Head towel
A thin cotton towel worn on the head under the helmet (호면, homyeon) in kumdo. It absorbs sweat and keeps the inside of the helmet from getting dirty. It is also called 면수건 (myeon-sugeon).
How to say it
- Korean
- 머리수건meori sugeon
- Spanish
- Pañuelo o toalla para la cabeza (también myeon sugeon, 면수건)
- English
- Head towel
- Japanese
- 手拭いてぬぐいtenugui
The head towel (머리수건, meori-sugeon) is the thin cotton towel a kumdo practitioner puts on the head before putting on the helmet (호면, homyeon). In the Korean sources consulted it also appears as 면수건 (myeon-sugeon) and 두건 (dugeon, head cloth).
Purpose:
- It absorbs sweat from the face and head, which keeps the helmet from getting dirty early and makes it more comfortable to wear.
- According to Japanese kendo sources, it also holds the hair in place, stops the helmet from shifting, cushions the back of the head against strikes, keeps the skin from touching the helmet directly, and helps the fit when the helmet is a little big.
How it is worn: one Korean page describes three ways of putting it on. In the first, the towel is folded in half lengthwise, then about a third is folded in from each side, it is turned over, and the folded part is tucked into the doubled part. It is worn with the thick side on the forehead and the ears covered. In the third, both ends are tied at the forehead and the ears are covered. In the second, the ears stay uncovered. The same page says women mostly use the first and men mostly the second or third.
Korean shops also sell hat-shaped versions and printed towels, for example with the movements of bongukgeombeop (본국검법). Japanese sources recommend a length of about 100 cm, because a 90 cm towel may not cover the head well.
Japanese equivalent: a Korean kumdo equipment shop ties the 면수건 to the tenugui (手拭い).
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