A New Problem with KENJUTSU

[@oakleynine5708]

Hi Antony - In Katori Shinto Ryu we use the hand on blade position quite a lot. In particular in the Gogyo No Kata. Regular onlookers may see it as a block, but that’s just what is shown overtly (omote explanation). In reality (ura) we use it to close with the enemy and control their blade. From there they teach us how to rip the blade from the opponent’s hands or to execute a pommel strike or takedown. The positions look identical to those in your Densho images. The halfway position also allows you to feel your opponent’s energy. I realize this sounds like hocus-pocus nonsense, but it’s much like a wrestler reacting to a shift in their opponent’s pressure. It almost feels like Wing Chun sticking hands, but with Katana. There’s a few good videos from two Menkyo from Katori Shinto Ryu LA (Los Angeles）that show those kata, but youtube automatically deletes my post when I try to share the link. You can look them up yourself on KZbin I guess.

[@keptleroymg6877]

The Hakama are very similar to western hosen and there are tight fitted ones too like the western styles which we see in festivals but most of the time people only show modern formal kimono hakama

[@TheShurikenZone]

Awesome video, Antony. I got my copy of Death Cult, a couple weeks ago; many thanks for getting that one out to us. I've not had much time to dig in too far, as of yet, but what I have read has been most interesting. 👍👍

[@AntonyCummins]

I hope you finish it

[@GHOSTofYOSHIMITSU]

Really excited to get the death cult book. I'm pausing all other books to read this one. It's true that I couldn't find the book on Amazon so I went back to your video and you mentioned clicking on all books. It was at the bottom of the list but mission accomplished. I will read it through and through and post a comment about it soon as i finish the book.

[@AntonyCummins]

You are a star. Thank you. It was because the book was set to adults only

[@-RONNIE]

Thanks for the video 👍🏻

[@PeregrinTintenfish]

In European martial arts, half swording is used in exclusively in armoured fighting, usual in order to pierce mail. It seems the samurai are putting their hand on the back of the sword for some other purpose.

[@tochiro6902]

Thank you very much.

[@applefortynine8207]

Not a student of JSA (probably got 1hr and a 1/2 of formal training, tops), but saw many Samurai movies where the hand held on to back of the blade to reinforce a block or cut. Never seen (again in Chanbara that I watched) a sword blade completely gripped around with the fingers.

[@prodigypenn]

I remember seeing a video with Seki Sensei from Asayama Ichiden Ryu, where he did some half-swording. If I remember correctly the technique was when you are very close, and you hold the blade to block/guide the other weapon away, then using a grip on the blade, you would stab from up close.

[@retroghidora6767]

A couple of them definitely are but most of them could be argued as or against. Either way it's not especially surprising that someone in Japan figured they could fight with a hand up on the blade, whether it worked out well or not.

[@CaseyBartley]

Asayama Ichiden Ryu has both mune "pinches" and open hand "half sword" techniques for thrusting, parry, cutting and attack. It's a kobudo, so it started pre Edo.

[@edwinofnorthumbria2511]

Not japanese. but the first two look like very similar guards to fiore de'i Liberi's "posta de vera crose" (stance of the true cross) which he mostly describes in his armoured combat section, though it is in his unarmoured section too. In its's description he says; "I choose to use the True Cross Guard against you. And your thrust will fail to strike me. I will make cover to your attack as I make my step, and my thrust will strike you without fail. Neither you or the other guards concern me, because I am so well versed in the art of armed fighting that my crossing cannot fail me. Step, cross and strike, and this art will never fail you." And a technique that comes from it "This cover is made from the True Cross Guard, when I step diagonally offline... As the opponent makes his thrust, the Master or his student who is waiting in one of these guards (or posts) keeps his body low and steps offline crossing the opponent's sword, with his point high into the opponent's face or chest, and with the hilt of his sword kept low, as shown here." It's a tiny tiny bit similar to the last part of Itto Ryodan (I believe it was called?), but you actualy block with the middle to base of your sword while moving in close to them with a half sword thrust to the face to bind up their sword as they strike.

[@serpnta1267]

Just finished "Samurai Death Cult" last night. Was a great book to read slow and savoir it's knowledge. Being half Mexican, I can relate to the weird misunderstanding of your ancestors being part of a death cult and coming to the realization that it was far more brutal than most people want to accept. I can imagine skull racks that reached to the sky.

[@AntonyCummins]

Thanks for reading it

[@SengokuStudies]

Like me in my discussions about half swording, you are probably going to get a mix of responses. There certainly seems to be some disagreement about what it means to half sword. To some, just putting a hand against the back of the blade qualifies, and to others you have to actually be gripping the blade.

[@mutsuzawa]

Yes! Half swording is a thing! But it is only revealed to people who join a dojo and train.

[@radoslavkosil7450]

4:23 bottom of a sandal? Like the part that is on the ground? Wouldnt the sword get dirty with all that could be left on sandal from roads?

[@warriorquestmartialartsnor5697]

I think we need to start with a good definition of "Half Swording". Half swording according to those in the HEMA comunity is to grab the blade and usually using it to thrust between the plates of armour. So in many cases the sword becomes like a spear. Half swording is also good in close combat where one needs to use it in a confined space, or sometimes to block and move into a grappling range and even hitting with the pommel/guard with both hands on the blade. This is what I have seen when I have participated in medieval sword lessons and spoken to experts on the subject. From what is posted in your video I would say that apart from one image at 2.06 (Source Needed) these are nothing like half swording unless of course we are going to go with any use of the hand on a sword is half swording in this context. Also of course we have to be careful with images as we do not know if they are accurate and made by warriors who knew those techniques. Be interesting though to see the use of the Japanese sword in half sword as personally I cannot see why it would not be used. PS see Tachi Uchi from page 191 of Hatsumi's Japanese Sword Fighting book. There he has his hand supporting the blade to cut.

[@llama341]

There are some images in there that are very familiar. Can you say where these actually came from?

[@AntonyCummins]

No I was sent them from viewers

[@takeocello]

please research "甲野善紀" He told how to manage 刀　in realistic way.He told about 棒術,too.

[@willemrudolfs8641]

there many halfswording in sword. niten ichi ryu has several. komagawa kaishin ryu has halsswording block and attacks. in fact one of prints ressemble komagawa kai shin ryu halfsswording. its not unique. only you no close fingers around blade.

[@strettoasino9006]

Found in translation...