Katate Tenouchi??

[emitbrownne]

Hi,
I realise there have been threads similar to this before, but they do not really answer my question.

My questions are :
When performing a Katate cut (be it from jodan, nito or whatever) how do you best apply tenouchi??

When using one sword with twwo hands I apply tenouchi with the "wringing the towel" grip. Should I still try the same feeling with one hand??? By this I mean getting my wrist atop the Tsuka and squeeze.....

I fenced in Nito last night and controlled the blade quite well but I would definately like more control without stressing my arm..

Please help.. thanks for help in advance

Paulo

[Old Warrior]

I asked this same question many months ago. I do nito, exclusively. One of the problems I had, at first, was stress to the elbow, but after a year the muscles developed pretty well, so that dissipated. Now, I find, that I need to relax more, because the constant tension of holding the blade over the men is tiring and fatigue sets in way too soon. Although, I will not even test for shodan until September, because I am the only nito guy in the dojang, I always have a line of much better students who want to try and pound on me.

Back to the point. The first thing I practiced, over and over, was to make sure the the cut, even though coming from an angle - is on center. Next, I concentrate on the fact that the motion is more like a punch, than an arcing cut. In other words, most of the energy is going forward rather than down. When I started, I constantly heard "Punch, not chop". Once you get the feeling that the cut is going forward and the last instant wrist action seems much less than in a two handed cut, the grip concern becomes less of an issue (I gauge my progress on what happens when I miss). I would really like to hear from Moocow on this one.

[emitbrownne]

cheers... I'll work on what you have pointed out....


so you reckon that muscle development alone will help?? If that is the case so be it.
I was just wondering if there is any specific tricksy tip that would allow it to come to a more natural stop.

At the moment my tenouchi is about 6 inches too deep when fencing. Proved when one of the Sensei skipped out of the way of my men cut and I was in a perfect Tsuki position (oops :) )

When practicing against dummy or during suburi I have quite a bit of control.. maybe an inch or two too deep :)

thanks again

Paulo

[Nishi]

Hey Paulo, I agree with the punching out comment above and have come acrosss two types of advice, both are during a jodan conversation, heres what ive gathered so far...

In competition it would appear that when a cut misses there is no tenouchi, and the attacker runs into there opponent to close the distance. You've heard it before, its a one cut kamae. All that matters is the 'hit to the target'.

Tenouchi is not just the 'ringing of the towel' grip as we learn in shinai-kendo, alot of japanese teach it as a small sharp forward thrust to begin the cut at, or just before, the moment of contact. I think the 'punching out' simulates this in katate-waza.

I got alot of this advice from MarkN(Bolton), and ive been adding to it whenever I meet a new sensei, I do with that two topics, this is one of them.

[JSchmidt]

I never liked the 'wringing a towel' analogy...I certainly don't wring a towel mainly starting with my pinky finger :).

In jodan, I squeeze progressivly (as in chudan), starting with the pinky pretty much ending with the 3rd finger. This is done in the last moment before 'impact' and also speeds up the cutting action. The moment it impacts, you relax your grip and bring the shinai back.

I wouldnt put my wrist on top..this will slow down and hinder the cutting motion. The shinai should be an extension of your hand.

Nito/Jodan does require an awful more strength than chudan and it does take awhile to get used to. Do lots of (katate) suburi, but never to the extend that your wrist/elbow hurts.


Jakob

[Hai_hai]

When performing a Katate cut (be it from jodan, nito or whatever) how do you best apply tenouchi??

Don't you mean when performing a karate chop?
The answer is: raise your arm high, then lower the arm in the direction of the target. Hit the target with the bottom edge of your hand in a flat, open position. Yell "Hai" as your arm is going up, and then yell "Ya" when you are lowering your arm. This also applies to kendo. Yell "Hai" as you raise the shinai, and then yell "Ya" as you lower the shinai for the strike.

[emitbrownne]

Don't you mean when performing a karate chop?
The answer is: raise your arm high, then lower the arm in the direction of the target. Hit the target with the bottom edge of your hand in a flat, open position. Yell "Hai" as your arm is going up, and then yell "Ya" when you are lowering your arm.Nope... I know this already.. but under a different guise..

"Judo Chop"

Yeah... Baby... Yeah!!!!