Five fingered kote...

[ben]

As the Beastie Boys once said, "Oh my God that's the freaky shit!"

b

[verissimus]

I am curious to know

a) why they aren't legal. Is it just something that has not been addressed? Or is there a definite reason against their use?
b) why they aren't more common. Is it considerably more difficult to manufacture than regular kote?

[stealth_monkey]

I am curious to know

a) why they aren't legal. Is it just something that has not been addressed? Or is there a definite reason against their use?
b) why they aren't more common. Is it considerably more difficult to manufacture than regular kote?

The reason for not being common I'd assume is tied to a). I'd guess that the reason for a is a combination of several reasons:
- 5-finger kote would offer significantly less protection than regular kote, especially in tsubazerai
- There'd definitely be a minor advantage in increased dexterity to the hands

Also, cleaning those puppies would be an exercise in frustration

[Martin S.]

I believe the reasoning is, that you can get a finger caught in close combat, and breaking it.
I think I read something along those lines concerning the use (or rather disuse) of naginata kote in kendo.

[snooz2k2]

I do not know for kendo, but I have a pair that I use for naginata... It is a damn major advantage in increasing dexterity to the hands !!!

[hl1978]

My guess is the reason they aren't as common is a cost issue, however given that lacrosse gloves can be made with more protection and 1/7 of the price of these kote might mean that its due to low volume as well.

I'd love a set myself. On a releated note I should try iaido while wearing my kote sometimes to feel exactly how much they get in the way of my movement.

[kevinpt]

As mentioned above. The primary reason for banning them is the propensity to snag a finger. They also promote less natural grip because you have extra bulk between each finger unlike the mitten style kote.

The singulated fingers are more commonly seen on Itto-ryū oni-gote. My understanding is that for Ittō-ryū practice, the person with kote is always motodachi and they don't necessarily need the most technically correct hand position since they aren't the one learning. My guess is that this kendo set is meant more for sensei who are looking to complement their furry dō during drills and the like.

[Anonymous]

i imagine that it would be super easy to get your fingers busted, depending on how good that padding is.

[IronWarrior]

A padded five finger glove decreases dexterity due to the thick padding between the fingers, in my experience of these old Army gloves I used to have, couldn't do anything with them apart from keep my hands warm, but pressing buttons, unlocking things, pushing things or anything, it was just useless, the only good thing about them was they kept your hands warm. If there was a five finger kote, am sure the padding would be small to allow for movement, so more chance of getting yourself hurt and aside with the padding for the fingers, you wouldn't be able to move the fingers that much due to how thick the padding is between each other.

[b8amack]

I believe that shit was funky, not freaky.


Maybe the point of the glove is to get you out of the habit of blocking?