Giho 53 Juji Giri brushup1 / 十字切ブラッシュアップ1

Juujigiri Brush-up 1

This time is going to be the first part to the Juujigiri brush-up.

Important point 1: How to place your hand
～Assuming hanmi～

This time we will do a brush-up on 十字切 (juujigiri).
So, let’s have a look at it from the moment we place our hands on the sword.
At that moment, we have to take hanmi from the very start.
However, many of you ended up placing their hands while still in taimen, so let’s pay attention to that from now on.

Important point 2: How to place your hand
～The orientation of the tsuka～

Next, once you’ve taken hanmi, like this, we’ve seen many of you moving your right hand with the tsuka to the left side of your body past the 中墨 (nakazumi – the central line of your body).
This is because when you twist your body to take hanmi, your right hand with the tsuka will naturally match that motion.
Therefore, while taking hanmi, instead move the sword with your left hand past the nakazumi to the right side.

Important point 3: How to place your hand
～The orientation of the tsuka and bending forward with your upper body～

Next, we’ve seen many raising the sword up high like this.
You have to bring the sword close to your body, but this doesn’t mean you’re supposed to raise it to do that.
When you bend your body forward, your sword will automatically get close to your body.
In actual practice we do raise the sword above its initial position, but we bend forward to bring our body close to the sword. Thus, at first glance it looks like we raise our sword up high like this, but in actuality we assume this battou stance by bending our body forward.

Important point 4: About the lower body
～The knees’ work and the pelvis’ orientation～

The moment we take hanmi, twisting our upper body isn’t everything, but the knees’ work becomes essential as well.
As your upper body takes hanmi, bend your knees and pull back the left side of your pelvis.
While assuming this posture, open up both of your legs.
Please practise 十字切 (juujigiri) while paying attention to your knees’ work and the movement of your legs.