Hasegawa Kote (finally, pics! oooooh~!)

[T.Lee]

alright, finally got some close up pics of the Hasegawa Kote. Here's the company ad. http://www.hasegawakagaku.co.jp/hasegawakote.html i dont read japanese either...

its been talked about twice already, not much user reviews or pics.

http://www.kendo-world.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4101&
http://www.kendo-world.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5103&

i recently landed onto some cash from a raffle at my dojo's annual festival. and since it was my birthday, i decided to finally buy these. besides, my original kote that came with my bogu set had apparently kote too big for me. i never noticed since thats what i first used and have gotten used to it. but i can feel the difference with a proper fitting kote. i have relatively small hands (but a big head), for whatever thats worth... so no surprise. i got a size M.

ok, so here are the pics. first off, its a very nice looking set of kote. well constructed. the major difference from the outside youll notice is the covers around the tips of the fingers and thumb area. and the little Hasegawa logo. other than that, nothing different from the outside. im not sure i dig the purple himo tho...

http://www.norcalcrx.org/tyson/kendo/kote/kote5.jpg
http://www.norcalcrx.org/tyson/kendo/kote/kote6.jpg
http://www.norcalcrx.org/tyson/kendo/kote/kote1.jpg

but of course the MAIN feature of these kote is a COMPLETELY removable inner liner. it basically zips around the whole perimeter of the kote. the metal zipper parts are covered and protected from chaffing by appropriate flaps and material.

http://www.norcalcrx.org/tyson/kendo/kote/kote12.jpg

the extra material that once covered the tips of the fingers and thumb shows that it uses velcro to secure the elastic tip.

http://www.norcalcrx.org/tyson/kendo/kote/kote7.jpg

i suppose this is washable separately. the palm feels like clarino. notice the extra stitching and construction of the palm tho.

http://www.norcalcrx.org/tyson/kendo/kote/kote13.jpg

whats even better is the wonderful SOFT feel of the inner liner. like putting your hands in a plush sock, not hard kote. i noticed extra material where its needed around the finger joints so the fabric doesnt stretch.

now, heres the kicker. check out the EXTRA PADDING on the striking area of the wrist. great for motodachi's who gotta take an extra few poundings during practice (assuming the kendoka hit the kote...) its a little stiffer along the wrist area. and it is only on the right hand. nothing needed on the left.

http://www.norcalcrx.org/tyson/kendo/kote/kote9.jpg
http://www.norcalcrx.org/tyson/kendo/kote/kote10.jpg

i dont see why these kote arent selling like hotcakes. you can get them through eguchi in the US for $230 retail, $200 at the tournament price. i dont know why they dont show them on the website anymore, but with all the thought and dare i say, "engineering" that is obviously designed into this kote, im glad i bought these. of course i havent used them, yet. the only drawback i anticipate is it getting a bit hot in there with less room to breathe. but for a gearhead like me, hasegawa gets a big thumbs up from me.

feel free to browse the rest of the directory for more pics.

http://www.norcalcrx.org/tyson/kendo/kote/

[T.Lee]

extra liners are only $50 each. wash and use em all you want, why bother fixing them when they wear out. just replace.

[Taisaburo]

I wonder how much this costs...

[carlos]

Where can I order online?

[T.Lee]

call eguchi USA directly its not on their website anymore. $230 retail. (as mentioned in the text.)

http://www.eguchi.net/cart_index.htm

[Hai_hai]

That looks cool. It would be an secret way of adding additional padding to your right wrist without having to wear one of those wrist protectors.

[T.Lee]

secret way? why not just secure some padding underneath your regular kote like a men pad if you wanted to protect your limp wrist...

i just think its cool they actually considered the extra feature where its specifically needed. shows a lot of care in design.

[samurai999]

Nice kotes tyson. While the removable padding is nice for washing and having non-stinky kote and the extra padding is good for regular practice since it gives you protection for those aspiring lumberjacks out there, the kotes might be heavier. Maybe that is why the kotes aren't selling. Plus, i really haven't seen anything from Hasegawa sell that well save the carbon shinai.

Tim

[kuzu70]

extra liners are only $50 each. wash and use em all you want, why bother fixing them when they wear out. just replace.

$50 each or $50 per pair?

