EXTENDED CUTTING

LEFT HAND

The lift :

Imagine that an opponent of about your height is facing you standing at a distance where you have to step forward once and hit your opponent on the head (issoku-itt-no-ma-ai).

First, with the left hand gripping the tsuka in chudan-no-kamae, start to raise the shinai by pulling on the tsuka with the first and index finger and pushing with the palm of your hand at the same time, as you are doing this start to lift your arm with shoulder movement . Do not bend your elbow. When your fist is just below left shoulder height the shinai should be vertical.

At this point all movement should come from your shoulder only, with a tension between your shoulder blades. Take the shinai above your head without bending your elbow until your left arm is almost vertical by the side of your head,(do not take the Kensen too far back).

Your fist must be just in front of and above your head with the Kensen raised and pointing to the rear at about 45 degrees. (quite similar to Jodan)

---> CHECK!!

  • Your grip.
  • Your left hand is following a centre line and not to the left or right side of your head.

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The cut:

On the forward and downward movement of the left fist the movement should come from the left shoulder and wrist only. The grip with the downward movement should be to pull with the little, the third and middle fingers.

The little finger having the strongest grip, then third finger, then index finger. You must also push the tsuka with the part of the hand between the thumb and first finger.

At the same time moving your arm forward and down with the movement from your shoulder only. Again do not bend your elbow.

In this instance where the target is the head the left hand should stop just below shoulder height. At this point the shinai tip should be pointing upwards and forward at an angle of about 50-60 degrees.

Now the wrist should continue the cutting action by pushing the tsuka with the part of the hand between thumb and first finger, also use wrist movement by bending your wrist joint forward and down.

Now Step..

When starting your downward movement of the left arm you should start to step forward so that when your shinai hits the target your right foot should land on the floor (ayumi ashi or fumikomi ashi) at the same time.

Then bring your left foot up towards your right foot until the toes of your left foot are level with the heel of your right foot with a distance of about 6 inches between your feet.

The moment you hit your opponent you must apply pressure to the tsuka by squeezing it with the whole of your fist, this is the application of tenouchi.

---> CHECK!

  • On the downward swing the left fist stays in a centre line of your body.
  •  The wrist is on top of the tsuka and is not twisted with its grip. 
  • Your body is square onto your opponent and neither your left nor right side is forward of the other.
  • Your body from the waist upwards is not leaning forward but try to keep it vertical and your chin tucked in. 

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RIGHT HAND

The lift:-

In chudan-no-kamae both hands on the tsuka check your posture, then take your left hand off. you should now be gripping the tsuka with your right hand only with little and third fingers only (little finger having the strongest grip).

Start to lift the shinai upwards by pulling on the tsuka with your first and index fingers (not gripping the tsuka with these fingers), pushing with the palm of your hand and at the same time start to raise your arm by moving your shoulder. Do not bend your elbow.

When your fist is horizontal with your right shoulder the shinai should be near vertical.

Movement should only come from your right shoulder, continue to lift your arm until it is vertical by the side or just past your right ear. The shinai should be pointing upwards and to the rear at about 45 degrees.

---> CHECK!!

  • Your shinai is at the correct angle
  • Your grip on the tsuka.
  • Is your fist directly above your head and in the centre? Make sure it is not to the left or right side of your head.

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The cut:-

On the downward and forward movement of your right fist the movement should come from the shoulder and wrist only.

The grip with the downward movement should be to pull the tsuka with your little and third finger (little finger having the strongest grip). Push the tsuka with the part of your hand between thumb and first finger and at the same time move your arm forward and down with movement from your shoulder. Do not bend your elbow.

In this instance where the target is the head, the right hand should stop at shoulder height. The kensen should be pointing upwards and forwards at an angle of about 50-60 degrees. Now the wrist should continue the cutting action as described at the beginning of the downward cutting action, but also use wrist movement as well.

Do this by bending your wrist joint forward and down until the point of your shinai is roughly about eye level of your imaginary opponent who is the same height as you.

When starting the downward movement of your right arm you should start to step forward so that when your shinai hits the target. Your right foot should land on the floor at the same time using same footwork as described in cutting with left hand.

The moment you hit your opponent you must apply pressure to the tsuka by squeezing with the whole of your fist (tenouchi).

---> CHECK!!

  • On the downward swing your right fist stays in the centre line of your body
  • Your right fist is on top of the tsuka and not twisted with its grip
  • Your body is square onto your opponent.

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SMALL CUTTING

LEFT HAND

Same exercise as extended cutting left hand only:

Starting from chudan-no-kamae left hand only on the tsuka. First move left arm from the shoulder only until left fist is at shoulder height no higher or lower. Still using the same grip and movement as in extended cutting ,your shinai should be in a vertical position.

Now start to cut forward by bringing your left fist to just below shoulder height, also using the same wrist movement and grip for the downward and forward cutting action as described for extended cutting (left hand).

Step forward at the same time using the same foot movement as described in extended cutting.

Apply tenouchi.

---> CHECK!!

  • Your left hand is in the centre of your body
  • Your wrist is on top of the tsuka
  • Your body is square on to your opponent.

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RIGHT HAND

In chudan-no-kamae right hand only on the tsuka, move your right hand to just above shoulder height and do not bend your elbow.

Using the same grip and wrist movements as in extended cutting, your shinai should be in a vertical position. Now start to cut forward by bringing your right fist down to shoulder height. Use the same wrist movement and grip for the forward and downward cutting action as described in extended cutting (right hand).

Step forward at the same time, using same foot movement as described in extended cutting.

Apply tenouchi.

---> CHECK!!

  • Your right hand is in the centre of your body.
  • Your wrist is on top of the tsuka.
  • Your body is square on to your opponent.

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