Correct way to draw a sword.

[Vamp]

Is this explanation correct?

I'm right handed.

Sword in sheath is on my left.

Standing in Shize stance

Grab handle a few inches below tzuba with right hand and begin to draw back sheath with left hand.

Step forward

Pull sword out of sheath over head.

Grab bottom of handle with left hand (2 fingers grasping the end)

Step forward and bring sword down.

Does holding the sword at the base of the handle act as an anchor? What's the advantages of holding a sword with 2 hands compared to 1?

As you can tell... I'm a noob

[m.artist]

what style is it? some work differently so....

[Toudiyama[NL]]

Sound Ok to me
That is the Kendo Renmei Iaido way as I was taught

[m.artist]

Is this explanation correct?

I'm right handed.

Sword in sheath is on my left.

Standing in Shize stance

Grab handle a few inches below tzuba with right hand and begin to draw back sheath with left hand.

Step forward

Pull sword out of sheath over head.

Grab bottom of handle with left hand (2 fingers grasping the end)

Step forward and bring sword down.

Does holding the sword at the base of the handle act as an anchor? What's the advantages of holding a sword with 2 hands compared to 1?

As you can tell... I'm a noob

holding the sword with 2 hands as opposed to one does 2 things
1. more power
2 more control
our wrists arent that sturdy so with 2 u have more control with the blade
hope that helps out a lil
where are u studying at? like the state and city?

[chris davis 200]

a few points to bear in mind.

1. Unless you are stuydying the Niten Ichi school then the sword will always be held with two hands, and ALWAYS left above right - regardless of what 'handed' you are.

2. the right hand grips the sword with the bottom three fingers, the left is used for control and direction, but is held extremely softly.

3. The sword is ALWAYS worn on the left - regardless of what 'handed' you are.

4. Try to avoid any noise when drawing the sword - or returning it to the saya - if there is noise your cutting the inside of the saya - with a real blade it will come through and cut your hand.

5. Avoid swords with plastic under the binding -they can snap at the handle and go through the nearest thing.

6. The saya is Never removed from the obi to attack with (ha ha ha) i have seen this sometimes and it truely is laughable!!

7. ALL cuts with a japanese sword are straight and at maximum arm extension, not chopping movement, and not changing direction mid cut, curved cuts do NOT work.

just a few things - but please try to find a real instructor - this will be hard due to all the fools pretending they know their stuff with a sword cause they are a black belt in some other art.

arts to look for are, Muso jikiden eishin ryu, muso shinden ryu, katori shinto ryu, niten ichi ryu, kendo kata, itto ryu, etc

cheers
chris

[Vamp]

I training in Bujinkan Ninjutsu in Cape Town, South Africa. It's a reputable school, although it's more of an informal training session with a very small class, 4 people counting the instructor who is a 4th dan. We've trained twice with Dr. Hatsumi.

Thing is, I'm a beginner, and I've only started using sword techniques. We're on christmas break now and I actually forgot how to draw properly so I'm just checking out

Couldn't remember if the right hand grips the bottom of the blade or if it was the left one.

Thanks for clearing it up.

So it would look like this
_
|
Left
|
|
|
Right

Correct?

Does the right hand act as an anchor to keep movmenets more controlled?

[Toudiyama[NL]]

There is a saying there are no lefthanded samurai don't know if there is the same saying about ninja
the handeling might be different all together, since the ninto isn't the same as a Katana and had build in secondary uses

So all Chris stated might not be applicable to the handeling of a Ninto

[chris davis 200]

HA HA HA!!! what a tool i am!!!

I put it the wrong way round!! - i have been doing traditional japanese sword work for years but still got it wrong in my post!!!

MANY MANY appologies!

It is LEFT HAND ON THE BOTTOM - RIGHT HAND ON THE TOP.

sorry!!

[
right
[
[
left
[

so yes the left hand is kinda an anchor - but is still not that tight - the sword is held quite soft allowing you to move it quickly.

Again sorry for the confusion!!

By the way - there is a forum on e-budo just about sword arts - and a forum on ninpo too.

Cheers
Chris

[PaiLumUmar]

me

Hey Chris, How you holdin up?
I read that screwed up post and thought "Nah he's got to be screwing with him."

Isn't Niten Ichi Ryu based on Shinmen Miyamoto Musashi's school? I can't recall but it sounded familiar.

[chris davis 200]

Mwahhahahahah!

Unfortunatley i wasnt screwing with him - just messed up !

Its sometimes hard to remember when you aint holding your iaito!!

Yeh Niten Ichi is the Musashi Style. Very nice style actually. I will see if i can find some mpegs.

anyways - nice to have you here!

Think you will find it a little less polite than Dragonslist!

cheers
Chris