Bokken Parts

Tsuka
handle of the bokken
Kissaki
tip of the bokken
Tsuba
handguard that is sometimes slipped over the bokken
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Bokken Stances

Seigan-no-kamae / Chudan-no-kamae
Right hanmi with the bokken in both hands directly in front and on the centerline of the body. Weight is centered evenly over both feet and both hands are near the level of your navel. The left hand is on the butt end of the bokken about one fist width away from your body. The blade is tilted slightly to the right to take advantage of the natural curvature of the blade. The kissaki is at your opponent's throat. Look directly to the front.
Jodan-no-kamae
Stand in right or left hanmi and raise your arms until your left hand is in front of your forehead. Your hands are above your eyes and your elbows are out to afford vision to the front. The kissaki is directly above your head to protect those behind you. Your weight is slightly forward.
Gedan-no-kamae
Lower the kissaki from chudan-no-kamae, but be ready to raise it at any time. This provides an opening for your opponent to attack. Be ready to step off the line of attack by keeping your weight evenly distributed on both feet.
Hasso-no-kamae
Stand in left hanmi, eyes to the front, weight evenly distributed. The bokken is raised vertically with the hands at the levels of your left chest and left shoulder. The tsubo is at the level of your mouth.
Waki-no-kamae
Left hanmi bokken lowered on the right hand side.
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Bokken Suburi

Shomenuchi
The sword is raised overhead as you step back with the right foot. The sword is brought down in exactly a vertical line. Strike to the head with good focus then slowly subside to chudan-no-kamae.
Shomenuchi
Same as above but slide step forward while striking. Slide step back again after subsiding.
Yokomenuchi
Move the left foot off the line of attack. Do this for both with the right foot stepping and without.
Gyaku Yokomenuchi
Kirigaeshi
Alternate left and right yokomen
Shomenuchi front and back
Step forward strike pivot repeat
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Bokken Tai Sabaki

Shomenuchi
Yokomenuchi
Tsuki
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Unarmed defenses against bokken (tachidori)

Shomenuchi kokyunage
Shomenuchi kotegaeshi
Shomenuchi tenkan kokunage
Yokomenuchi shihonage
Yokomenuchi ikkyo
Tsuki
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Bokken Forms (kengi)

First Aiki kengi

Facing north initially (n,s, etc. indicate ending direction)
  1. shomenuchi (n)
  2. step through and tsuki (n)
  3. pivot right 180° shomenuchi (s)
  4. tsuki with slide step (s)
  5. turn left 90° shomenuchi (e)
  6. tsuki with slide step (e)
  7. pivot right 180° shomenuchi (w)
  8. tsuki with slide step (w)
  9. turn left 45°, step through with left foot and shomenuchi (se) then 180° pivot right (nw)
  10. shomenuchi, then pivot left 90° (ne)
  11. shomenuchi 180° pivot right (sw)
  12. shomenuchi (sw)
  13. keep bokken horizontal and turn to the right 495°. Then step back with the right foot into jodan-no kamae, then step back with left foot and raise bokken into seigan-no-kamae. (n)

 

Aiki kengi #2

Originated by K. Tohei, refined by R. Kobayashi.

Facing north initially (n,s, etc. indicate ending direction)

  1. Slide off line of attack and raise bokken with U motion (n)
  2. step through and strike opponent's right wrist (n)
  3. step through and strike opponent's left shoulder (n)
  4. step through and strike opponent's right shoulder (n)
  5. pivot right 180° shomenuchi to forehead (s)
  6. slide forward to thrust to opponent's throat (s)
  7. pivot right 180° shomenuchi to forehead (n)
  8. slide forward to thrust to opponent's throat (n)
  9. leap through, yokomenuchi to left side of opponent's head, immediately turn 180° (s)
  10. repeat last step (n)
  11. bokken horizontal, thrust forward (n)
  12. step through and strike opponent's left shoulder (n)
  13. turn 180° to right then raise sword step back with right foot. Then step back with leftfoot and return to seigan (n)

 

Aiki Kengi 3

by R. Kobayashi.