[T.Lee]

weight is suppose is a factor. i dont think that was really a consideration for what they seem to be intended for, which is think is a durable/replacable kote for ppl who practice a lot or want the option to clean their kote. as opposed to outright, lightest weight kote for shiai, which are already sold.

anyway, its only $200 and i actually got a better deal than that since it was a display model. who knows how many ppl stuck their hand in it...


"$50 each" means $50 for each liner, left or right. actually i think its $45...

[Wes Nazo]

"If I had kote like these...


.... I'd get all the b*tches!";)

[EzzzE]

errr totally off topic may i point out that the chic on oyur signature T.Lee the shinai still has its red transportation strings attached :D *GG*

to the kote: somehow gives me a mixed feeling. the improvemt of extra padding is quite an good idea, kote still hurts the most in kendo, and the extra washable things also area good ide, but somehow the kote look to modern to me, something like spaced up but not only that, they just dont look good imho..(even for spaced up ones :P )

[streetcleaner]

they just dont look good imho..(even for spaced up ones :P )
to be hohest, they look cheap and ugly

[Pauly]

After seeing this thread, my interest in these Hasegawa kote has been renewed.

I have two pairs of kote which I have tried to take care of each time after practice. I have had both palms on both sets repaired once for holes. But now the problem is the knuckle padding has gotten so hard and stiff that it is rubbing blisters in my knuckles. Anyone else have this problem?

I wonder if being able to clean the inner padding more efficiently by taking off the palms might extend the kote's "comfort window".

T.Lee, please post a review after you have had a chance to practice with them.

[ShinKenshi]

You could just buy a pair of inexpensive under-kote gloves or wrap your knuckles with an ace bandage but then again the bandage might make for a tighter fit. I've had to loosen my kote himo so I could accomodate my wrist-forearm pad.

[T.Lee]

i practiced with them on last night. first thing is that these kote actually fit me, unlike my other kote. it forces my hand in the normal bent up position, where my old kote where much bigger and looser and my hand felt a lot more free. but i quickly got used to it after the first kirikaishi.

anyway, the "extra padding", while well intended, doest still leave more to be desired in terms of protection. maybe it was all the kote drills we did last night, but a good kote hit will still be felt through. so not like these make your wrist/hands impervious to any feeling.

i also happened to have big dog sensei as my partner during dekote drills (seme, motodachi blocks early, high kote). and he frickin doesnt miss, and hits hard! i came away with a swollen hand along the pinky bone between the wrist and knuckle. but i dont blame the kote, no kote i looked at is well protected there. it was the way i held up my shinai in the "block" position that exposed an under protected area. i checked if the zipper could have any thing to do with the extra injury, it wasnt anywhere close. it was just a good series of consistent hits.

it felt a bit hotter inside the kote. that was expected since the hand is inside the soft liner instead of loose. but thats why the kote is removable.

otherwise, it worked like a normal kote. all the stuff i mentioned i was just being conscious of.

[Mr. Donigan]

those do look nice.

[Pauly]

I've been meaning to post for a while since...

I tried on a pair of M-sized Hasegawa kote about 2 weeks ago. Like T.Lee said, Oooooo were they soft! I felt like buying them for my winter wardrobe instead of kendo. But even a medium felt too large when gripping a shinai. They didn't have a small for me to try but I think an s-size would have been too tight. The construction and features of these kote are great but the loose feel of them prompted me to buy a pair of standard kote: hand stitched, ??mm, blah, blah. All I know is they feel like kote, smell like bacon, and protect my hands better than my previous pairs. They cost the same as the Hasegawa's, too.

When I buy that Polo Classic trench coat, I might pair it with some nice navy Hasegawa's (with purple himo).

[T.Lee]

i didnt think anyone had smaller hands than i....

[Pauly]

i didnt think anyone had smaller hands than i....
Hey, what are you implying? Oh wait, that's feet...

[T.Lee]

btw, its been a few weeks since using it. i feel like its breaking in well. im now used to the different shape of the kote since my old kote were much looser. i actually found a need to unzip the liner after a hard practice in order to dry them out. maybe ill give another update once i find the need to wash em...

[T.Lee]

to anyone curious, its been a few months now using these.

theyre pretty much broken in. i feel like the clarino (not real leather) is a bit stretched out because its definately roomier now. thats expected and just as much a good thing.

i have NOT cleaned them yet, honestly. ive been meaning to actually. just busy. so nothing to report with unzipping them for cleaning.

as for their use, pretty good. they get the job done. its not ultra protective, just in case anyone thought i was saying that. theyre still very comfortable to put on. i havent geiko'd with my old kote, but i have slipped them on and remembered how krusty it felt to put my hands in, and reminded that i dont feel that with the hasegawa kote.

would i get them again? for $200, ive seen better ones on sale. i think eguchi had some really nice jin (i think) kote for sale for around $200. but its still worth its money. so yes, i would buy em again and still recommend them if youre looking for a practical set of kote.


