Monday, 28 March 2016

Great lesson on Sunday. Key points learned

Sword - keep it out more from hakama. About a foot for easy grip. Still in front of centre.

Mae. First cut is to eye level. Then bring in elbow keeping KASHIRA pointing at opponent. Same when doing chiburi. Tip of sword pointing at their centre. Kashira pointing at enemy helps positioning.

Chiburi - weak. Point tip at opponent on ground.

Noto - push behind your backside more. Saya can go diagonal as well as straight back!

Morote Tsuki - really pull saya back before first cut. Then again keep seme on opponent as you drop for tsuki.

Footwork - take strength out of it.

Ukenagashi - feet point same direction as Kesa cut.

Wednesday, 23 March 2016

Focussing on Kesa Giri. Upward diagonal cut, no pause between downward cut but dont wave sword around. Make sure you angle sageo but dont attempt cut until sword out to avoid scrape. You also STEP FORWARD. It's not a backward step and cut it's a forward step, then diagonal cut, then diagonal cut back down in one movement