Facing north initially (n,s, etc. indicate ending direction)

  1. shomen (n)
  2. tsuki with slide step (n)
  3. reverse yokomen with step (n)
  4. 180° turn right strike shomen (s)
  5. tsuki with step through (s)
  6. 45° turn to left yokomen strike (se)
  7. lift bokken blade up into upper jo-like ready position (se)
  8. kesa-gakae bounce up and into . . . (se)
  9. another kesa-gakae by turning 135° to the right (w)
  10. turn 45° to left and be in chudan-no-kamae (sw)
  11. slit opponent's throat, 225° to right, jodan-no-kamae (e)
  12. shomen (e)
  13. 45° right, reverse kesa-gakae, step with left foot (se)
  14. kesa-gakae look to nw (se)
  15. turn 180° to left, strike yokomen (nw)
  16. reverse yokomen (nw)
  17. ski look to se (nw)
  18. turn 180° to right chudan-no-kamae (se)
  19. turn 90° left lifting blade into high guard (ne)
  20. reverse yokomen (ne)
  21. strike yokomen, udefuri-choyaku-undo 180° to left (sw)
  22. lift into high guard and (s)
  23. reverse yokomen (sw)
  24. yokomen and bounce into . . . (sw)
  25. 180° turn to left and then do the zig-zag cut (ne)

 

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Bokken/Bokken (kumitachi)

Kumitachi

The kumitachi came originally from an old sword school. They were modified to include the concept of Aiki by the Founder, Professor Morihei Ueshiba, who left them as a legacy.

There are many possible variations of the kumitachi. The Founder, when he taught, called these first attack and second attack variations. These variations are naturally used with the ken but are soon adapted to taijutsu. Consequently, the kumitachi are considered to be the personality of ken, jo, and taijutsu basic techniques. If one does not have a good understanding of suburi, it will be useless to practice the kumitachi. If practice is done everyday on the kumitachi and partner practices, stability of the hips will not be attained, and an important point of practice will be missed. Therefore begin each practice session with the suburi as shown in Volume I. Uchitachi (Attacker) and Uketachi (Defender)

The kumitachi are not to be considered competition. They are practices, and the partners do not vie for an attacking or superior position. It was said that one should be uchitachi for 10 years before being allowed to become uketachi. It was felt that this was the proper way to learn.

Morihiro Saito

 

First kumitachi

Uketachi Uchitachi
Chudan no kamae Chudan no kamae
Jodan no kamae, right foot back  
  Slide step forward, then lower tip
Shomen cut with step (kiai) Cut obliquely up, bokken point to uke's chest, step out with the left foot and bring up the right
  Gyaku yokomen
Guard (keep elbows close), right foot back, tsuki  
  Right yokomen (kiai)
Defend by cutting down. Settle the hips, tsuki attitude, left foot back  

As written in Saito's book.

Uketachi Uchitachi
1. Right hanmi Right hanmi
2. Raise ken above head
3-4. Take one step back with left foot and strike down
Cut obliquely up,extend the ken point to uke's chest, step out with the left foot and bring up the right.
5.
6. Defend by adopting the attitude of tsuki.
Step forward with the left foot and strike.
7-9. Defend by cutting down. Settle the hips and adopt the attitude of a tsuki. Strike again with renzoku uchikomi
 

 

Second kumitachi

Uketachi Uchitachi
Chudan no kamae Chudan no kamae
Jodan no kamae, right foot back  
  Slide step forward
Right yokomen with step (kiai)  
  Guard
Gyaku Yokomen  
  Guard, then tsuki without step (kiai)
Guard  

Of course Saito's description bears no resemblance.

