Nukiuchi no koto -Part 2-

Then, as you slash down with the sword, while you open up your knees, bend backward even more.

After you’ve firmly finished cutting all the way down, return to Seigan while you close your legs again.

Recite 臨 (rin), 兵 (pyou), 闘 (tou), 者 (sha), 皆 (kai), 陣 (jin), 烈 (retsu), 在 (zai), 前 (zen) in your head.

Next, as you stretch your elbows and bring out the 切っ先 (kissaki – “tip of the sword”), lower your sword.

Once the kissaki is almost touching the ground, open up your right knee to the right and as you do this bring your right hand to your right kneecap. Your left hand goes near your left kneecap.

Here, once again recite 臨 (rin), 兵 (pyou), 闘 (tou), 者 (sha), 皆 (kai), 陣 (jin), 烈 (retsu), 在 (zai), 前 (zen) in your head, then, as you thrust your sword in the kissaki’s direction, hit your right wrist with your left hand to perform the chiburui.

Next, for all beginners, put the back of the blade around your rib cage, then make sure the kissaki points slightly upwards.

Then, while you reverse your saya, place the back of your blade on the koiguchi. Next, pull back the sword and while your cover it with the saya right in the moment the kissaki enters the koiguchi, lower your right knee. Next, place your right knee on the ground, then raise your left knee to the left.

Then slowly move both hands and sheathe the sword in the saya.

While you hold back the tsuba with your left hand, first place your left knee back on the ground. Then take half a step to the front with your right foot, stand up and pull back your right foot.

Next, grab the tsukagashira with your right hand and firmly sheathe the blade in the saya.

After that put your right hand on your right hip, then your left hand on your left hip and lastly, slowly lower both hands.

Please watch from the side.

Place your hand on the sword, cut the koiguchi, while your bring both knees together and stand up on your tiptoes, draw your sword upwards and cut down right in front of you. Then return to Seigan.

Please pay attention to your posture when cutting.

It’s important to properly bend backwards. Then please make sure that your arm and the kissaki are on one straight line. With these two points in mind, perform the movement and you’ll be able to firmly cut down right in front of you.

Then return to Seigan.

After 残心 (zanshin) while you stretch your arms and bring the kissaki out to the front, lower your sword.

From the straight line between your arms and the kissaki bring your sword to your body. When the tsukagashira is about the touch your body, open your right knee and assume the stance called 折敷 (orishiki).

Place your left hand on your left knee and your right hand on your right kneecap. You however don’t let your right hand rest on your kneecap, but let it float above it as if to fit a piece of paper in between.

Let the kissaki point slightly downwards. Please be careful not to raise your elbow like this, but lower it, let it hang down.

As one more thing to pay attention to, since no matter what you’ll be prone to bending forward, please make sure to keep your body straight like this.

Take 残心 (zanshin) and by striking your right wrist with your left hand, perform the chiburui.

Next put the back of your blade on your rib cage and let the kissaki point slightly upwards. This is so, even if suddenly an enemy comes to grab you, since your kissaki is already raised, you’re prepared to stab them just like that.

After placing the back of the blade on your rib cage, bring the koiguchi to it.

Then pull your right hand straight back. It’s OK if you loosen up your right palm at this point. Don’t go off the side, down or up with your right hand, but pull straight back and in the moment the kissaki enters the saya, lower your right knee and raise your left one.

While you maintain 半身 (hanmi), move both hands and sheathe your sword in the saya. Then put your left knee on the ground.

Next, take half a step with your right foot. As a reference for that, let the tip of your right toes go slightly past your left kneecap.

Then stand up and pull back your right foot you put out earlier.

Afterwards, the flow is the same as usual.

Grab the tsukagashira with your right hand and firmly sheathe the sword in the saya.

Following that, put your right hand on your right hip, then your left one on your left hip and lastly, slowly lower both of your hands.

How to sit down without standing up after the noutou

Please let me show you how to sit down just like that without standing up.

First place your left knee on the ground, then without putting out your right foot, place both of your insteps on the floor, then lower your hips.

After that comes the same flow as usual.

Grab the tsukagashira with your right hand and firmly sheathe the sword in the saya.

Then put your right hand on your right hip, then your left one on your left hip and lastly, let both hands hang around your groin region.

Please pay attention to the feet when cutting down.

While bringing both knees together and standing up on tiptoes, we cut down right in front of us from here, but please make sure to keep both heels together as much as possible at the very same time you open your knees. Don’t open up your feet like this.

Open both knees, then make sure to keep both heels together and you will be able to make a clean posture.

Then return to Seigan and proceed as usual.