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This time, Sensei Dejan Kostic from Prague (Czech Republic) demonstrates left harai uke, as practiced in Budokai Praha, as well as in former Dejan's association, Serbian Budo Council. After proper chudan no kamae, Dejan accepts uchidachi's shomen uchi (shin choku kiri) with left harai uke (ukenagashi). He is moving simultaneously to the right, with the step well known as "entering, approaching", or irimi. Doing so, Dejan gets into a dominant position, from which he can finish his action with variety of techniques. But the emphasis is on the "harai" and "irimi" principle: don't oppose to the opponents sword - just move it away. Use your sword to "hide behind it", and step forward and out, entering the "inner space" of the opponent.
There are several natural ways to complete this action. Dejan has prepared two of them for this issue of KIAI Online Magazine. First is horizontal cut to the neck, yoko kiri, or "suihei kubi kiri" (there are many synonyms for this technique, as always). Keep your kisaki a little behind your shoulder, press it against the neck of uchidachi, and then move forward with ayumi ashi. (shown on the small poster bellow). This is an excellent technique, showing how proper sabaki enables you to perform safe cuts from a small distance, avoiding any danger of being counter-cut.
Next action is presented on a small video clip (linked below). It is left ukenagashi (harai uke), with right irimi, and immediate kesa giri to the back of the uchidachi's neck / or shoulder. Dejan made a small pause after delivering a cut, so that his students (and all of us KIAI recipients) can see the stance and position of both kenjutsuka.
I hope you loved the technique. Dejan asked me to prepare this for KIAI, because my english is a bit less awful than his :-))))) If you want to make a contact with Dejan and see more of his fine work within the Prague University (Budokai Praha), e-mail him on:
- Editor
This is the first time we have a small video included in KIAI Online. It is enabled thanks to the existence of a "little big" software, called "VirtualDub". This shareware product is so small (about 700 KB in Zip format). and yet so powerful. You can learn how to use it within (literally) few minutes, and after re-compressing your video clips, you'll be simply amassed. The original of Dejan's video is bigger than 300 KB. The one you have received is only 76 KB, and it is almost the same as the original!!! If you want to have this great video tool, e-mail me.