Giho 38 Kesahazushi-Suburi/ 袈裟外しの素振り
This is the fundamental Kesahazushi no Suburi.
This is going to be the explanation for 袈裟外の素振り (kesahazushi no suburi).
We disassemble all the cutting methods of 袈裟外し (kesahazushi) that appear in 組太刀 (kumidachi) etc. and teach them as 素振り (suburi).
This is not an accurate form of 素振り (suburi) that has been passed down in Tenshinryuu.
Demonstration
Assume 青眼の位 (seigan no kurai), first drop your sword to your left side, take a step forward with your left foot and cut upwards.
Next, switch the right side, take a step forward with your right foot and cut upwards.
Then back to the left side… and rinse and repeat.
As for the angle of the cut/slash, during 袈裟懸 (kesagake) we use an extremely sharp angle where the sword is standing up, but when making the cut upwards, the angle goes a bit more to the side.
If you try to force the same angle the trajectory for the blade would be too steep and hard to accomplish and you’ll end up too high and in an extremely uncomfortable posture, so please be careful.
You can use this as a reference.
Important notice #1
The important thing when cutting upwards is this wringing motion you have to do with both fists.
Cut while wringing. Cut while wringing – this kind of feeling.
Of course, if you overdo it you won’t get the right trajectory for your sword, so it’s important to wring moderately. In case of a beginner, for the most part they won’t wring enough, so please be aware of that when performing this cut.
Once we’ve gotten used to it we can move away from the nakazumi and perform the 素振り (suburi) while moving our body to the left and right, but for the time being it’s fine if you start from repeating the 素振り (suburi) on the spot.
Get the front foot into position, pull back the hind foot and cut.
Get the front foot into position, pull back the hind foot and cut.
Rinse and repeat.
Important notice #2
Lastly, I’m going to explain another essential point.
When doing 袈裟返 (kesagaeshi) some people might be prone to swinging the sword. They end up doing this kind of swinging or jerking motion with their sword, but basically for all slashing attacks in Tenshinryuu there is this teaching that goes: “Cut as if you were thrusting.”
That is to say, it’s essential to cut from this starting point where you assume your stance until the target point as if you were thrusting or drawing a straight line as much as you can.
Please don’t do a circular motion by using your shoulder joint, but instead try to get as close as possible to a straight line when cutting upwards. Go as far as possible, stay as much as possible on a straight line – if you stay aware of this, you’ll be able to do a nice 素振り (suburi).
This has been the explanation for 袈裟外しの素振り (kesahazushi no suburi).