Giho 60 Overview of Kenjutsu I Reiho/ 剣術の概要 壱 礼法
Kenjutsu Overview I – Reihou
When practising Tenshinryuu’s kenjutsu, one first learns 刀法 (touhou – lit. “sword method”).
刀法 (touhou) refers to an accumulation of one-shot techniques whose number exceeds one hundred.
Yet even having learnt a multitude of 刀法 (touhou), they are not techniques that easily used in real combat.
Combining several of those 刀法 (touhou) to create 勢法 (kata), we practise until we are able to utilize the 刀法 (touhou) freely.
About the 礼法 (reihou – “etiquette”) used when practising kenjutsu
Please allow me to explain to you the 礼法 (reihou) during kenjutsu practice.
When using a 丸太刀 (marudachi) or a wooden sword, there are two types of 礼法 (reihou) for 蹲踞 (sonkyo – “crouching”) and 立合 (tachiai – “rising (from said crouch)”).
When using a fake (metal) sword, the 礼法 (reihou) is different, so please pay attention.
Reihou #1 Ritsurei
Starting from a left 堤刀 (sagetou), draw the sword and lower the kissaki until it almost touches the floor.
Then bow.
Please be sure to move the kissaki as little as possible.
Then assume your 位 (kurai).
From a left 堤刀 (sagetou), lower the kissaki, then bow.
At this time especially the kissaki is easy to move, so please be careful.
Reihou #2 Sonkyorei
Next is the 礼法 (reihou) when assuming the crouching posture.
Starting from a left 堤刀 (sagetou), draw the sword and while lowering the kissaki, assume the crouching posture.
Once the kissaki almost touches the floor, do a bow while moving it as little as possible.
After bowing, stand up and assume your 位 (kurai).
From a left 堤刀 (sagetou), lower the kissaki as you crouch down.
At this point it’s easy to lean forward so please pay attention.
Then, without moving the kissaki, do a bow.
Then assume your 位 (kurai).
立礼 (ritsurei) is an informal/simplified bow and 蹲踞礼 (sonkyorei) a formal one – please be sure to keep this in mind.
Reihou – Important Point #1
Starting from sagetou
We now move on to the explanation of noteworthy points.
Many assume a posture like this where they pretend to wear their wooden sword on their hip.
During the 礼法 (reihou) they’ll slip in a sword drawing movement and hence are prone to assuming such a posture in the end, but it’s important not to do that and instead lower your arm assume the 堤刀 (sagetou) stance.
Reihou – Important Point #2
Not drawing the sword from a tezaya
The next point is about the sword drawing motion during the 礼法 (reihou).
When performing the 礼法 (reihou), do not use your left hand as a 手鞘 (tezaya – “hand scabbard”) like this and draw your sword.
Sure, during battou practice it’s essential to use your left hand as a 手鞘 (tezaya), in other words to handle it like a saya, but in this 礼法 (reihou) please make sure to completely open up the saya in an instant, so to speak, to draw your sword and then lower the kissaki.
Reihou – Important Point #3
About the head’s angle
Next, about the angle at which we lower our heads during the 礼法 (reihou).
Here the angle is between 行 (gyou) and 信 (shin).
At this time the kissaki is especially susceptible to any movement, so please be careful to keep it still as much as possible.
Moreover, it’s crucial to lower your line of sight in order to not look at your opponent.
Please pay attention to these things when performing the 礼法 (reihou).
Reihou – Important Point #4
Not leaning forward during Sonkyorei
I will now explain an important point about the crouching.
Draw your sword, then, when crouching down, please make sure not to lean forward.
The angle at which you lower your head is the same as with 立礼 (ritsurei), so between 行 (gyou) and 信 (shin).
Then make sure to keep the kissaki still as much as possible.
Reihou – Important Point #5
Assuming the stance after the bow without inattention
As soon as you’ve finished your bow, the battle starts right there.
To that end, please be careful to assume your 位 (kurai) without any inattentiveness.