Nissoku Kiri-orishi - April 8 2025
Tonight was a study of the two step cut that defines Ishikage Kenpō.
We start with sankaku-dai. The kanji is 台 for dai in 三角台. "A stand", rather than the "to stand" of 立 in zenkutsu-dachi (前屈立). 立 implies an action, 台 is a foundation or tower. My feet form two triangles, they would only graze each other if moved along the x or y vectors.
Chūdan, the sword is held with the palms of both hands. My arms are relaxed, strong and form a smooth curve. Pull the trigger of my right hand, MIGI YUBI (右指), the sword is just in front of my forehead. My left pinky tucks under the kashira, this is in only point where I lose full contact with my palms. Now the right hand only guides. The left hand pushes the sword up to jōdan, HIDARI AGE (左上げ). If I look up, I cannot see the kashira, just the end of my left wrist. I pull the sword down until my left wrist is maxed out, HIDARI HIKI (左引き). Let the cut finish and shibori (搾り), KIRU (切る).
Nissoku. S step with the left forward, hanmi to hanmi, right foot straight forward, to hanmi and sankaku-dai. I keep my shoulders above my hips, moving them in sync. They match as if spun from a center point.
Mokusō -> Kiri-gaeshi. Put it all together.
Notes
- When static, the right hip comes back as soon as the trigger is pulled.
- I have a tendency to turn my right foot slightly out in forward nissoku. Other time I feel like I'm launching off my right foot rather than keeping both even.
- Practicing it all together I felt like I lost the sense of target for cutting. Since this exercise is for kiri-gaeshi, maybe that's okay. The focus is on moving slowly and precisely to see what my body is doing.
- "All the rest is to keep you busy while you learn kiri-oroshi."