Kihon Sotai with count
From 2007 Guelph Seminar
Shiiya sensei and Namitome sensei
General notes:
All these kihon are done four times and then yame (stop) is called.
Kamae o toku position is like gedan, but with the tip pointing slightly to the outside of your partner's left knee, and the edge angled slightly inward.
Initial notes:
The initial bow is done as Sogo ni Rei
1- Honte Uchi
Honte ni Kamae – Take the usual stance, chudan kamae with the tips crossing about 10 cm.
Honte Uchi Yoi (ready) - Remain the same
|
Count |
Tachi (uchitachi) |
Jo (shijo) |
|
1 |
Drop the tachi to kamae o toku |
Pull the jo back |
|
2 |
Shuffle back slightly |
Strike tachi between the eyes with the josaki (edge of tip) |
|
3 |
Move back to match in chudan |
Match in chudan |
Yame – Tachi moves back to match in chudan at 10 cm.
Motoe – Tachi shifts the front foot back slightly and lowers the bokuto to kamae o toku while jo steps forward to feet together and puts the jo into tsune no kamae (ready stance).
2- Gyakute Uchi
Gyakute ni Kamae – Take the usual stance, chudan kamae with the tips crossing about 10 cm.
Gyakute Uchi Yoi - Remain the same.
|
Count |
Tachi (uchitachi) |
Jo (shijo) |
|
1 |
Keep the bokuto in chudan kamae. |
Pull the jo back |
|
2 |
Step back (switch your feet) but keep the bokuto in the centre, don't move the hands back and forth. |
Strike for tachi's shamen, top corner of his head. The jo should remain 30 cm or more away from tachi's face. |
Yame – Jo turns the forward hand back to honte uchi (normal hand) and tachi moves back to match in chudan at 10 cm.
Motoe – Tachi shifts the front foot back slightly and lowers the bokuto to kamae o toku while jo steps forward to feet together and puts the jo into tsune no kamae (ready stance).
3- Hiki Otoshi Uchi
Hiki Otoshi Uchi Yoi – From tsune no kamae (jo) and kamae o toku (tachi), tachi moves into chudan and jo moves into hiki otoshi uchi ready position.
Hajime (start) – Strike the bokuto down and move forward to put the jo 30 cm from tachi's face, aimed between his eyes.
|
Count |
Tachi (uchitachi) |
Jo (shijo) |
|
1 |
Remain in waki gamae |
Pull back the jo with the back hand, move to ma hanmi (full sideways position). |
|
2 |
Waki gamae |
Pull back the jo with the front hand and turn the front hand over, front hand at the front nipple |
|
3 |
Step back and cut over to chudan no kamae with a kiai |
Wait for tachi to cut into position. |
|
4 |
|
Strike the bokuto down and thrust to 30 cm from tachi's face, jo aimed between the eyes. |
Yame – Tachi moves back to match in chudan at 10 cm.
Motoe – Tachi shifts the front foot back slightly and lowers the bokuto to kamae o toku while jo steps forward to feet together and puts the jo into tsune no kamae (ready stance).
4- Kaeshi Tsuki
Honte ni Kamae – Take the usual stance, chudan kamae with the tips crossing about 10 cm.
Kaeshi Zuki Yoi – Remain the same
|
Count |
Tachi (uchitachi) |
Jo (shijo) |
|
1 |
Step back into hidari jodan |
Bring the front end of the jo up and over while twisting your feet and hips and drop into the ready position. |
|
2 |
Remain still |
Thrust the josaki into tachi's suigetsu (solar plexus) |
|
3 |
Lower the bokuto to match the jo in chudan no kamae |
Raise the jo to tachi's eyes and then match in chudan no kamae |
Yame – Tachi moves back if necessary, to match in chudan at 10 cm.
Motoe – Tachi shifts the front foot back slightly and lowers the bokuto to kamae o toku while jo steps forward to feet together and puts the jo into tsune no kamae (ready stance).
5- Gyakute Tsuki
Honte ni Kamae – Take the usual stance, chudan kamae with the tips crossing about 10 cm.