Uketachi Uchitachi
1. Right hanmi Right hanmi
2. During blending of ki, raise the bokken overhead same as uketachi
3-4. Defend by moving into hitoemi with the left foot aim at the opponent's leg and strike down
5. Intending to cut the opponent's wrist, raise the ken.
6. step back with the right foot, adopt hitoemi, parry his thrust, and aim the bokken point at his throat
Follow uke's ken briskly from below as if raised and thrust with the left foot forward.
7. Follow with a trust stepping with right foot
8.
9. Defend by stepping back with the left foot.
Uchikomi. (Do not let the body cant at this time).
10. Hold the opponent's ken wodn with your own  
11.
12. When the thrust comes, step back with right foot and adopt an attitude of tsuki.
Do not resist uke's bokken, pass your bokken under and thrust stepping forward with the left foot.
13. step off to the right parry the thrust
14-15. Defend as if cutting down with the bokken. (In practice step back with the left foot.) Finally, strike with a shomenuchi,
 

 

Third kumitachi

Uketachi Uchitachi
Chudan no kamae Chudan no kamae
Gyaku Yokomen  
  Guard
Low yokomen  
  Guard low
  Flip bokken up and tsuki (no step)
Guard  

Of course Saito's description bears no resemblance.

Uketachi Uchitachi
1. Right hanmi Right hanmi
2. Hold opponent's bokken down lightly
3.
Flow with uke's movement.
4.
5. Defend by stepping back with the right foot.
6. Point your bokken at opponent's centr line.
Step forward with the left foot to the left and respond with an uchi komi.
8-11. Defend in the position of hito e mi. Strike again with renzoku uchikomi
 

 

Fourth kumitachi

Uketachi Uchitachi
Chudan no kamae Chudan no kamae
Slide step tsuki  
  Step off the line and slap bokken down
Retreat  
Step through and tsuki  
  Guard, then push back to jodan
  Yokomen
  Guard

Surprisingly, Saito's description follows until the last exchange.

Uketachi Uchitachi
1. Right hanmi Right hanmi
2-3. Step forward on the right foot and tsuki. Move the left foot into the position of hito e mi. Do a thrust
4-5. Hold your opponent's bokken down.  
6-7. Stand in left hanmi and defend with a tsuki. Without resisting, flow with uke's movement, bring the bokken around up from below and thrust (left hanmi)
8-11. Step back with the left foot, defend as if cutting down, and adopt the attitude of a tsuki. Parry his thrust and do an uchikomi
 

 

Fifth kumitachi

Uketachi Uchitachi
Chudan no kamae Chudan no kamae
Jodan no kamae, right foot back  
  Slide step forward, then lower tip
Shomen cut with step (kiai) Cut obliquely up, bokken point to uke's chest, step out with the left foot and bring up the right
  Gyaku yokomen
Guard (keep elbows close), right foot back, tsuki  
  Right yokomen (kiai)
Guard high  
Rotate clockwise Rotate clockwise
Low yokomen  
  Guard
  High yokomen
Guard  

Saito's description is not too dissimilar.

Uketachi Uchitachi
1. Right hanmi Right hanmi
2-4. Step widely to the left with the left foot and strike down Shomen uchi komi
5.
6.
Turn the body into left hanmi and defend.
7-8. Defend by stepping back with the left foot. Uchi komi.
9-10. Raise opponent's bokken and move forward to grasp hi bokken.  
11-12. Move into left hanmi. Do not grasp his bokken but flow moving to the opponent's back and strike his leg.
13-14. Defend by stepping back with the left foot. Uchi komi.
 

 

Sixth kumitachi --- Ki Musubi no Tachi

Saito's description.

Uketachi Uchitachi
2-3. Blending ki, raise the bokken up over the head breathing in deeply. Same movement as uke
4-5. Lower bokken to your right side Same movement as uke
6-7. Step forward with the right foot and strike with shomen uchi. (Be sure to strike down fully.) Shomen uchi komi
8. Thrust as the opponent raises his bokken.
9. Make a flowing strike to the left. Point the bokken at your opponent for a thrust.
Shomen uchi komi.
11-12. From below, control your opponent's wrist. In preparation for another strike, raise the bokken up ove the head.
13. Return to initial stance. Return to initial stance.
 

 

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