Beginner's Course Week 6

Hi all,

This week the practice was on the strikes to two different targets of men (head) and kote (wrist).

Cuts to the men are what we have been practicing for the last few weeks, and so should not require much addition or comments. However, remember to bear in mind all the points that have been mentioned previously when practising, and when making the cuts do not make them mechanically, but instead concentrate on the technique. Check if the movements are correct and if anything can be improved. It is particularly important to correct any mistakes now, before they become bad habits and worked into muscle memory, as it is more difficult to correct them later.

In the case of strikes to the kote (wrist), the movement should be the same as men, with the only variations being the height of the cut. The strike should still be made with the arms extended and relaxed, reaching out as far forwards as possible. The arc should still be straight up and down the centre. Do not try to cut kote at an angle and from the side, as that will likely result in hitting either the tsuba (guard), shinai, or knuckles, none of which are a valid target. Additionally, it will cause you to use the right arm in cutting as opposed to the body. Use the angle of the shoulder joint to control the height of the cut, as opposed to leaning forwards and down. The tip of the shinai should finish at a slightly higher height than the hands. If the target is lower than your own wrists (such as when the opponent is shorter than you), bend the knees to lower the upper body so that the kote can be reached without hyperextending the wrist. Do not forget to use te-no-uchi, the wrist and finger tension, to add a snap at the end of the cut and control the impact of the shinai.

See you all on Monday!