Nanhonme

[nodachi]

Question about kata #7

I have the Japanese Kata manual translated in English that gives the run down of all the steps of the kata (nice study aid, one of the best gifts I have ever gotten). It says that after the uchidachi goes for men and the shidachi has completed the doh and drops to their knee, then you go into the kneeling wakigamae, my confusion is the turning back to face the uchidachi again.

The book says to pivot on the foot. I find this really awkward and always end up pivoting on my knee. Maybe because my weight is not where it should be. I don't know. Does it matter if you pivot on the knee or the foot? If it does, how can I correct this because my body automatically wants to pivot on my knee. I do it without thinking at practice. Although no one has yet to correct me on it because they are concerned about other things and are probably overlooking what I am pivoting on. Or it doesn't matter what you pivot on?

Please enlighten me....

thanx

[Neil Gendzwill]

You shouldn't be on your knees before the turn. Step right-left-right with the cut - at this point your arms should be extended and your right leg in front of the left, body is quite low. Spin on both balls of your feet to face uchidachi and drop to your right knee. At this point your arms are still extended, blade at the finish point of the cut. Now uchidachi and you move into wakigamae (you're still on your knee) and you correct the position of your right foot (which is probably twisted a little out of line).

[nodachi]

I see. I keep forgetting that last step and so it is messing up the rest and definitely making it awkward. I see what I have been screwing up. Thanks!

[Nishi]

How many steps are taken after shidachi cuts doh? Im cutting doh with my legs almost crossed, then i push right, left, right (and drop)......always feels akward though!

[Nishi]

and.....when your on your knees, which way should your right leg be pointing.

Are shidachi's legs in a "L" position or are both legs pointing toward uchidachi???

[Neil Gendzwill]

Here's where you'll get some differing opinions. There's basically 2 ways. The way we do it is: 1st step (right foot) coincides with the initial contact of the cut, 2nd step (left foot) is cutting through the opponent, 3rd step (right foot) is when the sword clears and you get extension. Other people teach raise with the 1st step, contact with the 2nd, cut and through with the 3rd. I personally feel the 1st way is better as it's more of a kendo cut (one motion up and down) whereas the 2nd is more of a 2-part motion. But actually they converge because if you do it smoothly and quickly as you should, then the breakdown that we use to learn it disappears.

At any rate the finishing position is right foot in front of the left in quite a wide stance, right arm straight out from the shoulder with blade extended. If I stop myself at this point I find my feet are actually almost perpendicular to the direction I was moving as I am already turning. Then turn to face the opponent and drop onto your right knee. At this point your left foot and thigh are lined up towards him, but your right foot tends to be a little offline (maybe 20-30 degrees). When you move your bokken to wakigame, fix your right foot so it lines up with the opponent.

This sort of stuff is way easier to show than to describe.

[samurai999]

I have heard of 2 differing ways of doing this one too. The way I am being taught right now for my 2dan test prep is "right-left-knee" for dou. Shidachi has eyes towards opponent at all times. Uchidachi has eyes forward during cut and immediately after, eyes turn to meet the shidachi that has gone through.

For shidachi, I've been told to twist your left foot as much as possible towards your aite.. Then your right knee goes down with follow through of the cut being like 45deg angle to horizontal. The "twisting" of the left foot is supposed to have you in better position to go to waki gamae.

getting less and less confused though.. use a knee pad to practice this one.. :D

Tim

[Nishi]

Just spent 7 hours in a kendo seminar (i'm bragging) and two of those hours were spent on kata......regarding nanhonme, and Neil Gendzwill's last post regarding "two ways to do it", it appears that the 1st way described by Neil is known as Kyoto style and the second mentioned by Neil is Tokyo style (named for obvious reasons).

I have always done "Tokyo style" which i would never use in shinai kendo due to the awkward crossing of the legs. But the "Kyoto style" was much easier, flowed very nice, and was quite practical in regards to shinai kendo.