is so very light to wear in Keiko whilst offering great protection at the same time. I would definitely recommend the products and service levels from Hokubei Bogu and will certainly be ordering again.

When I first picked this Do up, I did not think this was for real. Lightweight, yet didn’t feel flimsy. I had been wearing an old “green S” Do almost as a trademark. No more. It was so light, it almost threw my balance and timing off for the first two tournaments that I entered. After I got used to it, there’s no looking back. The comfort and freedom of movement it gives me is amazing. Not only that, I have the forged carbon fiber pattern. It looks very sharp and paired with a dark Gi and Hakama looks fantastic. A rare piece that combines winning function and looks.

I’ve tried many types of Do, but the carbon Do from Hokubei Budogu is on another level. It’s unbelievably light compared to the standard Yamato and bamboo Do, yet still feels strong and reliable during keiko. This is truly an engineered piece that meets real martial arts performance—both functional and beautiful in practice.

Once I tried it, switching back to anything else felt impossible.
If you're serious about enhancing comfort, performance, and craftsmanship in your kendo gear, this carbon fiber Do is a game-changer.

As a kenshi and also a die hard car guy it was a no brainer when I discovered the existence of Hokubei’s handcrafted carbon fibre Do. I chose the perfect aizome-dyed deerskin mune that reflects my personal subdued taste but matched it with a deep burgundy/red CF dodai in the random “forged carbon” pattern as seen in many high end vehicle carbon body panels. The fact it actually looks like more traditional red Japanese lacquer makes it suit the so well. The interior is finished in a unique krinkle folded material that looks premium and helps dispel the sound made by CF do hits sound “right”. This thing weighs nothing and makes me feel physically lighter which helps with self confidence. One of the best investments I’ve ever made for my kendo self.