Wrist guard

The howan (호완) is the piece of kumdo protective armor (hogu) that covers the hand, wrist and part of the forearm. It is worn as a pair, like a mitt with cuffs.

The howan (호완, 護腕) is one of the pieces of kumdo protective armor, called hogu (호구). It is worn as a pair, one for each hand.

What it protects: the sources consulted say it protects the hands and forearms. Some describe it as a mitt with cuffs covering the hand and wrist.
Place in the hogu: the four-piece set also includes the homyeon (호면, a helmet with a wire grill to protect the face), the gap (갑, a chest and torso protector) and the gapsang (갑상, a canvas and leather skirt covering the waist and groin).
Materials: it is mainly made of deerskin or synthetic leather. Because a blow to the wrist is easily painful, an extra wrist pad is sometimes worn underneath.
Order of dressing: it goes on last, after the gapsang, gap and homyeon, with the left howan first and then the right.
Beginners: newcomers train first with the wooden sword (mokgeom) before using the bamboo sword (jukdo) and the full armor. In beginners' training, sometimes only the gapsang and gap are worn.

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