Shintaido Kyukajo Kumitachi

Kyukajo kumitachi as prepared by H.F. Ito 2019

 

Shintaido Kyukajo Techniques

Shintaido Kyukajo is a sword study that differs from shintaido kenjutsu and is practiced with a shintaido bokuto (A “shintaido bokuto” is a straight wooden sword slightly heavier than a bokken)

1. (I)kkajo (Tenshinken Daijodan-kirioroshi)
2. (Ni)kajo (Jodan-kirikomi)
3A. (San)kajo (Basic) (Chudan-kirikomi)
3B. (San)kajo (Advanced)  (Kusanagi Chudan-kirikomi (Hanmi-handachi))
4A. (Yon)kajo (Basic)  (Seichuken Chudanzuki)|
4B. (Yon)kajo (Advanced)  (Jigoken Jodanzuki)
5A. (Go)kajo (Basic)  (Boomerang cut I – Jodan-kiriharai)
5B. (Go)kajo (Advanced)  (Boomerang cut II – Jodan-kiriharai x 2)
6A. (Ro)kkajo (Basic)  (Tsunami Chudan-kiriharai + Jodan-kiriharai)
6B. (Ro)kkajo (Advanced)
7. (Nana)kajo   (Kokuken Chudan-kiriharai + Jodan-kiriharai)
8A. (Hachi)kajo (Basic) >>>> Hasso (8th phenomenon)   (Hasso Chudanzuki + Daijodan-kirikomi)
8B. (Hachi)kajo (Advanced) >>>> Hasso (8th Phenomenon)   (Hasso Hasso + Jodan-kiriharai)
9A. (Kyu)kajo (Basic) >>>> Mugen   (Mugen Chudan-kirikomi x 2)
9B. (Kyu)kajo (Advanced) >>>> Mugen  (Sannin Ichiretsu)

Shintaido Kenjutsu Terminology
  • Uchi-tachi / Shi-tachi : Server – (attacker) / Receiver – (counter-attacker)
  • Kirikomi / Kiriharai : Cut by pushing / cut by pulling.
  • Kiri-age / Kiri-oroshi : Cut upwards / cut downwards.
  • Ura / Omote : (Uchi-tachi’s point of view): Uchi-tachi enters and exposes his back (outside) to the waiter / exposes his belly (inside) to the waiter.
  • Irimi (action) : To invade / enter the space of the other.
    Example in kumitachi: Uchi-tachi, the server (attacker) cuts in Daijodan Kirikomi and Shi-tachi, the receiver (counter-attacker) enters (Irimi) and passes (timing) under the cut by cutting Jodan Kiriarai.
  • Irimi is also a concept: entering the space of the other allows one to unite with the other (1+1=1) or even to merge with the other.
  • Uchi-Irimi / Soto-Irimi : Enter from the inside / Enter from the outside.
  • Uchi-mawari / Soto-mawari : Turning towards the inside of the server / turning towards the outside of the server.
  • Uchi / Soto : (Uchi-tachi point of view): When the Receiver looks at the Server, his back (outside) is Soto / his stomach (inside) is Uchi.
  • Ura-Irimi / Omote-Irimi : (Shi-tachi’s point of view)

When the Receiver enters IRIMI by offering his back to the Server, he is URA, if he enters by offering his stomach, he is OMOTE.

 

Cutting Angles

     Dai-jodan : above the head (12 o’clock).

     Jodan : high level (1 a.m. and 11 a.m.).

     Chudan : medium level (3 hours and 9 hours).Gedan : low level (5 hours and 7 hours).

 

Foot Movement

 Gyaku  Opposite    /   Jun  Normal

    Gyaku-Ashi : not opposed

    Sankaku-tobi : triangle step

    Mae-Irimi : step forward

    Sagari-Irimi : step backwards

    Yoko-Irimi : step aside

    Ushiro-Irimi : step forward and turn around

 

The setup is primarily kumitachi

In the beginning… open Kumitachi

      • The two partners ( Uchitachi: attacker / Server;   Shitachi : counter-attacker / Receiver) face each other with their bokuto held in their right hand and bow ( Rei: Bow).
      • They each pass their bokuto in their left hand and then they draw their bokuto thus the two partners find themselves in Shoko… and now the kumitachi can begin.

