Reigi
In the opening formal rei, prior to the standing
bows, there is a seiza rei. In this seiza rei, both participants should
be about 3 steps apart. When the kenshi sit down for this rei, the shidachi
should be sure to place the kodachi to the inside of the katana. After
the rei from seiza, the participants go towards their starting positions.
The shidachi places the kodachi 5 small steps diagonally to the right of
his or her starting position. The blade of the kodachi should be inward
and the kissaki (point of the sword) should point back. Each standing
rei is at a different angle. The bow to the kamiza is a 30 degree bow.
The bow to the partner is a 15 degree bow. Note that neither of these bows
is as deep as you think it will be.
Kamae toku
Kamae toku is the position that is taken prior
to and between the individual kata. It is a lowered position of the sword
which indicates a lack of fighting intention for the moment. In kamae
toku, the point of the sword (kissaki) should be one or two inches below
the height of the opponent's knee. The point should be slightly outside
the frame of the opponent's body.
Ippon-me
In Ippon-me kata, the uchitachi is in left jodan
while the shidachi is in right jodan. Both partners advance 3 large steps
to the middle. The uchitachi strikes a deep men. The shidachi steps back
(nuki-waza), raising the arms out of the way and then steps inward striking
the uchitachi's shomen.
The uchitachi then steps backwards a small
step and the shidachi'slowers his sword to the center of the uchitachi's
face. The shidachi steps back one more small step and the shidachi steps
forward into left jodan exhibiting zanshin.
The shidachi then steps backwards to chudan
kamae as the uchitachi resumes chudan kamae. Uchitachi leads to kamae toku
and the shidachi simultaneously follows.
Nihon-me
In this kata, both participants are in chudan
no kamae. After taking three large steps forward and searching for a chance
to strike, the uchitachi cuts to the shidachi's kote.
The shidachi responds by stepping diagonally
backwards to the left, lowering the sword out of the way of the cut. The
shidachi then steps back in cutting a large kote to the uchitachi.
After the shidachi demonstrates zanshin, the
uchitachi steps backwards from the left foot returning to the position
from which kote was struck and simultaneously, the shidachi steps from
the left foot to the right back to the center. The uchitachi leads to kamae
toku and the shidachi simultaneously follows.
Sanbon-me
In this kata both participants take gedan-no-kamae.
Both parties move to the center with three large steps.
Once in the center the uchitachi begins to
raise the sword towards chudan and the shidachi follows simultaneously.
The uchitachi looks for an opportunity and when he finds it thrusts tsuki
to the shidachi's suigetsu. The suigetsu is the point just below the sternum.
The shidachi turns the sword blade out to
the right and, using the shinogi, steps back drawing the uchitachi's sword
down and to the right using the technique iyasu. The shidachi then thrusts
to the uchitachi's chest. The uchitachi steps back with the right foot
and parries on the left side of the sword.
The shidachi thrusts again using the whole
body but not the arms. This action has the spirit of tsuki but is not really
tsuki. It leads into the section which follows. The uchitachi again parries,
this time on the right side of the sword. The shidachi then chases the
uchitachi down two or three steps to the uchitachi's rear.
At the end of this chase, shidachi's sword
is in the center of the uchitachi's face. After the shidachi shows zanshin,
the two return to the center in chudan-no-kamae.
Yonhon-me
The uchitachi steps forward into Hasso-no-kamae.
The shidachi steps back into Waki gamae. Both move in three steps (not
so large as usual).
The uchitachi sees the opportunity and moves
through Jodan to cut the shidachi's men. The shidachi responds simultaneously
by moving through Jodan and also cutting to the men. Both strike simultaneously
(aiuchi) stepping forward with the right foot. The two swords wedge in
the center of the cut and stop.
Both parties lower the sword back to chudan
kamae in good distance (see below). The uchitachi then thrusts to the right
lung of the shidachi.
The shidachi steps forward and to the left
with the left foot. The shidachi raises the left and right hands high above
the head leaving the sword blade pointing back and point downwards (Maki-kaeshi).
As the shidachi completes his step by placing the right foot behind the
left, he moves the sword over the center of his head and strikes the uchitachi's
shomen.
Exhibit zanshin, and then as the uchitachi
steps backwards one step, the shidachi draws the sword down to eye level
and steps back to the center line (right foot, then left foot), and chudan
kamae.
Gohon-me
In this kata, uchitachi takes left jodan. The
shidachi raises the chudan to point to the uchitachi's left fist or kote.
Both parties take three big steps to the center and look for an opportunity.
The uchitachi strikes towards the shidachi's
shomen. The shidachi steps back and executes suri-age, stepping back in
to strike the uchitachi's men.
Next the shidachi steps back. First drawing
the sword down to the uchitachi's eyes and then immediately up to left
jodan (step is left right left-recover).