(ill upload the pics again when i get home tonite)

[Rularn]

Who all provides the removeable palm kotes? I know hasegawa does... wasn't there a couple of others? Anyone have any comments on them?

[hunnysan]

"If I had kote like these...


.... I'd get all the b*tches!";)

hahah that had me rolling..but those links aren't working for me?? :disapp:

[runsyi]

Tyson, you're so effette. I've got a $70 pair of kote and they work just fine.

Actually, no they don't. They stink pretty durn badly and they make my hands blue, but you get what you pay for. Get off your lazy butt and wash them so we can have a full review.

[T.Lee]

effete \eh-FEET; ih-\, adjective:
1. No longer capable of producing young; infertile; barren; sterile.
2. Exhausted of energy; incapable of efficient action; worn out.
3. Marked by self-indulgence or decadence; degenerate.
4. Overrefined; effeminate.

eh? my little boys are doing just fine and they go the distance... runsyi, i heard youre into cleaning tsukas now, i gotta tsuka you can clean...

ill clean my kote after this weekends tournament.

[runsyi]

effete \eh-FEET; ih-\, adjective:
1. No longer capable of producing young; infertile; barren; sterile.
2. Exhausted of energy; incapable of efficient action; worn out.
3. Marked by self-indulgence or decadence; degenerate.
4. Overrefined; effeminate.

eh? my little boys are doing just fine and they go the distance... runsyi, i heard youre into cleaning tsukas now, i gotta tsuka you can clean...

ill clean my kote after this weekends tournament.

You know I was referring to definition #4. And how would you know if your boys can go the distance? Do you have a pack of brats for Inouye02 to watch that we don't know about?

As for the tsuka cleaning... stand in line, I've got two orders for pie in already. You will be served in the order you came in.

[T.Lee]

yeah thats ok. T.Lee doesnt take sloppy seconds or thirds and doesnt care to be part of the KWF leg humpers club. membership seems to apply to anyone who already posted in your japan pics thread.

cheers.

[Ignatz]

Wow. I've heard a lot of things about Gibbo but that's the first time I heard that he was a leg humper. Dang, you just never know anymore do you?

[runsyi]

yeah thats ok. T.Lee doesnt take sloppy seconds or thirds and doesnt care to be part of the KWF leg humpers club. membership seems to apply to anyone who already posted in your japan pics thread.

cheers.

Whoa. Don't get your panties in a knot. It was just a joke.

[dohrt]

Myself?

I prefer a motodachi who is good and warmed up over one who is stiff yet fresh. That first few kiri-kaeshi are always not so good, too forced, too . . . something. Need to get loose, need to get lubricated, need to get in that groove where you kote are nice and wet, where your hands feel good, and not crackly or tight, where your body is loose and ready, and not needing a good stretch.

Give me the sloppy 4ths, 5ths, 6ths, and I'm happiest. Just don't make it 17ths, or I'll be too tired to move - I learned that it's all about pacing yourself so you still have some semblance of form left. Still working on it though, hehe.

[T.Lee]

its all jokes here. see you in june...

easy there dohrt. i suggest a cold shower.

[runsyi]

its all jokes here. see you in june...


Okay, see you and your fancy kote in June.

[dohrt]

Being that I was born and raised in Michigan, cold showers just get me excited, cause the water isn't frozen ;)

Some say that if you set your expectations low, you will never be dissapointed. On the other hand, you will never have any goals to reach for, but hey, life is, after all, all about opportunity cost, eh?

[Morvran]

I think I got called a leg humper b/c I like pie.

[T.Lee]

pics are back up. enjoy.

[Stimpson J. Cat]

In some of the pics, like #6 and #13, it looks like the padding wraps further around the edge of the hand than more conventional kote, others, like #7 and #12 don't look that way. In reality, does the padding come around any further? and if so, does it offer any additional protection from the nasty "end of the thumb" hit?

