When I did koryu kenjutsu, we did kumiuchujitsu.. which is armored grappling with a yori-doshi, an armor-piercing dagger. And we practice not straight out kicks but more or less stomps and shoves with the foot. And also realize as stated above, that during the heat of battle... I'm pretty sure that when two warriors came tsuba to tsuba, the occasional strike to the face with the left hand happened.. even though its not in any kenjutsu curicculum(sp?) that I know of...
like Capt Jack Sparrow said... "Anything a man can do.... he will do"
Best,
Brian James
"Learn something new everyday, becoming more skillful
than yesterday, more skillful than today. This is never
ending." - Hagakure