Gyakute Zuki Yoi – Remain the same
|
Count |
Tachi (uchitachi) |
Jo (shijo) |
|
1 |
Step back into hidari jodan |
Bring the front end of the jo up and over while twisting your feet and hips and keep the jo overhead in the ready position. |
|
2 |
Remain still |
Thrust the josaki into tachi's suigetsu (solar plexus) |
|
3 |
|
Pull the jo back into the overhead position. |
|
4 |
Step back and lower the bokuto to catch the jo roughly in chudan no kamae |
Strike down with the jo to tachi's left wrist and then match in chudan no kamae |
Yame – Tachi moves back to match in chudan at 10 cm.
Motoe – Tachi shifts the front foot back slightly and lowers the bokuto to kamae o toku while jo steps forward to feet together and puts the jo into tsune no kamae (ready stance).
6- Maki Otoshi
Honte ni Kamae – Take the usual stance, chudan kamae with the tips crossing about 10 cm.
Maki Otoshi Yoi – Tachi thrusts in toward jo's face, jo lifts the jo into the maki otoshi catch position.
The count starts on 2.
|
Count |
Tachi (uchitachi) |
Jo (shijo) |
|
1 |
Step back with the left foot and cut to jo's head. |
Without shifting the feet, lift the jo to catch the bokuto about 5cm from the kissaki. |
|
2 |
Follow the bokuto as it's forced back with a step backward with the right foot. |
Jo cuts the bokuto down and then thrusts toward tachi's face, stopping 30 cm away. |
Yame – Tachi moves back to match in chudan at 10 cm.
Motoe – Tachi shifts the front foot back slightly and lowers the bokuto to kamae o toku while jo steps forward to feet together and puts the jo into tsune no kamae (ready stance).
7- Kuri Tsuke
Kuri Tsuke Yoi – Tachi steps forward into hidari hasso while jo remains in tsune no kamae.
|
Count |
Tachi (uchitachi) |
Jo (shijo) |
|
1 |
Step forward slightly with the left foot. |
|
|
2 |
Step forward with the right foot and cut down on jo's head. |
Step out wide to the left with the left foot, then step forward with the right foot, to the outside of tachi's right foot, and bring the jo up to catch the hilt of the bokuto. |
|
3 |
Step back with the right foot so that all the feet are in a straight line. |
Bring the jo down in a semi circle to lock tachi's wrists at his waist. |
|
4 |
Step toward the centreline with the right foot |
As tachi steps back follow him with the jo. |
|
5 |
Left foot |
|
|
6 |
Right foot |
|
|
7 |
Left foot |
|
|
8 |
Right foot and up into hidari hasso |
Move into tsune no kamae. |
Yame – Tachi moves back to the centreline but does not bring the tachi up to match jo. This is the same for 7, 8 and 9 (kuri tsuke, kuri hanashi and tai atari). Tachi stops at step number 7 above on the command.
Motoe – Tachi shifts the front foot back slightly while jo steps forward to feet together and puts the jo into tsune no kamae (ready stance).
8- Kuri Hanashi
Kuri Hanashi Yoi – Tachi steps forward into hidari hasso while jo remains in tsune no kamae.
|
Count |
Tachi (uchitachi) |
Jo (shijo) |
|
1 |
Step forward slightly with the left foot. |
|
|
2 |
Step forward with the right foot and cut down on jo's head. |
Step out wide to the left with the left foot, then step forward with the right foot, to the outside of tachi's right foot, and bring the jo up to catch the hilt of the bokuto. |
|
3 |
|
Bring the jo around to throw tachi back, finishing in the same position as for gyakute uchi.. |
|
4 |
Step back with the right foot as you are thrown back. |
As tachi moves back follow him with the jo. |
|
5 |
Left foot |
|
|
6 |
Right foot |
|
|
7 |
Left foot |
|
|
8 |
Right foot and up into hidari hasso |
Move into tsune no kamae, stepping to your right to get back on the original line. |
Yame – Tachi turns back to face jo on the centreline but does not bring the tachi up to match jo. This is the same for 7, 8 and 9 (kuri tsuke, kuri hanashi and tai atari). Stop at step 7 above on the command, tachi and jo are at an angle and jo moves to honte.
Motoe – Tachi shifts the front foot back slightly while jo steps forward to feet together and puts the jo into tsune no kamae (ready stance).
