In parts one and two of this series, I translated the sections of Takano Sasaburo’s Kendo Kyohan describing techniques for men and tsuki. In this part, I translate the section for kote techniques.
As in part two, I have included the section on how to strike kote [籠手の撃方] from the chapter on basic practice [基本練習].
籠手撃
兩臂の間から敵の籠手の見える程振上げて、正面から籠手へ撃込む。右足から進み、左足は之に伴ふのであるが、腹で進む心持で進むことが肝要である。籠手撃の場合は、手先だけで撃つやうになり易いからである。
Kote Uchi
Swing up until you can see the enemy’s kote between your arms, and strike kote from the front. Advance from the right foot, and follow it with the left, but the feeling of advancing with your abdomen is essential. This is because in the case of kote uchi it is easy to strike as if using just your fingers.
巻籠手撃
手元で小圓を描く心持で、切先で巻込むやうに敵の右籠手に撃込む。足の運方は前と同様。
Maki Kote Uchi
With the feeling of drawing a small circle, spiral in with your sword tip and strike the enemy’s right kote. The footwork is the same as above.
抜籠手撃
左足を左方に踏出し、右足も之に伴つて左足の前に進め，劍尖は敵刀の下から半圓を描き、初歩の間は大きく抜き、敵の右籠手に撃込む。
Nuki Kote Uchi
Step to the left with the left foot. Accompany it with the right foot, and advance the right foot in front of the left. Describe a half circle under the enemy’s sword with your sword tip. During the first step make a large evasion, then strike the enemy’s right kote.
Now the section on kote techniques.
其の三 籠手十二種
Twelve for Kote
應用籠手
敵中段、我は下段にて相對し居る時、敵の太刀の中程を押す。敵は押されまいと押し返すのを、押されつゝ其の刀を利用し、敵の太刀を外し、敵の太刀の下より巻籠手に籠手を撃つ。
Oyo Kote
When you are facing each other, the enemy in chudan and you in gedan, press the middle of the enemy’s sword. As the enemy pushes back in order to not be pushed, make use of this and avoid his sword, wrap around under it, and strike makikote.
擔ぎ籠手
互に下段・中段等にて相對して居る時、太刀を左肩に取り、敵の右籠手を横筋違に撃つ。
Katsugi Kote
When facing each other in gedan, chudan, etc., bring your sword to your left shoulder and strike the enemy’s right kote on an angle from the side.
上籠手
雙方右と同じ構にて相對して居る時、敵が上段に構へんと上ぐる所を透さず撃つ。
Age Kote
When both parties are facing each other in the same kamae as above, when the enemy raises up to assume jodan, strike without a moment’s delay.
出頭籠手
雙方下段構相對して居る時、敵より我が面或は籠手を撃たんとする出頭の籠手を撃つ。
Degashira Kote
When both parties are facing each other in gedan, strike kote the moment the enemy initiates striking your men or kote.
摺上籠手
雙方下段・中段等の構にて相對して居り、敵より我が面の撃ち來るを、我が太刀を右肩に取り、摺上げて敵の右籠手を撃つ。
Suriage Kote
When you are facing each other in gedan, chudan, etc., as the enemy comes to strike at your men, bring the sword to your right shoulder to perform suriage and strike the enemy’s right kote.
突沸籠手
雙方同前の構、敵より左片手にて此方に突き來るを左に拂ひ除け、敵の右籠手を撃つ。
Tsuki Barai Kote
When both are in the same kamae as above, as the enemy thrusts at you left handed, sweep it away to the left and strike the enemy’s right kote.
上段籠手
敵下段又は中段、我は上段にて面を撃たんとする色を示せば、敵が下がれば内籠手を撃つ。
Jodan Kote
When the enemy is in gedan or chudan and you are in jodan, if you show signs of striking men, the enemy will certainly try to defend against this, so strike his right kote. If in this case the enemy lowers the tip of his sword, strike the inside kote.
右上段籠手
右上段に構へて居るのを、敵が中段又は下段より我が籠手或は面へ撃つて来る時、左足より一歩退き、大きく抜き、敵の太刀を外し、一歩踏込み右籠手を撃つ。
Migi Jodan Kote
When the enemy tries to strike your kote or men from chudan or gedan while you are in migi jodan, take one step backward from the left foot, making a large evasion and avoid the enemy’s sword, then step in one step and strike the right kote.
誘籠手
互に下段或は中段の構にて相對して居る時、敵の右籠手を撃たんと色を示せば、敵も必ず其の籠手に撃つて来るものである。それを受け、拂ひなどして敵の右籠手を撃つ。
Sasoi Kote
When facing each other in gedan or chudan, if you show signs of attacking the enemy’s right kote, the enemy will certainly try to attack your own kote. Block, parry, etc. this and strike the enemy’s right kote.
止籠手
前項の通りに構へ、敵より我が右籠手へ撃つて来るのを、鍔元にて受止め、其の儘小さく敵の右籠手を撃つ。間合により物打の鎬にて摺上げ撃つても宜しい。
Tome Kote
In the same kamae as above, as the enemy tries to strike your right kote or men, block with the tsuba moto and from there strike the enemy’s right kote with a small motion. Depending on the distance, you can also perform suriage with the shinogi of the monouchi then strike.
折敷籠手
前項の通りに構へ、敵より我が面へ撃つて来るのを、左の膝を突き、折敷いて撃つ。
Orishiki Kote
In the same kamae as above, as the enemy comes to strike your men, put your the left knee down on the floor and strike, kneeling.
巻籠手
雙方右と同じ構、敵より我が籠手を撃たんとする所を下より巻き、小さく籠手を撃つ。
Maki Kote
With both in the same kamae as above, as the enemy tries to strike your kote, wrap around underneath and strike kote with a small motion.