Chest protector

갑 (gap) is the part of the kumdo protective gear (호구, hogu) that covers the torso. The full set has four pieces: 호면 (homyeon), which protects the head; 갑, which protects the trunk; 갑상 (gapsang), which protects from the waist down to the thighs; and 호완 (howan), which protects the hands and wrists.

The 갑 wraps around the torso from the front and is open at the back, like the 호면. It protects the abdomen and waist, areas that the bones do not cover. A plate attached to its upper part protects the chest when it is hit by a thrust.

• Materials: it is usually made of lacquer-coated plastic. Costly versions of woven bamboo (60 to 64 strips) also exist, with the strips either exposed or coated on the outside. Another source mentions hardened fiber.
• Putting it on: according to the Korea Kumdo Association, the order is 갑상, 갑, towel, 호면, 호완. The lower edge of the 갑 goes inside by about half the width of the 갑상 belt. The strings on both sides should be of similar length, with the waist level. The lower string is tied with a bow knot.
• Taking it off: done seated in 정좌 (jeongjwa), in the order 호완, 호면, towel, 갑, 갑상.
• Beginners may wear only the 갑상 and the 갑, without the 호면 or 호완.