bracer; arm guard (archery)
Specifically the protective arm guard worn in Japanese archery (kyudo).
In kyudo, you wear a bracer on your left arm.
gauntlet; armored glove
Refers to the protective glove or gauntlet used in historical Japanese armor.
kendo glove; fencing glove
The padded glove worn in kendo or fencing to protect the hand and forearm.
strike to the forearm (kendo)
In kendo, a valid strike targeting the opponent's forearm; often called out as 'kote!' during matches.
In the match, he landed a quick strike to the forearm.
The gauntlet of the armor protects the hand and wrist.
Kendo armor consists of a mask, chest protector, waist protector, and gloves.
In kendo, 面 is the mask or a strike to the head, while 小手 is the glove or a strike to the forearm.
In kendo, 胴 is the chest protector or a strike to the torso, distinct from 小手.
Most common spelling for all senses, especially in kendo contexts.
Alternate kanji spelling, sometimes used for the archery bracer or gauntlet.
Variant of 籠手; less common.
The kanji 小 (small) and 手 (hand) literally mean 'small hand', referring to the protective gear for the hand and forearm. The reading こて is a native Japanese word.