9- Tai Atari
Tai Atari Yoi – Tachi steps forward into hidari hasso while jo remains in tsune no kamae.
|
Count |
Tachi (uchitachi) |
Jo (shijo) |
|
1 |
Step forward slightly with the left foot. |
|
|
2 |
Step forward with the right foot and cut down on jo's head. |
Step out wide to the left with the left foot, then step forward with the right foot, to the outside of tachi's right foot, and bring the jo up to catch the hilt of the bokuto. |
|
3 |
Pull the right foot back slightly but not into a straight line with the left foot. |
Move back on the centreline while moving the jo into a vertical position with your right hand at his face and the left at his suigetsu. |
|
4 |
|
Push tachi back. |
|
5 |
Step back with the left foot to soak up the attack |
As tachi moves back lower the jo and follow his movement. |
|
6 |
Right foot |
|
|
7 |
Left foot |
|
|
8 |
Right foot and up into hidari hasso |
Move into tsune no kamae. |
Yame – Tachi faces jo on the centreline but does not bring the tachi up to match the jo. Stop at step 7 above.
Motoe – Tachi shifts the front foot back slightly while jo steps forward to feet together and puts the jo into tsune no kamae (ready stance).
For 7, 8, 9 your first move must be very wide, and catch the bokuto with your right foot outside your partner's foot. The tip of your jo is at your partner's eye height.
Use your hip, especially in Kuri Hanashi.
10- Tsuki Hazushi Uchi
Tsuki Hazushi Uchi Yoi – Tachi steps into hidari hasso. Jo moves into ichi monji no kamae (jo above head square to tachi, then tachi cuts down diagonally and sets tachi at left hip.
|
Count |
Tachi (uchitachi) |
Jo (shijo) |
|
1 |
Thrust to suigetsu |
Step back with the left foot and catch the bokuto. Don't step too far off the line. |
|
2 |
|
Switch the hand on the jo |
|
3 |
Absorb the strike down and thrust by stepping back. |
Hit down on the sword and thrust to the eyes. |
|
4 |
Step back again to avoid the thrust |
Thrust forward again |
|
5 |
Move bokuto up to chudan. |
Move up to ichi monji no kamae |
Yame – Tachi moves back if necessary to match in chudan at 10 cm.
Motoe – Tachi shifts the front foot back slightly and lowers the bokuto to kamae o toku while jo steps forward to feet together and puts the jo into tsune no kamae (ready stance).
11- Do Barai Uchi
Honte ni Kamae – Take the usual stance, chudan kamae with the tips crossing about 10 cm.
Do Barai Uchi Yoi – Remain the same
|
Count |
Tachi (uchitachi) |
Jo (shijo) |
|
1 |
Strikes to migi do |
Move right foot back and block strike. |
|
2 |
|
Pull jo back |
|
3 |
Don't move feet |
Strike down on bokuto |
|
4 |
Move right foot back |
Thrust jo to eyes |
|
5 |
Move left foot back to match in chudan kamae |
|
Yame – Tachi moves back if needed, to match in chudan at 10 cm.
Motoe – Tachi shifts the front foot back slightly and lowers the bokuto to kamae o toku while jo steps forward to feet together and puts the jo into tsune no kamae (ready stance).
12- Tai Hazushi Uchi
Honte ni Kamae – Take the usual stance, chudan kamae with the tips crossing about 10 cm.
Tai Hazushi Uchi Yoi – Tachi moves forward to hidari hasso, about 30 cm from jo tip.
|
Count |
Tachi (uchitachi) |
Jo (shijo) |
|
1 |
|
Pull the jo back |
|
2 |
|
Drop the jo to the thigh |
|
3 |
Strike to Jo's head. |
Move back to avoid, raise right forearm over head. |
|
4 |
Absorb strike without moving feet, match then step forward to hasso. |
Strike down on bokuto. |
Yame – Tachi moves back to match in chudan at 10 cm.
Motoe – Tachi shifts the front foot back slightly and lowers the bokuto to kamae o toku while jo steps forward to feet together and puts the jo into tsune no kamae (ready stance).
Tachi wa osame – Tachi puts bokuto to the left side.
Sogo ni
rei
– Bow to each other.
Corrections added from Ward Jardine July 2007