Whistling Blades!

[Peter West]

We had a long overdue visit (damned snow!) from the great Keith Rose, 6th Dan, yesterday and as per usual, I learned so much that when I got home I found myself making copious notes lest I forget his pearls of wisdom. At the end of the session, I sheepishly asked him about my lack of tachikaze, so he looked at my technique pointed out a few basic errors in my cutting and things I need to work on and had a look at my sword too. After careful examination he pointed out that the blade is slightly twisted in the tsuka so despite my attempt at correct hasuji, my efforts are being thwarted by the slight twist. This may account (partly) for the 'whoosh' rather than 'whipping' sound and why I get a proper tachikaze on the second cut of Sogiri, where the twist of the blade is favorable to the angle of the cut. Apparently there's little I can do about this, but since its my first sword proper, I won't worry about it. In future, however I won't buy an Iaito without trying it first. Caveat emptor...

May I humbly refer you to my first post in this thread (post number 11) number 4 of possible causes...

[Raffa]

This last weekend Miyazaki sensei was in Novara (Italy) for a seminar. A dojomate was there too. it appears that the sensei said to a group of people, which were swinging their sword in a very vigorous way to make them whistle that if they want to make sounds, playing a musical instrument is better than using a iaito.

[Kokoro777]

May I humbly refer you to my first post in this thread (post number 11) number 4 of possible causes...

Yes indeed-thank you. The answers are often right under ones nose-or in this case, post no. 11 I'm afraid my eye isn't good enough to spot the twist in my sword so it needed Keith to spot it-I can spot a problem with a warped guitar neck from a 100 paces, but an Iaito...Thanks once again.

[ShadowRaven]

This last weekend Miyazaki sensei was in Novara (Italy) for a seminar. A dojomate was there too. it appears that the sensei said to a group of people, which were swinging their sword in a very vigorous way to make them whistle that if they want to make sounds, playing a musical instrument is better than using a iaito.

I think that is a lesson a lot of people need to learn, in regards to a lot more then just tachikaze. Getting a result is a good thing. doing something just for the result, without learning how to do it properly, and growing and developing right, is definatley not.

[Kokoro777]

I've been practising my cutting as per Keith Rose Sensei's instruction- extending the arms out in front and pulling in slightly toward the end of the cut and its much improved my technique and tachikaze as a side effect! It feels very odd at first-even weak to cut in this way, but it does look so much better and with 30 minutes daily practise I've found that the feeling of weakness is slipping away and my cuts are becoming speedier and more effective and of course that elusive whistle is beginning to appear!