Practice Kyukajo

At the end …  close Kumitachi

      • The two partners reposition themselves face to face in Shoko.
      • The partners place return the bokuto to the left side holding in left hand
      • They pass their swords to the right and bow (Rei). The kumitachi has ended

Shintaido Kenjutsu Kyukajo  

(9 kumitachi and prepared by H.F. Ito 2019)

1. (I)kkajo

    • Uchitachi (attacker): Daijodan kirioroshi
    • Shitachi (counter-attacker): Daijodan kirikomi, taking a step back, he points towards the sky (Tenso) and cuts kirikomi, stopping his cut at the top of Uchitachi’s skull.

In this kumitachi, we develop the concept of Tenshinken (Ten = sky, connecting the sword to the sky through the fists), bringing this energy down from the sky and offering it to the partner.

2. (Ni)kajo

    • Uchitachi (attacker): Daijodan kirikomi
    • Shitachi (counter-attacker): Jodan kirikomi

3A. (San)kajo (Basic)

    • Uchitachi (attacker): Daijodan kirikomi
    • Shitachi (counter-attacker): Chudan kirikomi

3B. (San)kajo (Advanced)

    • Uchitachi attacker: Daijodan kirikomi
    • Shitachi counter-attacker: Kirikomi (Gedan level)

4A. (Yon)kajo (Basic)

    • Uchitachi (attacker): Daijodan kirikomi
    • Shitachi (counter-attacker): Chudan tsuki strike towards the solar plexus then with a small wrist movement down towards the belly (Hara) cutting towards the earth.

In this kumitachi we develop the concept of Seichuken (Sei=exact; Chu=center or middle; Ken=sword).

4B. (Yon)kajo (Advanced)

    • Uchitachi attacker: Daijodan kirikomi
    • Shitachi counter-attacker: Jodan tsuki raise the sword, the edge of the blade towards the sky, the point at the level of Uchi-tachi’s throat.

Here, we develop the concept of Jigoken: we stay in place, just the action of raising our sword with the edge towards the sky, the point at the level of Uchi-tachi’s throat.

5A. (Go)kajo (Basic)

    • Uchitachi (attacker): Daijodan kirikomi
    • Shitachi (counter-attacker): Jodan-Kiriharai (at the beginning of the cut the fists are connected to the sky and at the end of the cut, both fists are connected to the Earth).

Note: From advanced Gokajo onwards, the reception is done with a double cut.

Character, Nature and temperament of techniques:

        • The counter -attack by the 5th and 6th teams is very aggressive.
        • The 7th counter-attack is passive .
        • The 8th counter-attack is an exercise in timing, in reading the Server’s intention. When the Server retreats, the Receiver enters Irimi.
        • The 9th counter-attack is passive, always behind, the attacker is blocked.

It is important to remember the nature of the technique (its meaning and reasoning) related to the part of the sword that is used:

      • If I am invaded by Ushitachi (timing delay or strategy), passive reception, I enter a state of Muso (koshi relaxed, yoki Tai, Meimon open) and there, it is the middle of the blade that I use by cutting Chudan Yoko Irimi (cross cut) the Hara of Uchitachi.
      • Whereas in the case of a wider Ma, the reception will be active, rather aggressive, it is the tip of the sword that is used to cut Uchitachi’s Hara by cutting Irimi chudan Mae Kiriharai..

5B. (Go)kajo (Advanced)

    • Uchitachi attacker: Daijodan kirikomi
    • Shitachi counter-attacker: Jodan kiriharai ( Tsubame-gaeshi : the flight of the swallow)

Option 1: Uchitachi takes a single step; Shitachi, at the end of his Jodan Kiriarai cut, turns towards Uchitachi, pivoting on his front foot, and places the edge of his sword on Uchitachi’s wrists.

Possibility: shoulder to shoulder, shitachi unbalances Uchitachi with a small Koshi strike.   

Option 2 (more advanced): Uchitachi continues to advance to avoid the second cut, Shitachi makes Jodan Kiriharai to the end of his cut (towards Earth) while staying in place (and in a way, Shitachi cuts Uchitachi’s past).

6A. (Ro)kkajo (Basic)  

    • Uchitachi (attacker): Daijodan kirikomi
    • Shitachi (counterattacker): yoko-Irimi Chudan Kiriharai   Tsunami

6B. (Ro)kkajo (Advanced)

    • Uchitachi (attacker): Daijodan kirikomi
    • Shitachi (counterattacker): Omote-Irimi Chudan Kiriharai then jodan kirikomi  Tsunami

Shitachi is Omote, he advances his left foot while pulling his sword and to go further in his cut, he brings his right foot back and slides it behind the left foot, Shitachi turns around pivoting on the left foot and cuts Jodan Kirikomi on Uchitachi’s wrists.

