Two handed dou attack, passing just holding the shinai with the right arm

[cr720]

We practice #1 the most, but were shown #2 and told that we should experiment with it here and there so that we are able to do it later on (only after LOTS of practice doing #1 method only). #3 has always been presented as a more "advanced" form of doing Do, and shouldn't be done at my level.

As fas as twisting the body, I was given some advice on this. I was advised to do this if my cut was too deep (i.e. I was too close). It can help hit the correct section of the Do. Whether this is technically correct or not I'm not sure, but the couple of times I've tried it, it seems to work ok. But 99% of the time I try to practice Do with correct distance so I don't have to rely on tactics like this.

[Karaken]

Why? I hit plenty hard without twisting my body.

It is entirely possible but I have seen many powerful kenshis with such a weak dou uchi. As I stated I don't see much of these problem with 4 dan and above with or without using the upper body.

[b8amack]

Unlike Men or Kote, Dou uchi should never be powered with powerful twisting of upper body.

I fixed that for ya.

[JByrd]

The Firsts is the regular one, when the left hand stays on its place in the tsukagashira.

That, I take it, is the most basic form. I've been told that if you can do it well that way, it's the best way.

The second is taking the left hand nearer the right, while hitting dou and making it "easier" to pass through.

I heard a different reasoning behind that method: A common problem with dou is hitting with the side of the blade. The closer your hands are together, the easier it is to control hasuji (aligning the angle of the blade relative to the angle of the swing). Method #2 prioritizes hasuji.

The third one is hitting dou with BOTH hands (left hand on tsukagashira), and after the hit/cut, just holding the shinai with the right hand, passing through.

I've been told that method is not good since you really can't do much with your shinai until you get your left hand back in place. Also, it feels to me like keeping both hands on the tsuka sort of "unites" my upper body (for lack of a better term) and helps me maintain better posture during the follow through.

My dou uchi is crap, though, so take the above for what it's worth (very little).

[Karaken]

I fixed that for ya.

Do you have any reason for this? If 8 dan sensei is doing it ( re: Video link above ), don't you think there should be a reason why you say "Never"?

[b8amack]

What video link? The few frames around 0:25 in Raffa's video? Don't really see how that's enough to back up your assertion (don't really think it does at all, honestly). If you have a video where he's demonstrating how to hit dou, and recommends a torso twist, that'd be something else, of course.

[ender84567]

you don't want to twist to generate power, I have seen it taught this way and feel it is incorrect, it gives very bad shisei (posture) and in just looks ugly all around. If you pass throught to the right your body does turn to pass through, but this is after you bring your left foot up/after the cut has completed. I think you would have a very hard time finding a hachidan that uses rotational torque to hit dou instead of proper cutting technique.