Is my kote too big?

[KendoPadawan]

Hi All,

I recently just received my new bogu, and wanted to ask about the Kote (brand new) that came with it. The bogu that I ordered is machine stitched, thus bulk manufactured rather than it was customized. The question I ask is that is my kote too big?

I've been searching the forums to see if anyone asks this question, but usually most people ask if the kote is too small. But for my situation, it's the other way around.

I know I don't have any photos uploaded as yet, but my hand fits into the hand portion OK. There is still some space between my thumb and the edge of the kote, and also my little finger to the edge of the kote. Same goes with the top of my middle finger to the edge of the kote. My wrist seems like it is right around the joining part of the kote. But the futon that's on top of the glove makes it look like it's really big! It doesn't feel that tight, but I can feel that it can get a good grip on the shinai (insides is deer skin). But if I re-adjust my hand in the kote, it kind of makes it lose the original good grip and I have to find it again.

However, my wrists and my arm is thin. So the part where the shinai hits the kote, it seems really big on me. So this is why I ask if it's too big?

So questions are:
1. Is this size common for most of you kenshi out there?
2. Is it common that the part where the shinai hits looks bigger than your arm?
3. Do most people have their kote's loose or is it supposed to be really tight around the arm and wrist?
4. Is there are problem for the kote to be 'looser'?
5. After a while when the shinai hit the futon around the knuckle area, does it eventually start getting flat?
6. Can the kote actually shrink?

Thanks in advance guys. Maybe it might be personal preference, or is there a guide on how the kote should really fit?

[Halcyon]

Here are some general thoughts about the fit of kote.

You want the kote to be loose enough that you can manipulate your shinai with proper tenouchi. The kote shouldn't be tight around your forearm. But it should be tight enough around your wrist so that you can't fling it off. You should have to pull it off -- gently. As for the kobushi (the part that protects your knuckles) being big -- trust me, you will want all the padding you can get there. You will go through phases where it seems like every missed kote lands on your knuckles.

Did you send the bogu shop your hand measurements?

[KendoPadawan]

Hi Paul,

Thanks for your feedback. Yes I did, I gave them my measurements, and they told me what size I needed to order. Due to my knuckle size measurement is slightly larger, I had to go the next kote size up. The kote size for my palm and wrist to finger length, they had a size for it but because of my knuckle size, I had to go one up. Sounds like to me my hand size is not normal.

Thanks for answering about the looseness of the kote. Does anyone else have their thoughts/comments on the other questions?

[dillon]

If it's slightly too large you can try wearing thin white gloves (like the kind Japanese taxi drivers wear). This may take up some of the left over space while keeping some of the blue stain off your hands. It would also help absorb sweat so the kote doesn't get as much of a soaking. It means you fidget more during mentsuke so if there's a race to line up for a particular sensei then it will delay you. 100yen shops in Japan carry these gloves (fingers too short for me so I cut the tips off and look like a cross between an 80's punk and MJ). Maybe look in a similar kind of store where you are.

When you curl up your hands (e.g. holding a shinai) then the excess space should reduce. Also not everyone has the same shape hands so obviously it's not going to fit like a glove (bad pun indeed). For the excess space around the pinky, if it's still there when you close your hand, well that's kind of common for most kote. Even with custom kote you need to ask for a slight cut back around the pinky and ring finger area as the usual round shape inevitably leaves space for most people (e.g. to get that trimmed back means the kote has a somewhat unusual shape).

If the part of the kote that protects your arm beyond the wrist is too wide, you can simply tighten the himo.

There's also no such thing as a normal hand size, just degrees of variation from an average. When buying off the shelf this kind of thing happens. Maybe the off the shelf sizes from a different manufacturer would fit better, maybe not. That's kind of why it's better if possible to visit a shop and look at fit before buying. Of course, unless you live in Japan or California this is an unlikely option. If it's not hindering your kendo then for a beginner's set it will do (assuming you're a beginner).

Also ask your sensei or sempai for an opinion.

[dillon]

Sorry for double post, time limit prevented editing the first one.

If it's really obviously too large, try seeing if the supplier is willing to send you the next size down to try. Then send back the one you don't want. Obviously don't make the one you already have un-resellable by using it in practice before seeing whether to send it back.

[Scott H]

In answer to your last question, kote won't actually shrink per se, but they will get stiffer from the sweat that eventually dries the material out. So, in some ways, they will feel like they've "shrunk" a bit.

Also, I would recommend (as someone else has said) to tighten the himo up a bit. Suppliers basically thread the himo through, but it's up to you to tailor that portion of the fit to your forearm/wrist.

[KendoPadawan]

Hi All,

Thanks for everyone's response. I checked with my sensei, and he actually looked and said it was a good fit. A little bit big is OK - but it wasn't extremely big. I suppose I was getting a little paranoid over the size.

Ok to keep this thread going if other people have the same problem as me.

[jd111]

the kote fist will also shape to your hand after a month or two. depending on how much sweat you put into it!

you can tighten the laces, but it do anything like that with a senior to help, just in case you make it too short or something.

also, I know you didnt ask, but

this is the best thing to do. I usualy do this everyday for a month with new kote.
http://www.chibabudogu.com/news/3/Ca...ance.html#kote break

and advice i got from a few people, hit the fist part with a hammer or kodachi, or punch some walls (dont go mad...). It will help break up the filling on the inside so that the fist is more flexable. It will NOT reduce how much it protects. the filling is just tightly compacted in the beginning.

Enjoy your new bogu!

[Gilligan]

and advice i got from a few people, hit the fist part with a hammer or kodachi, or punch some walls (dont go mad...). It will help break up the filling on the inside so that the fist is more flexable. It will NOT reduce how much it protects. the filling is just tightly compacted in the beginning.

Enjoy your new bogu!

that basically only works with kote that are stuffed with deer hair. not really cheaper kote that are just stuffed with wadding.
the hair breaks up a bit and as you use the kote those smaller/broken bits of hair move about
generally making the kote more comfortable. wadding/stuffing doesnt break up. it may compress somewhat?

[jd111]

That's possible. But I don't know what is used in "cheaper" kote I have a pair I got for 5000 yen that have a hair like stuffing and they benefitted from a bit of breaking up.

I'm not expert I'd have literally no clue what is in the cheap ones in general. Maybe D'Andy can Fill us in.

Haw haw haw. Pun intended.

[KendoPadawan]

Hi JD111, thanks for posting that link. Wow, after doing what the instructions said, my kote is now super soft and feels great! It's broken in, and I've also sweated it in as well. The kote is now awesome.