Kote Uchi
小手打ち
Literally: strike to the wrist guard
Also known as: Kote
A strike with the shinai or sword to the opponent's wrist; one of kendo's four valid targets, the right wrist may be struck at any time.
Quick Facts
Katas containing this technique
About
Kote uchi (小手打ち), literally strike on the wrist guard, is a strike to the opponent's wrist. Kote is one of kendo's four valid targets, with the head, torso, and throat. The right wrist may be struck at any time, the left only when raised at that moment. In naginata, the blade's front part, monouchi, should land on the joint between hand and wrist. Kote is part of three of the nine basic forms of Bokuto ni yoru kendo kihon-waza keiko-ho, introduced by the All Japan Kendo Federation in June 2001: as a standalone strike, in the combination kote-men, and in the counterattack kote-suriage-men. The sixth Nihon Kendo Kata, Roppon-me, ends with the counterattack kote-suriage-kote. Under FIK rules, a point is awarded only for a precise strike with the correct part of the shinai, with full spirit, correct stance, and follow-up awareness, zanshin.