Giho 41 Koran-to No.3/ 虎乱刀 参
This time will be about the 殺守剣 (sasshuken) of 虎乱刀 (korantou) as well as the attacker’s movement.
In Tenshinryuu, we call the training with generally blunt swords, nowadays fake metal sword to fight and exchange blows 殺守剣 (sasshuken – lit. “kill protect sword”).
If instead wooden swords are used, we call it 攻防剣 (koubouken – lit. “offence defence sword”).
This time, we will show you the 殺守剣 (sasshuken) of 虎乱刀 (korantou). But before that, I would like to explain to you in detail the proper way of attacking.
About the attacker’s attack
For the attack for 虎乱刀 (korantou) you cut extremely deep into 袈裟外し (kesahazushi), that is as if you were to cut the opponent’s thigh from below.
For that, you twist the sword including the saya and do the battou.
Run up to the opponent from a wide maai, or take several steps from a short one.
Assume a stance called 柳生腰 (yagyuugoshi), point your tsukagashira at the opponent and run up to them with the so called 虎走 (torabashiri – lit. “tiger run”) where you move your feet on one straight line. Once you’ve reached an adequate maai, with your left foot in front and your right hand on the tsuka, twist your sword with your left hand like this and draw it to cut upwards.
I’ll do it slowly.
Run up, left foot in front, right hand on the tsuka, twist the sword, bend forward and cut upwards.
One important thing is that you rush forward and cut as far as possible. The more you approach your opponent, the riskier it gets, so bend forward as much as you can and let your kissaki reach far.
Let me explain another important point.
If you think about cutting with a lot of force, you might end up moving your right hand to your left beyond your nakazumi before you swing the sword.
It has great killing potential, however, if your opponent can read that movement of yours, they might draw their sword first and just cut your right forearm or predict your movement, which makes it easier for them to dodge or ward off your attack.
Thus, throw away your intentions of cutting forcefully, believe in your sword’s inherent ability to cut, make sure your right hand only moves diagonally right while you cut as if you were thrusting/stabbing.
We would appreciate it if you could practise attacking while keeping these things in mind.
殺守剣 (sasshuken) – 序 (jo)
殺守剣 (sasshuken) – 急 (kyuu)
Important points about the 攻刀者 (koutousha)
攻刀者 (koutousha) is what we call the attacker and I am now going to explain their movement.
When you perform the attack on your opponent, they will cut your forearm, but in case you want to confirm the cutting part, please do it slowly and make sure to not move your right arm at this point. The cut should land here.
However, in case the main purpose is to let your opponent properly cut through your forearm, you of course can’t keep your arm up like this, so loosen up right in the moment you receive the (counter-)attack and drop your right hand down here to let your opponent “cut” you.
Cut upwards then drop. Do it like this.
Then, and you can say the same thing about other techniques as well, but in general, in order to convey force and strength to the opponent, the 攻刀者 (koutousha) points the toes of their front foot at the opponent. If your left foot is in front, point your left toes at them. This so far is the general rule in theory.
However, as at actual speed you’ll move around your body extremely fast, it’s fine if your toes point slightly inwards.
Therefore, if you perform not 守 (shu), but 離 (ri) with 急 (kyuu), then your toes in front might just end up slightly pointing inwards.
But in case you’re doing it slowly, we would like you to make sure to always have your toes point exactly at your opponent so you can learn and internalize the correct form for maximum display of your body movement.