Giho 54 Juji-Giri Brush-up 2 / 十字切ブラッシュアップ2
Juujigiri Brush-up 2
This is the second part of the Juujigiri brush-up.
Important point #1: The trajectory of the kissaki
～Like stabbing～
The next problem is the way you cut/slash.
We’ve seen many swing their sword far to the side like this.
How you slash in 十字切 (juujigiri) is different from how you do it in 地蔵抜 (jizounuki) etc.
In 十字切 (juujigiri), as much as possible, aim for a straight line and cut as if you were stabbing.
Important point #2: About the ni no tachi
～The positioning of your hands when raising your sword～
Next is about how to brandish the sword during the 二の太刀 (ni no tachi).
Draw your sword, cut, then for the 二の太刀 (ni no tachi) cut straight down.
Here, we instruct beginners to stretch their elbows.
Part of the intention behind this is to have everyone learn the correct positioning of the left fist.
If we look up at this point, we’ll be able to see your left fist. In other words, because our left fist went in front of our forehead, that means that we’ve raised our sword correctly.
However, if our left fist goes behind our forehead, we’ll barely be able to see it when we look up.
In this state, since our elbows are bent, we haven’t raised our sword correctly.
Therefore, when practising the 二の太刀 (ni no tachi), please confirm the position of your left fist.
If your left fist goes off too much to the front like this, your attack will lack force, so please do pay attention to its positioning during your training.
Important point #3: About the ni no tachi
～The height of your hands when raising your sword～
Next up, we’ll talk about the height of your left fist.
This movement now looks like it’s correct at first glance, but because my left fist is so low, I can’t properly build up force for my attack.
In Tenshinryuu we also have this movement called 面返 (mengaeshi – lit. “face return”) that looks like this. However, what we want you to learn with 十字切 (juujigiri) is how to properly build up force for an attack, so please make sure that you don’t place your left fist too low when you practise.
Important point #4: About the noutou
Lastly, let’s have a closer look at the sword’s and the kissaki’s positioning during noutou.
Do chiburui, then send the kissaki to the back.
Here it’s important to send the kissaki to the back “as if you were stabbing behind you”.
Also, please make sure your sword is parallel to the floor.
Many are prone to not keeping the sword parallel to the floor and instead raising the kissaki up high, and also moving the right fist past the nakazumi to the left.
The cause for these things to happen so frequently is the accidental gripping of the tsuka and a bent elbow.
Here, the right hand’s 手の内 (te no uchi) is essential. Be sure to detach your middle, ring and little finger from the tsuka, stretch them and only hold on to the tsuka with your thumb and index finger.
Doing so will allow you to easily move the kissaki to the back, also, it’ll make sure your right fist won’t go past the nakazumi to the left, so please keep these things in mind when practising the noutou.