Each contestant wears a duelling 'kit' (tumoga) which is both protective and decorative. It includes a basket-work hand guard for the right hand, shin guards made from animal skin, rings of plaited sisal cord to protect the elbows and knees, a leopard skin over the front of the torso, a hide skirt, cut into strips, and a cattle bell tied round the waist. The head is protected by wrapping round it long swathes of cotton cloth. Bouts are controlled by one or more referees (kwethana, sing. kwethani).