asymmetrical kote

Yesterday,
as I packed my bogu bag after keiko, a question entered my mind.

"Why are kote designed the same for each hand?"



If you look at kote from from 40-50 years ago you´ll see that nothing big really changed.
The basic design stayed the same over the years.
Now, why would you make a change? Never change a running system, no?
Indeed, but trying something new? Why not?

Thinking about the basic chudan-no-kamae kenshi.

Left hand bottom, right hand front.
99.5% of the time, the right kote is the only valid target.
There wouldn´t be any reason to hit the left kote in any way.
Also the atama (fist part) on the left hand wouldn´t need as much padding as the right atama.
In tsuba zeriai, the left fist doesn´t has that much contact.
The right atama has to absorb much more (wrongly) placed kote uchi than the left fist.
At the same time, the tenouchigawa of the left kote would profit from further reinforcements.
The "cradle" where the bottom of the shinai grip rests, suffers permanent fricton.
Same for the one an other spot (everyone knows these little "prone-to-get-a-hole"-spots) here and there.
Imagine the left kote buton wouldn´t have any major padding at all. Not only would this save weight and costs, also the labor could be reduced.
No complex stitching would be needed.


And what about Jodan or Nito kenshi?

According to which hand is in front, the kote could be constructed in certain ways.
The left kote for jodan players could have a futon that goes way more around the forearm.
Anyone who ever received bad kote uchi in jodan knows what I mean.


By now, I can´t see any bogu manufacturer that could be interested in taking a step forward regarding bogu development.
But maybe that´s a good thing for the sake of traditionalism....

Anyways, I think its worth a though.....or two.