If there is a timing delay: Shitachi cuts at the eyes or wrists with the tip of his sword when Uchitachi brings his cut down.

Here, we develop the Tsunami concept , to amplify its cut Shitachi seeks synergy in the roll of the wave, lets itself be carried by the crest of the wave connected to Heaven then comes back down and expresses it in the cut.

7. (Nana)kajo

    • Uchitachi (attacker): Daijodan kirikomi
    • Shitachi (counter-attacker): Yoko Gedan kiriharai (superficial) Kokuken

Here, Shitachi is late with the timing, or provokes a situation by creating absence or even absorption and enters into the Kokuken concept (the invisible world, the void, completely passive, deficient…).

Shitachi allows himself to be engulfed, the Koshi Muso, places his sword in front of him with the edge facing outwards, slides into Yoko and lets the middle of his blade cut Uchitachi’s Hara. Then he brings his foot towards the other, pivots on the first foot engaged and cuts Uchitachi’s shoulder with Jodan Kirikomi.

Delay in timing, koshi muso puts his sword in front of him, slides yoko (left or right) and lets the middle of his blade cut the partner’s hara, then brings the foot towards the other, half turn and advances the left foot + Jodan Kirikomi, the receiver finds himself on the side, the sword against the server’s shoulder.

8A. (Hachi)kajo (Basic) >>>> Hasso (8th phenomenon)

    • 1- Uchitachi (attacker): When there is an opportunity, Chudan Tsuki (to the stomach)
    • 1- Shitachi (counter-attacker): Step back while pulling your blade to the side of your body, in a guard (Hasso), with the edge facing forward and the point towards the sky. Step back with the intention of absorbing the attack, pushing the tsuki to its full potential and inviting it towards the sky.
    • 2 -Uchitachi (attacker): Retreat while charging Tenso Daijodan.
    • 2 -Shitachi (counter-attacker): Upon entering, cut Irimi Jodan kiriharai. 3- Uchitachi (attacker): Cut Dai-Jodan Kiri Orochi.

8B. (Hachi)kajo (Advanced) >>>> Hasso (8th Phenomenon)

    • 1-Uchitachi (attacker): When there is an opportunity, chudan tsuki (to the stomach)
    • 1-Shitachi (counter-attacker): Step back while pulling your blade to the side of your body, in a guard (Hasso), with the edge facing forward and the point towards the sky. Step back with the intention of absorbing the attack, pushing the tsuki to its full potential and inviting it towards the sky.
    • 2- Uchitachi (attacker): Retreat while charging Tenso Daijodan.
    • 2- Shitachi (counter-attacker): Upon entering, cut Irimi Jodan kiriharai.
    • 3- Uchitachi (attacker): Cut Dai-Jodan Kiri Orochi.
    • 4- Shitachi (counter-attacker): In the continuation of the Kiriharaï, we continue by bringing the sword back to enter and cut Guedan Kirikomi at the knee.

9A. (Kyu)kajo (Basic) >>>> Mugen

    • Uchitachi (attacker): Jodan kiriharai or Daijodan Kirikomi
    • Shitachi (counterattacker): Jodan Kiriarai Omote-Irimi

Shitachi, at the end of his cut, Jodan Kiriarai turns around and places the edge of his sword (parallel to the ground) on Uchitachi’s koshi.

9B. (Kyu)kajo (Advanced) >>>> Mugen

    • Uchitachi (attacker): Jodan kiriharai or Daijodan kirikomi
    • Shitachi (counter-attacker): Jodan Kiriarai Omoté-Irimi

Advanced version: continuous movement, Uchitachi turns to attack again, Shitachi stays behind him. The flow is continuous. Shitachi anticipates Uchitachi’s intention.

MUGEN means ”no Ma (relational space)”: we don’t wait, we stay together, stay behind the person, don’t let go.

Additional Notes:

Positions of the Server and Receiver in the kumitachi:

Uchi-tachi ”A” and Shi-tachi ”B” are face to face in shoko, in this condition, there is therefore a different name to refer to the face (belly) and the back of both Uchi-tachi ”A” and Shitachi ”B”.

For Uchi-tachi ”A” his back will be soto and his stomach will be uchi.

For Shi-tachi ”B”, his back will be ura and his belly will be omote.

For example, in the application of gokajo basic:  Uchi-tachi, the server (attacker) cuts Daijodan Kirikomi and Shi-tachi, the receiver (counter-attacker) enters into Jodan kiriharai, thus the two partners find themselves back to back.

So Uchi-tachi ”A” is in soto and Shi-tachi is in ura.