 Cutting dotangiri during a demo at a Nikkei Student Union cultural event, UCLA 1999 |
May 26, 2001
Cutting dotangiri during a demo at a Nikkei Student Union cultural event, UCLA 1999 |
In shinkendo, tameshigiri (or "shizan") is one of five major areas of study. We use it to evaluate the effectiveness of our techniques and to further develop our methods from an applied cutting perspective, much in the same way that tachiuchi (paired sparring forms) is incorporated to evaluate our distance and timing, and to correctly understand and develop effective tactics. Tameshigiri serves as a tool for the student to acquire critical applied-cutting theory and verify proper implementation of waza.
As such, we do not consider tameshigiri to be an "art in itself", and dissuade students from becoming overly distracted with this single area of training. Cutting is considered to be an instructive tool, or means of testing the methods intermediate and advanced students have been learning. Therefore, we choose not to compete with other groups in cutting tournaments, since this would over emphasize this area of training over other equally important areas of training. Furthermore, shinkendo-ka generally refrain from using flashy cutting techniques and non-traditional target materials, as this is most often counter productive to the intended purpose of traditional cutting. Such choices can also detract from the dignified manner in which Japanese swordsmanship is intended to be practiced.
Beginners of tameshigiri are taught basic cutting forms that are typically not arranged in specific combative patterns, for reasons of clarity and safety. The purpose of these forms is to introduce the sensation of cutting materials with a live blade in a controlled atmosphere, and to establish which areas of swordsmanship the student may need to refine in order to cut with more success and confidence. More advanced students of tameshigiri will tend to focus on testing combative methods as well as standard practice methods in the form of non-combative cutting sequences that challenge the skill of the practitioner in the areas of speed, control, accuracy and/or power. The cutting forms demonstrated in the six MPEG's presented here focus primarily on practice methods, with a few applied ("combative") waza mixed in. Applied cutting techniques should be taught under the careful supervision of a qualified instructor.
It should be mentioned that there are technically two types of tameshigiri; that which is intended to test the ability of the swordsman (kenshi) and that which is intended to test the performance of a weapon or armor (shito-ka). Only qualified sword testers should be cutting unusually difficult/hard materials or "testing" swords, as this is a dangerous field that requires substantial knowledge, instruction and experience. It is simply not necessary for most kenshi to delve into this area, and I feel compelled to offer some words of discouragement in this regard in response to the growing trend of amateur sword testing by unqualified individuals of vastly varied experience levels recently.
A serious kenshi should find themselves sufficiently challenged while cutting standard materials, such as tatami and bamboo.The following MPEG movies, like the other MPEG's, were created in order to show a sampling of the diverse methods of shinkendo. Descriptions are provided below for each of the MPEG's, detailing the materials used and logic behind the cutting methods.
makiwara breakdown:
 Click on image to enlarge |
WEAPONS BREAKDOWN:
Several edged weapons were used during this cutting session in order to provide some diversity:
From top to bottom: as listed above Click on image to enlarge |
MPEG #1 - (yasuhiro wakizashi, kotetsu katana)
First target (A) is cut using a one handed diagonal draw and cut, switching feet and cutting diagonal the opposite way. The last three cuts are three continuous side cuts (darumagiri). The second target (B) is approached and cut with the short sword (one handed) using a diagonal draw and cut, continuously cutting diagonally three times, and ending with a side cut.
Next are short sword and long sword techniques performed on four hanging targets suspended by thin twine. The targets used are half-mats, since the reduced weight of a half sized target requires greater speed, precision and edge alignment. Cutting suspended targets in this fashion is also substantially more challenging than standard bottom-pegged targets since the single length of twine tends to break quite easily if the cut is not perfect.
The first target (C) is cut using the same diagonal draw and cut, continuously cutting diagonally four times. The second target (D) is cut with a diagonal rising cut, followed by reversing back down the same line with two more diagonal cuts. The remaining suspended targets are cut with the katana. The third target (E) is cut diagonally three times after first performing a twisting cross draw, thrusting, and covering with an overhead block. From jodan no gamae, the fourth suspended target (F) is approached and cut twice using continuous diagonal cuts.
