Kote problem

[Toecutter]

I've had my kote for about a year and a half now and in the last month or two it seems like the padding is breaking down. It’s to the point if I get hit hard enough on the right kote it hurts so much I almost drop my shinai. Keep in mind getting hit there in the past has never been a problem. I guess the question is besides don't let people hit your kote is; has anyone heard of the padding breaking down after a while or is this just not a great quality kote? I'm sure some of this has to do with my form since most of the hits I'm getting are knuckle strikes, but that problem aside I can't figure out what's changed so much in the last one to two months. In looking at the kote the problem seems to be that the padding where the decorative stitching runs down the middle has somehow separated and is thin. Is it possible to work it back in? Sometimes if my hand is beat up I’ll wear a sweat band across my knuckles, but this only helps a little and not much else fits. I taped my hand once but it took about 5 minutes to get on my kote.

[ShinKenshi]

It’s to the point if I get hit hard enough on the right kote it hurts so much I almost drop my shinai. Keep in mind getting hit there in the past has never been a problem.... I'm sure some of this has to do with my form since most of the hits I'm getting are knuckle strikes, but that problem aside I can't figure out what's changed so much in the last one to two months.That same thing happened to me a few months ago and after consulting my sempai and sensei, we concluded that the padding had just worn down to the point where it would be a problem. My left-most knuckle on my right hand is now twice as big as it was before because of it. I decided to just outright replace my kote since they were quite old (5 years) and I've been wanting to upgrade for a while.


Is it possible to work it back in?I think some places offer that as a repair job but not sure who does or where you could send them to in the states.


Sometimes if my hand is beat up I’ll wear a sweat band across my knuckles, but this only helps a little and not much else fits. I taped my hand once but it took about 5 minutes to get on my kote.I bought a set of these (http://www.sportsauthority.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2717279&cp=3077571.3079736.2360706.2360747&view=all&parentPage=family) and they definitely helped. They take a little more room inside the kote but if you loosen the himo a bit they'll make it in just fine. The only drawback is that it cuts off circulation to your thumb a little bit so you may want to give these (http://www.sportsauthority.com/product/index.jsp?productId=561951&cp=3077571.3079736.2360706.2360747&view=all&parentPage=family) a shot instead.

[JSchmidt]

It's also worth noting that if you get bruised badly enough, the tissue can take quite a while to recover fully and even a light hit can set it back. I have had to wear extra padding for the last 2 months because an over enthusiastic junior bruised my wrist very badly and even though I thought it had healed up, it only took a light hit to bring it back.
So..it may not be the kote.