The authors have studied the evolution of four major kendo techniques (men, tsuki, kote, and do) to see how they have developed into modern kendo. The present study focuses on changes in the kote technique.
From the Meiji Restoration in 1868 until 1945, there were 450 books published on kendo. Among them, we have found that 64 systematically illustrate the four major techniques of kendo. From these 64 treatises, the following major characteristics of kote technique can be observed:
1. Three variations of kote, namely; fukagote (striking the opponent's forearm after carrying your shinai bamboo sword over the shoulder), okorigasirakote (striking the opponent's forearm the moment he moves to attack), and osaegote (holding the opponent's shinai bamboo sword and striking his forearm when he moves to strike your head), were used since the end of the Edo Period (1600-1868).
2. Two other variations, agegote (striking the opponent's lifted forearm when he moves to hold his sword over his head), and makigote (striking on the forearm after holding his sword with yours in a winding motion) began to spread during the beginning of the Taisho Era (1911-1925).
3. Another variation, hidarigote (striking the opponent's left forearm), disappeared before the beginning of the Showa Era (1925).
4. Still one other variation, hikigote (striking the forearm while stepping backward after a dead heat of pushing on each other's sword guards), first appeared during the end of the Taisho Era and subsequently became popular.
5. Most of the special kote techniques of which there is only one example were recorded in books of kendo during the transitional period to competitive kendo of Taisho 5-10 (1916-1921).

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