Grip

[Charming Louse]

Hi. I have a simple question about how to grip a sword. I am an artist, and I am researching kendo techniques in order to accurately portray swordfighting. I read once that one hand is used to guide the sword, while the other hand is used to provide power to the blow. However, I don't remember which hand (main hand and off hand) was used for what. Any help would be greatly appreciated, and I apologize for taking your time.

[Nishi]

The left hand is the power, and is held at the base of the tsuka (handle) and the right hand held towards the tsuba (hand guard)...as a rule the left hand should not really come away from the centre, but just away/up/down from its starting position, which is about a 3 inches lower than your belly button, and about 3 inches away from your body.

The right hand does act as a "steering wheel", but is still responsible for some of the power, however alot less.

It may help to look at some kendo/iaido pictures...

hope this helps.

[Charming Louse]

That helps a lot! Thank you VERY much for your help!

[Hyaku]

Hi. I have a simple question about how to grip a sword. I am an artist, and I am researching kendo techniques in order to accurately portray swordfighting. I read once that one hand is used to guide the sword, while the other hand is used to provide power to the blow. However, I don't remember which hand (main hand and off hand) was used for what. Any help would be greatly appreciated, and I apologize for taking your time.

C L, A sword and a shinai are held differently. Look at the shape of a shinai? That should give you some indication that its not possible. If you hold a sword no kote are used either.

Hyaku

[aru-ma]

C L, A sword and a shinai are held differently. Look at the shape of a shinai? That should give you some indication that its not possible. If you hold a sword no kote are used either.

So how do the oval grip shinai make any difference when wearing kote? or are there no significant differences?

[kendomushi]

The shinai, round or oval, is held very much the same way the actual sword is held. and the sword can be held this way unarmored or armored (wearing yoroi, kote, or other pieces of japanese armor).
The sword is held as it is to protect the vulnerable wrists from being easy targets.
Power is Left 70%, Right 30%. The right hand acts primarily to guide the sword, the left normally remains in the centerline of the body.

[k3nsh1n]

Im sure there is some other thread that i should post this on
but seeing as this is related to the subject..
im just curious as to whether the index of the right hand
should be touching the tsuba when holding the shinai..
i read somewhere that it should be and another where it said it shouldnt..
perhaps i misread one or the other but nevertheless still slightly confused..

[Nishi]

...im just curious as to whether the index of the right hand
should be touching the tsuba when holding the shinai..
i read somewhere that it should be and another where it said it shouldnt..
perhaps i misread one or the other but nevertheless still slightly confused..

Mine does...(dosnt mean its right though...:D) I grip with the last two fingers of each hand (as you should) , left slightly tighter than the right usually...and my middle and index fingers almost cradle the tsuka lightly but with enough contact to feel my opponents shinai..

[Eldritch Knight]

Very similar for me, though my power balance is around 90:10 because I use joudan. For chuudan I'm exactly the same, though.

[Nanbanjin]

Not quite what you were after but here is some Japanese advice I translated from Ichinikai
http://www5a.biglobe.ne.jp/~ichini/

Teaching basics (1)

("Teaching grip"2000/11/9)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I feel I still have some things left to write about ashi-sabaki, but I have decided to continue on to the hands for the time being.

Grip is very important. If grip is incorrect, it can lead to great difficulty with furi-kaburi and datotsu (striking), so I pay utmost attention when teaching basics on introducing "grip (kamae)" as well as "ashi-sabaki".

Before embarking on teaching grip it is important to first think about the size of the shinai or bokuto.

I was made to do my basic training with a bokuto, so when I was still in a low grade at school I had a special order shinai made for me by a kendo goods store.
The most important thing is length and width. For a child the length should reach about the side torso when stood straight up from the floor. The thickness should be such that the bokuto can be held comfortably with the heel of the thumb and the little and ring fingers. When selecting a shinai for the child to use the same principle applies.

However, in the case of the shinai the length of the tsuka becomes a problem.
Stand the shinai up with the tsuka-gashira pressed into the inner side of the elbow joint and bend the elbow to grip the tsuka with the right hand. The furthest point where the right hand can grip on the tsuka is the ideal length for that child, so if the tsuka-gawa is too long it should be cut to length and restricted.
This method of judging the position of the grip does not suit very well to the case of the bokuto, but I choose to think about this in an approximate sense. After all, more important than the position of the grip is the grip itself.

Also, if the grip is too large it may be necessary to shave a little off using a woodworking plane or other tool.

The basis for the grip is the handshake. This is likely to be difficult for children to understand, so start by getting them to hold both hands together at the height of the navel with the fingers pointed forward. From that position the right hand is pushed out a little and when the middle finger of the left hand has just gone past the wrist of the right, a light grip is formed.
Once the student has gotten the hang of this shape, next get them to grip a bokuto.

The position of the left hand is a little below the navel and held about one fist distance from the body. When teaching young children there they will inevitably tend to allow the grip to rest against the body, so distance from the body needs to be taught well in this case. The right hand should be held so that the right elbow is not completely straight, and the left arm should be held against the body "so as to hold a piece of paper without letting it fall".

Points regarding the grip are as follow.
-----------------------------------------------------------

1 Grip with the little finger, the ring ringer and the heel of the thumb.
2 Grip firmly with the left hand, and grip with the right hand as if holding a small bird.
3 The thumbs point down.
4 The palm at the base of the thumb and forefinger should come to the top of the mine
5 When looking from above the V formed by the thumb and forefinger should be clearly visible.
-----------------------------------------------------------

In regards to point 1, teach to leave the thumb and forefinger free. It is important to watch that the forefinger does not point out in line with the shinai. This type of grip can be dangerous it is of vital importance that this is discouraged.

For point four, the hands should be aligned with the stitching of the tsuka. Watch out for the left shoulder lifting too much and the left elbow straightening out as this can tend to happen through trying to get the left hand to go in.

When still a beginner the kensen will tend to rise so it is necessary to at least watch out for this. The vague explanation of "keep the kensen a little above horizontal and point it straight out in front of you" might be best. It is possible to teach to "hold towards an opponent" or "hold towards someone of about the same height", but students who have just begun training may not have the faculties or kendo sense to bodily judge the height of the kamae.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Hai_hai]

Hi. I have a simple question about how to grip a sword. I am an artist, and I am researching kendo techniques in order to accurately portray swordfighting. I read once that one hand is used to guide the sword, while the other hand is used to provide power to the blow. However, I don't remember which hand (main hand and off hand) was used for what. Any help would be greatly appreciated, and I apologize for taking your time.

Left hand on the bottom on the sword grip.
Right hand on the top of the sword grip.