Starting position. Tori at right, uke at left — for reasons of visibility — but in the text below, tori moves are in left column, uke in right.
1
Starting with bokken in belt, facing uke.
Starting in migi no waki, side guard with sword drawn and held at right side.
2
Big step forward, lifting sword to jodan kamae, over the head.
3
Step to the right with right foot, left foot follows. Draw sword and cut kote, uke's left wrist, from below, at jodan level.
Start cutting move in the direction of tori's original position, but stop at left wrist's contact with tori's sword.
4
Let sword slide past uke's wrist, to a high position.
Continue the cutting move.
5
Flip the sword around in the high position, so that the edge points at uke. Yokomen, cut to the left side of uke's head, with half a step back with left foot.
6
Yield sword to migi no waki, right side guard. Retreat three steps.
7
Swing sword out to right side, at shoulder height, backing one step with right foot.
8
Step back with left foot, chiburi jodan, "shake off blood" by swinging sword around in front of body.
9
Noto, sword back into scabbard. Step back to the starting position.
by Stefan Stenudd
The aikibatto sword and staff exercises for aikido students explained, with practical and spiritual aspects of the sword arts, equipment for training, and more. Click the image to see the book at Amazon (paid link).
About me
I'm a Swedish author of fiction and non-fiction books in both English and Swedish. I'm also an artist, a historian of ideas, and a 7 dan Aikikai Shihan aikido instructor. Click the header to read my full bio.
TORI
UKE
Aikibatto — Sword Exercises for Aikido Students