As the uchitachi begins to come back to chudan,
the shidachi steps back again into chudan. Both parties take three small
steps to return to the center (uchitachi starts with left, shidachi with
right foot).
Roppon-me
Uchitachi takes chudan kamae. The shidachi takes
gedan kamae. Both take three steps to the center.
At the center, the shidachi raises the sword
point towards chudan looking for an opportunity to attack. the uchitachi
attempts unsuccessfully to hold the shidachi's blade down.
When it becomes clear that the shidachi will
be able to come up into a dangerous position, the uchitachi steps back
into left jodan. The shidachi pursues pointing the kissaki towards the
uchitachi's left fist.
This pressure forces the uchitachi to step
back again into chudan. The shidachi adjusts kamae back to chudan but does
not step in again.
At this point, the uchitachi cuts a small
kote. The shidachi counters with suri-age kote, stepping to the left (left
foot then right foot).
The Uchitachi steps back diagonally to his
left. The shidachi follows stepping forward with his left foot and then
assuming left jodan kamae. Shidachi exhibits zanshin. The shidachi then
steps back (right foot, left foot) to the center (diagonally back to the
left), and the uchitachi returns to the center (right foot, left foot)
as well (diagonally forward to the right).
Shichihon-me
Both partners assume chudan kamae. After stepping
into the center look for an opportunity to attack.
The uchitachi makes a thrust to the shidachi.
The shidachi receives this thrust by stepping backwards and pushing the
sword forwards and upwards keeping contact between the shinogi of his sword
and the uchitachi's.
Both partners resume chudan-no-kamae. The
Uchitachi makes a large shomen and the shidachi responds with men nuki
do moving diagonally forward to the right and finishing the cut on his
right knee.
After finishing the cut, the shidachi turns
to face the uchitachi and, while remaining on one knee, assumes waki-gamae.
The Uchitachi turns to face the shidachi and the shidachi moves to chudan-no-kamae
by way of jodan.
The uchitachi steps backwards drawing the
shidachi up to both feet with the right foot forwards in a normal chudan
kamae. both parties circle back to their original positions moving clockwise
five steps.
Kodachi-Ippon-me
The uchitachi takes left Jodan-no-kamae. The shidachi
takes hanmi chudan kamae. Both move three large steps forwards.
The uchitachi cuts to the shidachi's shomen.
The shidachi steps diagonally forward to the right and receives the men
using uke-nagashi. The uke-nagashi-waza is completed by striking the uchitachi's
shomen.
After one beat, the shidachi steps back into
right jodan kamae. The uchitachi turns to face the shidachi and both come
to chudan-no kamae. The shidachi steps to the left to resume the left/right
center.
Kodachi-Nihon-me
The uchitachi takes gedan, the shidachi takes
hanmi chudan in response. Both move forwards three large steps.
The uchitachi attempts to raise towards chudan.
The shidachi points the blade slightly to the left to cover. The Uchitachi
steps back into Waki-gamae to get out from under the shidachi's cover.
Meanwhile, the shidachi steps forwards (irimi) pointing the kamae at the
uchitachi's throat (back in the center).
The uchitachi moves through Jodan and cuts
at the shidachi's shomen. The shidachi moves diagonally to the left and
receives the cut using uke-nagashi. The uke-nagashi concludes when the
shidachi cuts the uchitachi's shomen.
After cutting the shomen, the shidachi reaches
out with the left hand and holds the uchitachi's right arm down. Zanshin
is exhibited by drawing the kodachi back to the right hip and pointing
it at the shidachi's stomach.
The shidachi returns to the original position
by stepping first with the right foot.
Kodachi-Sanbon-me
The Uchitachi remains in chudan no-kamae. The
shidachi, however moves to hanmi-gedan. Both sides take three steps into
the center.
During the third step, the uchitachi attempts
to strike the shidachi's shomen. The shidachi responds with suri-age followed
by suri-otoshi. Sliding up the Uchitachi's blade and then throwing it back
towards the Uchitachi's right rear side. This breaks the balance and posture
of the uchitachi.
The uchitachi recovers balance and stepping
forward with the left foot cuts to the shidachi's do. This cut is received
with suri-otoshi, sliding down and backwards along most of the blade as
the shidachi steps out to the left by pivoting on the right foot. The suri-otoshi
is completed by sliding the kodachi upwards until the two swords are locked
at the tsuba (during both slides the shinogi are in contact, however at
the point when the swords lock tsuba, the shidachi turns the kodachi blade
down).
The shidachi grips the uchitachi's right arm
locking it in place. The uchitachi attempts to escape two or three steps
backwards but the shidachi follows up maintaining this control. The shidachi
exhibits zanshin by drawing the kodachi to his right hip and pointing it
towards the uchitachi's stomach.
The shidachi withdraws back to the original
starting position beginning with the left leg this time (about 3 steps
left right left). The uchitachi returns to the starting position with a
single step (right and left recovery).