kera on kote??

[neko]

what is meant by "kera" when talking about kote? i have heard of single kera and double kera. what part of the kote is this referring to? if you could please post a pic or point me towards one that would be nice.

i am thinking that it is the "roll" that is between the knuckles and wrist that runs around the outside of the fist. is this right?

oh, and is there a benefit of double over single besides just more protection?

thanks in advance. :)

[ben]

what is meant by "kera" when talking about kote? i have heard of single kera and double kera. what part of the kote is this referring to? if you could please post a pic or point me towards one that would be nice.

i am thinking that it is the "roll" that is between the knuckles and wrist that runs around the outside of the fist. is this right?

oh, and is there a benefit of double over single besides just more protection?

thanks in advance. :)

You are right, it is indeed that 'roll' (or rolls). Also called "namako" (sea slug). They are purported to aid in flexibility of wrist, although one Korean bogu company site very honestly says the main purpose is to look good. A bit of an RBSO feature if you ask me. There are plenty of crap kote out there with double kera. It's no indicator of workmanship.

b

[MrChow]

I'm not qualified to say whether double or single is better. (I'm still going strong with my 1st kote which are single kera, 4mm, G20 from Koei) However, I do know that I train with a lot of people who have just started kendo and my kote combined with a tennis sweatband underneath protect me very well against even the hardest of hitters.

[streetcleaner]

double kera is in general more flexible

[neko]

i am kind of doubting the flexibilty theory, as the kera is up around the knuckle area, well above the wrist. so i am wondering how it aids in flexibility.

[ben]

Oh, no you've got the wrong end of the stick. It is the roll that goes above the join between the kotebuton (the flat bit around your arm that is the scoring area) and the kotegashira (the bit that protects your hands and looks loike a boxing glove).

I'll look for a pic...

b

[ben]

(Edit: aargh! pics not work!!)

A badly made (ie kendoshop) kote with double kera will be less flexible (and durable) than a well made (ie chibabogu) kote with single kera.

When buying bogu, workmanship and materials are EVERYTHING. Superficial construction details such as number of kera, number of doashi and machine stitch width do not indicate a bogu that will function well and last well. Unfortunately workmanship and materials cannot be discerned from a jpeg. You should always be guided by the personal recommendation of an experienced kendoka.

b

[ben]

double kera

[img=http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/5196/m1001021021006gu8.th.jpg] (http://img291.imageshack.us/my.php?image=m1001021021006gu8.jpg)

b

[bullet08]

i really can say much about it since i only had two set of kote so far. both with single kera. one was dojo kote that was rather old, and other is the set that i use, koei s-22. both of them will do the job as far as keeping good protection during normal ji-geiko condition. but when standing there as target dummy for beginners without bogu (and some with bogu), it still hurts like crap without the kote pad. and why is it that they always find a way to hit exactly on the wrist bone when i keep telling them to hit the proper target? amazing how well they can keep hitting on the wrong target hit after hit..

pete

[ben]

single kera

[img=http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/8559/m1001021021008un8.th.jpg] (http://img291.imageshack.us/my.php?image=m1001021021008un8.jpg)

b

[Hai_hai]

what is meant by "kera" when talking about kote? i have heard of single kera and double kera. what part of the kote is this referring to? if you could please post a pic or point me towards one that would be nice.

i am thinking that it is the "roll" that is between the knuckles and wrist that runs around the outside of the fist. is this right?

oh, and is there a benefit of double over single besides just more protection?

thanks in advance. :)
Just get Mori Budo kote.

[neko]

thank you everyone for your input. :)