[A] - katana - hidari nukiuchi batto/lt & rt kesagiri nagashi, yoko kaeshi (darumagiri - 3 times). Bugei makiwara.MPEG #2 - (chen tanto, kotetsu katana)
This MPEG focuses on the cutting of balanced, pre-cut targets (unpegged), using both a tanto and katana. Successful cutting of this type requires the proper application of speed and precise edge angle. Cutting unpegged, balanced target sections can be considered an example of advanced cutting practice.
The first target (A) and second target (B) are both cut using a diagonal cut, beginning from hidari jodan no gamae and using a tanto. The remaining targets are cut using the kotetsu katana. The third target (C) is cut using a twisting cross draw, assuming waki no gamae, and immediately reversing back up with migi kiriage. The fourth target (D) is successfully cut using migi yokogiri (even though the cut pieces fly out of frame!). Target number five (E) is cut using a one handed diagonal draw and cut.
[A] - tanto - hidari kesagiri. Balanced piece of Bugei makiwara (unpegged).MPEG #3 - (paul champagne katana)
MPEG number three features moderate size bamboo cutting, using various approaches and angles with a katana.
The first stalk (A) is held vertically and cut using a diagonal cut, finishing in a jodan ready position. The second (B) is held diagonally, and cut using 3 continuous diagonal cuts. Stalk number three (C) is held vertically. From a one handed jodan kamae, a rapid downward diagonal cut followed by a reversing direction with a upward diagonal cut is employed, a tactic sometimes called "tsubamegaeshi". In this case, the first cut is a feint used to raise the opponents guard so the rising cut can reach its intended target.
[A] - katana - hidari kesagiri; hidari jodan no gamae. 1.5 inch diameter vertical nihondake.MPEG #4 - (paul champagne katana)
This MPEG includes cutting multiple targets (unpegged), targets with hard Chinese bamboo cores (unpegged), and large size Japanese bamboo. These tests are advanced, and are strongly discouraged without proper instruction and/or supervision.
The first target (A) is comprised of two individual bugei makiwara, tied together side by side in two places with twine and balanced (unpegged) on a stand. These targets are cut together using a diagonal cut. Targets number two (B) and four (D) are both full rolls of tatami omote wrapped around a stalk of dense Chinese bamboo - again, balanced (unpegged) on a stand. These targets are cut with a left diagonal cut and right diagonal cut respectively.
A large, 3 inch stalk of diagonally held Japanese bamboo (C) is cut using a powerful side cut.
[A] - katana - hidari kesagiri; migi hasso no gamae. Two unpegged Bugei makiwara, bound together.MPEG #5 - (paul champagne katana)
From nukiuchi batto, continuous diagonal cuts on a single length of Japanese bamboo (eight times).
MPEG #6 - (paul champagne katana, natagama)
While tameshigiri is usually confined to using the more common edged weapons shown here, this MPEG also includes takegiri with a "natagama", a type of field hatchet. This is included merely to demonstrate that blade length and weight are not necessarily the most important considerations when cutting harder targets like bamboo.
The first target (A) is cut twice in a row using diagonal cuts. The first cut is on a balanced piece of wara, while the other is on the lower pegged piece. Next is natagama cutting on a moderate stalk of Japanese bamboo (B), using both rt and lt diagonal cuts. The last target (C) is actually the lower half of the previously cut stalk of bamboo (though a bit thicker since it is closer to the base), and is cut with a katana twice in a row using diagonal cuts.
[A] - katana- migi kesagiri batto/kesagiri makuri (2 times; one on a balanced piece of Bugei makiwara, and one on a pegged piece).Special thanks to Matthew Lynch & Emily Prior for their help in filming and processing the majority of MPEG's hosted on this site!
Respectfully,
©2000 Tsuki Kage dojo