Tare (垂れ)

Tare is the cloth and leather protector worn around the waist during Kendo, Naginata, Jūkendō, and Tankendo. It is the only part of a set of bōgu that does not have any valid target areas. The protective flaps are worn in the front to protect the groin and the upper thighs from missed strikes. One must be in seiza to put on the ''tare. The tare obi goes around the waist, crossing in the back, and ties in a bow in the front, underneath the odare  in the center. The odare is usually covered by a identifying cover known as a zekken or nafuda''.