Kawashin-ryu Kumitachi Waza

By Brett Denison, Mizukan Dojo

Here is one of the kenjutsu kumitachi techniques practiced within Kawashin-ryu. Kumitachi is a term used in suburi training and can be defined as a short, two-man exercise with sword (or bokken). This waza shows a defense against a shomenuchi cut by uchitachi (attacker), where shitachi (one executing the technique) moves in a way similar to shihogiri, cutting in four directions (or like the aiki waza shiho-nage).	Photo 1
photo 2	Both uchitachi and shitachi start in chudan kamae facing each other, photo 1.
Uchitachi moves to a jodan kamae (photo 2) then executes kiri oroshi. Shitachi moves to the inside at a 45-degree angles and cuts uchitachi's left wrist with a hidari koteuchi, see photo 3.	Photo 3
Photo 4	Shitachi immediately slides forward with a tsugi ashi foot movement and tsuki sword movement further cutting uchitachi’s left wrist. As shitachi gets to the end of the sliding step, he executes suri age (photo 4), and moves in a hidari tenkan motion and cuts downward with migi kote kiri—removing uchitachi's right wrist (photo 5).
This kumitachi is interesting from the perspective that it emphasizes the swords true cutting ability while providing an excellent opportunity to practice taisabaki.	Photo 5

(Please, visit the website of Denison sensei on http://mizukan.home.attbi.com/ )