When we talk about armor, we’re referring to protective gear worn during the era of cold weapons to shield key body parts like the head and chest. Armor generally falls into three categories: rattan armor (藤甲, Tōkō), leather armor (皮甲, Hikō), and iron armor (鉄甲, Tekkō). Rattan armor is made by weaving together strips of wood, bamboo, or rattan. Leather armor, often made from sharkskin or tough cowhide, is decorated with colorful paintings. Iron armor, as the name suggests, is mostly made from metal plates.

Among the different types of armor, Japanese armor stands out for its unique features. The most notable types include the ō-yoroi (大鎧), haramaki (腹巻), dô-maru (胴丸), and gusoku (具足). One reason Japanese armor has such varied designs is that each region’s daimyo (feudal lords) created their styles, unlike other countries where armor was mass-produced uniformly.

The ō-yoroi, a large and heavy type of armor, was primarily used by mounted warriors. It was made from iron plates and weighed over 30 kilograms, offering high protection. The chest plate consisted of small metal scales, and a key feature of the ō-yoroi was the two plates on the chest: the “sendan no ita” (栴檀板) on the right and the “kyūbi no ita” (鳩尾板) on the left. The sendan no ita protected the right chest during weapon swings, while the kyūbi no ita, a smoother plate, helped prevent the bowstring from getting caught during archery. However, one downside of the ō-yoroi was its weight and box-like structure, which made it hard to move when fighting on foot. The shoulders bore all the weight, making it less comfortable for prolonged use.

Haramaki (腹巻) and haramaki-dō (腹巻胴) were lighter armors used by infantry soldiers in the late Kamakura period. They were much simpler and cheaper, often provided to lower-ranking soldiers due to budget constraints. The haramaki was essentially a protective vest covering the chest and abdomen, while the haramaki-dō was an improved version, offering more mobility for foot soldiers.

The dô-maru (胴丸), which appeared during the Heian period, was originally a hanging-style armor like the ō-yoroi but used mainly by lower-ranking samurai. Unlike the ō-yoroi, the dô-maru had fewer decorations and was made of leather, bamboo, and a small amount of metal. Over time, dô-maru armor gained importance, especially during the Kamakura period when fighting tactics shifted from archery to close combat. This style eventually became popular among higher-ranking samurai as well.

The gusoku (具足) appeared in the mid-Muromachi period and represents the peak of ancient Japanese armor. Initially, gusoku was used to equip lower-ranking soldiers, but by the Azuchi-Momoyama period, it had evolved into durable, practical armor and became the mainstream armor of that time. During the Sengoku period, gusoku developed into even more complex forms, with some armor becoming very ornate, reflecting the wealth and status of the warriors who wore them.

Though Japanese armor is known for its unusual appearance, it follows a similar basic structure used worldwide, where small metal pieces are tied together with leather cords. Bamboo armor (竹甲, Takekō) did exist historically, but it was not widely used. In most cases, warriors wore leather armor underneath for better protection.

In short, bamboo armor in Japan was mostly ceremonial, worn during events where no combat was expected. Warriors would wear bamboo armor instead of heavy metal and leather armor to look impressive without the burden. Although making bamboo armor was more time-consuming than producing low-quality iron armor, it was lighter and easier to decorate. By the Edo period, bamboo armor was mainly decorative, sometimes just art pieces rather than functional armor. Thus, bamboo armor didn’t play a significant role in actual combat.

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It’s no secret that partaking in sports will boost stamina, core strength, and overall physical well-being.

But what benefits do sports have to offer aside from the known physical improvement?

Improved Sleep Quality

Lack of sleep is exceptionally detrimental to health; not getting enough rest can negatively impact brain functions and impact your mood.

Exercise will do a lot more for your health and well-being than boost muscle tone; you’ll also get a better night’s sleep more consistently. Exercise can trigger brain chemicals that make you feel happier and more at ease, which adds enormously to sleep quality.

But even so, some sports are able to boost sleep quality more than others. Aerobic exercises or cardio exercises are typically best for sleep quality. So, sports that require intense cardio are the best options for this benefit.

Boost Heart Health

Your heart is a muscle that also requires routine exercise to stay happy and healthy. What’s more, a healthy heart will pump blood more efficiently, which improves organ functions and reduces your risk of developing heart disease and a variety of other severe health ailments linked to deteriorating cardiovascular health.

Social Connections

Most sports require the ability to play the game as part of a team, which offers players the opportunity to indulge in social interactions during and after matches. As a result, playing sports also means you can make new friends with similar interests.

So, if you’re in search of ways to make new friends, playing a sport is an excellent option.

Decreased Stress

During physical activity, your mind has an opportunity to unplug from everyday stress and worries that often become a burden. Moreover, exercise also reduces stress hormone levels in the body, effectively lowering stress while stimulating the release of endorphins.

Endorphins are also known as happy hormones. But beyond the increase in endorphins and reduction in cortisol, playing sports is also an effective way to disconnect from the mental weight of the day and focus on your body and mind instead.

Improve Mental Wellbeing

Because sport has so many positive benefits like stress reduction, improved sleep quality, and improved social connections, sports can have a massively positive impact on overall mental well-being.

Regular participation in sports proves to enhance mood, decrease anxiety, and even eliminate negative emotions.

Choosing The Right Sport

If the many benefits of playing sport have compelled you to get your trainers on, you might be curious about how to go about finding the right sport.

Not all sports are the same, so consider the specifics of sports you’re interested in, and consider your health, physical attributes, lifestyle, and temperament. Moreover, it’s also wise to consider the assortment of gear you might need and speak to your friends.

If you still can’t decide, consider trying out a few sports of interest to determine which captures your ambition the most.

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