[ THIS MATERIAL RETRIEVED FROM HAWAIIKENDO.COM WEBSITE, September 21, 2016 ]
SWORD HANDLING: REIHO, SAHO, TOUHO
Rev. January 2000
KATANA
• KATANA is a weapon without which a SAMURAI cannot exist, so it is carefully maintained and highly respected
• Through study of KENDO and handling KATANA, one learns to respect life; thus, there are etiquettes for handling KATANA
REIHO
• ZAREI: SEIZA, left knee down first, stand with right foot first (SAZA UKI); in formal occasions the knee further from KAMIZA down first and up last (another ref: knee towards KAMIZA down first and up last); KATANA on the right with HA inward; TSUBA at right knee; for KORYU, TSUKAGASHIRA at right knee; hands on the thigh without flairing elbows out; REI with hands down together with fingers straight and form a triangle but finger tips apart (left down first and up last for KORYU and IAI); lower rank (SHITACHI) REI first and rise later; eyes to each other
• REI to KAMIZA: KATANA is TEITO (SAGETO) on the right; REI at 30š; eyes naturally to the floor; REI to the Emperor (TENNOU) or to SHINZA (shrine) in IAI is with KATANA reversed, KISSAKI front down and HA is down
• REI to each other: 15-degrees; eyes to each other
MAIN PARTS OF KATANA
KOSHIRAE
• SAYA: KOJIRI, KURIGATA, SAGEO, KOIGUCHI
• TSUBA: HABAKI, SEPPA
• TSUKA: TSUKAGASHIRA, KASHIRAGANE, FUCHIGANE, MENUKI, MEKUGI, TSUKAMAKI, MAKIDOME
TOUSHIN
• KISSAKI: BOSHI, KOSHINOGI, YOKOTE
• HA: YAKIBA or YAIBA, HAMON, HASAKI, HAMACHI
• MINE or MUNE: MUNEMACHI, SORI
• SHINOGI: HI
• NAKAGO: MEKUGIANA, MEI
TOUHO
• TAITO: left thumb in the OBI near front center, place the KOJIRI in the OBI with right thumb on the TSUKA; insert the KATANA through the OBI (in IAI, over the HAKAMA's front HIMO to keep KATANA near horizontal) while keeping the left hand over the left hip until TSUBA is near the center front; place left thumb on the TSUBA; remove right hand
• BATTO: KOIGUCHI opened with left thumb; right hand on the TSUKA but not touching the TSUBA, draw the sword forward with HA up or slightly to the left; left hand holding the KOIGUCHI is pulled back in SAYABIKI; KAMAE with left little finger in front of MAKIDOME
• NOUTO: hold the SAYA with left middle finger around the lip of KOIGUCHI and twist clockwise (HA is outside); place the MINE near TSUBA at the crease between the left thumb and index finger; move the right hand to the right front in straight line and pull the left hand slightly back until KISSAKI is in the KOIGUCHI; resheath the KATANA into SAYA with left hand moving slightly forward to meet the KATANA; HA is up, and TSUBA is front center; place left thumb over the TSUBA; remove right hand
• DATTO: left thumb on the TSUBA, push the KATANA one fist forward; switch hands and place the right index finger on the TSUBA; pull the KATANA out of OBI with right hand while left hand is over the left hip; assume right TEITO
• Review placement of KATANA in KENDO KATA (Chapter 1)
ZEN-NIHON KENDO RENMEI (ZNKR) "SEITEI" IAI
• IAI emphasizes TOUHO, REIHO and SAHO which are important in KENDO; also common to KENDO include METSUKE, breathing, KIAI (usually silent), and ZANSHIN; it is said that KENDO and IAI are one and the same (KENKYO ICHINYO)
• Although there are many KORYU, the standard ZNKR IAI (10 forms) was created for KENDO students
• Hawai'i Kendo Federation IAI Group meets regularly; everyone is welcomed to join
IPPONME "MAE"
• REI to SHINZA (shrine) and TOUREI
• TAITO: tie SAGEO
• METSUKE (ENZAN NO METSUKE) and KOKYU
• NUKITSUKE: to the opponent's right temple with SAYABIKI
• KIRIOROSHI: FURIKABURI; HIKIGIRI; TE NO UCHI
• CHIBURI: ZANSHIN
• NOUTO
• DATTO, TOUREI, and REI to SHINZA
REFERENCES
• All Japan Kendo Federation. Shinpan: Zen Nihon Kendo Renmei Iai. (1990) Ski Journal, Tokyo
• N Shigeoka, ed. Nihon Kendo Kata. (1987) Ski Journal, Tokyo
• T Baba. Kendo Reiho to Saho. (1990) Physical Education and Sports Publishing, Tokyo
• J Tokeshi. Kendo: Hawaii Kendo Federation, Aiea Taiheiji Kendo Manual (1995)
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