【FREE】Giho 3 Tsuka-Uchi/ 柄打
This technique is the okigatana (yasumedachi) of zahou, also called 殿中刀法鞘ノ中 (denchuu touhou saya no uchi) and moreover categorized as 戒めノ剣 (imashime no ken – roughly “sword of punishment”) to end conflict without noutou (i.e. drawing your sword).
A katana is not just for cutting, it’s also important to make pracital use of all functionalities a koshirae brings with it.
Kaisho (regular script) (“守” – protect, defend, guard) – “序” (opportunity, occasion, beginning)
Explanation
Well then, please let me explain 柄打 (tsukauchi – roughly “tsuka hitting”).
First, hold back the tsuba with your right hand.
Holding the sword, put it next to your right hip.
While you stand up on your toes, close off both of your knees.
Then while taking one step forward with your right foot, hit the opponent anywhere between their chest and their throat.
After hitting, retreat by at least 6 shaku (about 180 cm).
Place your left hand onto the tsuka and while you do as if you would rub the floor with the kojiri (IDE NOTE: don’t actually rub the floor), pull back your right foot and retreat by at least 6 shaku.
At the same time please place your left hand at your shoulders.
Also, please keep your armpits closed.
Moreover, please place the kojiri on the outside of your right knee.
Make half a step forward with your right foot, move your left hand first to the front and return to the original form.
First, while aligning your left hand with the tsuka place it on your left hip.
Next, put your right hand on your right hip and lastly, while lowering both arms close your left leg.
Please have a look at it from the side.
First hold back the tsuba with your right hand, pick up the sword and put it next to your right hip.
While standing up on your toes, close both knees.
Then while you take one step forward with your right foot you hit the opponent anywehere between their chest and throat.
When you take the step and hit, don’t move only your right foot like this, but also pull your left foot to keep it close to your right one and gain a good amount of distance.
After hitting the opponent, reach out with your left hand to the tsuka and while you do as if your would rub the floor with the kojiri retreat by at least 6 shaku or 180 cm. I think it’s going to difficult for you to actually retreat by more than 6 shaku or 180 cm, but when your training just try to gain as much distance as you can in one go.
Place the tsukagashira in the centre of your left hand. Place your left hand at your shoulder.
Point the kojiri at your opponent, in case they are going for you even after being hit between their chest and throat, push the tsukagashira straight down and get into 船漕ぎ (funakogi – “rowing the boat”), a position from where you can hit your opponent right again.
Recite 臨 (rin), 兵 (pyou), 闘 (tou), 者 (sha), 皆 (kai), 陣 (jin), 烈 (retsu), 在 (zai), 前 (zen) in your head.
Next take half a step with your right foot towards the direction the toes are pointing at, then move your left foot to the front.
At the same time bring the tsuba to your nakazumi (your centre).
While aligning your left hand to the tsuka, place it on your left hip.
Next put your right hand on your right hip, then lastly, while lowering both arms close your left leg.
When you pick up the sword with your right hand, don’t look like this, but confirm the position of the sword or the tsuba with only your right hand.
Place the sword next to your right hip, while standing up on tiptoes, close both knees, take one step forward with your right foot and hit the opponent with the tsukagashira.
After hitting, move back and retreat by a great distance.
Right after hitting, please make sure to stand on your toes with your right foot.
Moreover, regarding tsukauchi, there is a teaching we call 三つの鐘 (mittsu no kane – “three bells”), which we take very seriously.
The first bell is when you hit the opponent with the tsukagashira, the second bell is when you move back and place the tsukagashira in the centre of your left hand, and the third bell is when you move back and put your right heel on your left ankle.
Hit the opponent, move back and hit the centre of your left hand with the tsukagashira, then hit your left ankle with your right ankle – please keep these movements of hitting the mittsu no kane (three bells) in mind and practice them.
Then take half a step forward with your right foot and bringt your left foot to the front.
Put your left hand on your left hip, your right hand onf your right hip and finally, return to the original form.
Sousho (cursive script) (“離” – separation) – “急” (urgent, sudden, hurry)