No.28 Tsurara-Hazushi Ten-Nuki

Giho No.28 Tsurara-Hazushi Ten-Nuki

This is one kind of 変形抜 (henkeinuki) and a technique used for assassination.

Battou with the kaisho 守 (shu)

Well then, I am going to perform the technique called 氷柱外 (tsurarahazushi).

It is said that during the time the forefather of Tenshinryuu 柳生宗矩 (Yagyuu Munenori) was travelling through Touhoku, when he opened the window in a room of the inn he was staying in and broke off an icicle that formed from the eaves, this technique suddenly flashed into his mind.

Well then, without further ado, let’s do it.

There is a tennuki and a dounuki version of 氷柱外 (tsurarahazushi), but let’s perform the tennuki first. I’m going to perform the movements for beginners, so let’s have a look at it.

So then, I’m going to explain it now.

First, place your left hand on the sword. Then, the same time you cut the koiguchi, as you twist your body to the right, embrace your sword and move it upwards.

Next, place your right hand on the tsuka. Then pull back the saya.

Once you’re done with that, move your right hand slightly up and draw your sword.

After that, add your left hand to the back of the sword as support.

Lower your right hand and make your sword horizontal. From this state thrust in front of you.

After stabbing, pull back your right hand. At this time, wipe the blood off the kissaki with your left hand. Once you’re done wiping, assume 青眼の位 (seigan no kurai) and take 残心 (zanshin). You can do any kind of noutou.

Important points

Well then, let’s have a look at a few important points during the battou.

First, you embrace the sword and move it up, but at this time please turn it over.

While turning it around, embrace the sword and move it up.

Here, please make sure to position the sword right next to you. Be careful not to let it go off to the front.

Next, place your right hand on the tsuka. From there, do the sayabiki. You don’t actually draw your sword with the right hand here, but instead just firmly perform the sayabiki. Then by simply using your body’s movement and slightly raising your right hand you can get out your sword.

As for your right hand’s position, please be careful not to raise it above your own head. It should be positioned around your forehead.

Next, add your left hand to the back of the sword as support. Shape your left hand like this. Please make sure your left fingers point right off to the side. Also, please make sure your thumb goes and stays right next to the index finger. Stabilize your sword with this hand shape.

At the same time you lower your right hand your left fingers point in front of you at the opponent. By doing so, the back of your sword gets positioned right between your index and middle finger or slightly onto your middle finger. At this time, please make sure to not move your thumb away from your index finger. If you move away your thumb, when you’re stabbing and your sword springs up, you might end up cutting it by accident. Because of that, please affix your thumb firmly next to your index finger.

From here stab. While stabbing, do not move your left hand, but your right arm forwards. At this time, please stretch your arm all the way to the front so your left hand reaches the tsuba. Pull back the same way by only pulling back your right arm.

Lastly, also when you’re wiping the kissaki with your left hand, don’t move the latter, but do the wiping by only pulling back your right hand. Here, make a 烏賊の口 (ika no kuchi) with your left hand.

Battou with the sousho 離 (ri)

氷柱外（点抜）