Takate kote
roughly “high hands, small hands” — a descriptive name for the arm position
A family of box-tie chest harnesses with the arms behind the back, and the most-taught upper-body harness in the practice.
The takate kote binds the arms behind the back and distributes rope across the chest, above and below the bust. It is the foundation of a great deal of Japanese-style rope, and it is the harness most commonly used as a suspension point — which is why it receives more teaching attention than anything else.
Why it is taught carefully
The arm position places rope close to the radial nerve as it wraps the upper arm. Nerve injury from a badly placed or badly loaded chest harness is the single most commonly reported injury in the practice, and it can happen quickly and without pain as a warning. Competent instruction covers placement, checking, and what to do the moment a partner reports a change in sensation.