[T.Lee]

yes, the inner liner wraps around the ends of the "mitts", fingertips if you will and thumb. if you look closely, the pics you point out that dont show the tips covered illustrate the velcro strip that helps secure it in place. like i described in my first post, the kote will look like untraditional kote because of this.

i wouldnt necessarily say it offers more protection. its just needed to help cover the zipper (which is 100% hidden) and secure the liner.

like i said, these kote dont make you impervious to heavy or errant strikes. ive had my share of hits and sore fingers and wrists even with these on. theres only so much cotton and synthetic padding can do...

[jediado]

Seeing as how kote are being discussed. One of the fellow members in my dojang just got a pair of these blue/white kote (here's a link http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/1337/whitebluekote9uw.jpg) and I was wondering if anyone knows where I could buy a pair like those? He was gracious enough to let me try them on and they were so comfortable.

[Lloromannic]

Were they like these? (http://www.bogubag.com/Bogu/Machine_8mm/kote_06100_L.jpg)

[jediado]

Yes! Those are quite similar. Although it appears I can't purchase just kote from bogubag.com unless I'm a moron and can't find out how. The ones I tried one were a little bit different. When viewing your picture, the area where your knucles/fingers are is blue/white on the exterior. The ones my friend has that area is all white, the thumb isn't white/blue nor in the area where your pinky finger would be.
But does anyone know where I can get a pair of kote like I described? My friend said he was able to get them for $150.

[jediado]

I was able to find a picture of them, this is what they look like
http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/4388/whitekote9jq.jpg

[T.Lee]

for those interested, i have since washed and used my inner kote liners. i just threw them in the washer along with my blue super keikogi and added detergent. while not like brand new coming out of the washer, they felt much better like when i first got them. soft and comfy...

however, the velcro strips kinda attached to the inside jersey liner of my superkeikogi and kinda roughed it up in a few spots as it spun around. no tears or bad damage, but ill not be adding those two items together again, or at least be conscious of the hook and loops.

[Paikea]

Yes! Those are quite similar. Although it appears I can't purchase just kote from bogubag.com unless I'm a moron and can't find out how. The ones I tried one were a little bit different. When viewing your picture, the area where your knucles/fingers are is blue/white on the exterior. The ones my friend has that area is all white, the thumb isn't white/blue nor in the area where your pinky finger would be.
But does anyone know where I can get a pair of kote like I described? My friend said he was able to get them for $150.Yes you can, just e-mail Stroud-sensei and let him know what you need.

[Rularn]

After reading through the discussion on the hasegawa kotes, I got myself a pair. Seem to have broken mine in on the second day of practice. They are very well padded and the inside feels very nice. The padding around the fist feels a bit soft but there is a lot of padding inside. I think that will be the spot that goes first. Constant hitting on that area will probably flatten out the padding inside.

The clarino leather is good. It is holding up very well. Overall, I would give them two thumbs up. They are very good for general practice without worry of torn palms.

[Genya]

Wow, hasegawa kote. They do look really nice.

[Rularn]

Has anyone washed the internal lining of their Hasegawa kotes yet? I know you CAN wash it, but SHOULD you? Been using my Hasegawa kotes for about 4 months now and the palm is starting to get rough/worn and discolored in some spots. It is nothing severe but it will only get worse with time. Would washing help any?

I don't care much for the smell or the feel like some people but I don't want to already get a hole in the palm. And what are the washing methods? Machine or by hand?

[T.Lee]

for those interested, i have since washed and used my inner kote liners. i just threw them in the washer along with my blue super keikogi and added detergent. while not like brand new coming out of the washer, they felt much better like when i first got them. soft and comfy...

however, the velcro strips kinda attached to the inside jersey liner of my superkeikogi and kinda roughed it up in a few spots as it spun around. no tears or bad damage, but ill not be adding those two items together again, or at least be conscious of the hook and loops.

hmmmm.....

[Nakaleen]

I just ordered a pair. I hope they are good.

[Nakaleen]

An update, I have got a pair. Compared to my last saintly pair (holey) they are a god send. The fit like glove, but I have only use it a couple of times but they feel great. They don't stop a over excited student's kote (ones where they aim for the floor) but feel snug and take most strikes well.

[T.Lee]

you know, maybe its all the kote drills we've been doing lately, but i'm feeling these kote are a bit lacking in the protection category. or maybe just worn out and not that great quality to begin with. or maybe im just comparing them to REALLY nice kote... for what they are, theyre ok. but the stiching isnt even parallel at times.

however, i might just add some hard plates under the kote, between the outer shell and the liner. at least i have that option.