Kodachi Kata No 1

[Geordie Bruiser]

Hello All

I am going for my Yondan in October and my Kata needs a lot of work, I train at a dojo that is not big on Kata.
Last night I started working on my kata in preperation for the grading and, while doing Kodachi kata no 1 (I was shidachi), I did the Kaeshi, cut Men and then I drew the Kodachi threw my opponents head before stepping back into jodan. There were a few different opinions as to whether you do actually draw the sword through uchidachi's head (as you do in long sword no 1) or do you simply go straight into jodan after the cut.

Any thoughts?

[Alicia]

straight back

[Oroshi]

I'm no expert, but I just looked this up in Shigeoka sensei's kata book. It says specifically:

「上段にとるとき、剣先を頭の中心につける必要はない。」

When adopting jōdan no kamae, there is no need to move the sword tip to the centre of the opponent's face [i.e. to a point between the eyes].

[Mr.Tvola]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKv-nbgb_10

[Geordie Bruiser]

Unfortunately Youtube is blocked at work but I will take a look when I get home tonight.

Thanks

[Tort-Speed]

That was impressive kata-ing on youtube - thanks for the link!

[MikeW]

I just went through all 10 kata with Saito sensei at the MWKF camp and there he had people draw straight back and not through the face in kata #10 (btw, did you mean tachi kata # 5 when you (OP) mentioned drawing it through face? In kata #1 you draw it through but it is on the way to going to jodan after pressuring post-men strike going forward, in #5 you draw it through the uchidachi's face post ment strike while going backward).

[Geordie Bruiser]

No I meant Kodachi Kata 1 (no 8), Shidachi goes back into Jodan in this one too.

[MikeW]

Yeah, no I meant when you referred to long sword #1 as a comparison to kodachi #1. But no matter. The short answer as Saito sensei was saying would be no, don't draw through the face, just lift up as you step back into jodan.

[Fukuryu]

As tought by my sensei, Kubo Ikushi, nanadan, it goes straight to jodan after the kaeshi men as shidachi steps back. No "See this? SEE THIS?" stage.

[Halcyon]

One addendum: Shidachi should step back into jodan relatively quickly after doing ukenagashi-men. You don't want to linger in the uchidachi's possible strike zone. Remember, you are holding a kodachi and the uchidachi, as injured as he may be, is holding a long sword. Better to show zanshin in jodan rather than at men-uchi.

[tango]

One addendum: Shidachi should step back into jodan relatively quickly after doing ukenagashi-men. You don't want to linger in the uchidachi's possible strike zone. Remember, you are holding a kodachi and the uchidachi, as injured as he may be, is holding a long sword. Better to show zanshin in jodan rather than at men-uchi.

exactocorrectomundo...