Comments
Just some random notes taken during various sessions with instructors from
other clubs.
The following things are a reproduction and some of my own comments
on my notes from the jodo session we had when Malin K visited us on
October 24 2000. Malin trains SMR.
The first kata
The Shidachi (jo) and the Uchidachi (bokken) should be closer to
each other. The first strike with the tip of the jo should almost touch
Uchisachis belly, so the strike hits the wrist about 20-30 cm from the
tip. The second strike should hit the wrist with the same distance
from the tip, so that the tip of the jo can hit the top of the head
(don't strike the head tough, just leave enough of the jo to be able
to do it).
The third kata
When the bokken is locked after the kuri tsuke all four feet should
make a straight line. The Shidachi should make the "push away" thrust
as Uchidachi makes the second step backwards.
The fifth kata
After the initial tsuki hazushi uchi when the Shidachi starts to move
forward the feet should move in the following pattern: Left foot past
the right. Right foot past the left. Left foot past the right while
thusting towards the Uchidachis face (do not hit, don't even come
close). Then just turn the body to the right while moving the jo
close to the body into hiki otoshi no kamae (don't let the tip point
out to the side).
General
When Shidachi strikes down the sword it should not be as loud as
possible :-), rather it should be completely silent. This is achived
by making the first part of the strike (from 90 to 45 degrees) go
orthagonal to the centerline but then adjust the strike so that the jo
hits the bokken in parallel to the centerline, about 15cm from the tip
of the bokken.
When taking the jo down to tsune no kamae (horisontal on the right
side) the left hand should move along the jo until it touches the
right hand.
Random notes from the winter/spring of 2001.
Gyakute uchi, the 2nd kihon
When training this technique in pairs the usual way is for the Uchidachi to
parry with rather small movements with bent arms, always having the tip of the
sword more or less in the same place, producing a "pendlum" motion. Assar
S. introduced another way of blocking, with straigt, outstretched arms, and
the tsuba at eye height. This does not seem to be seitei or SMR, so I assume
that it has its origin in kenjutsu.
Hiki otoshi uchi, the 3rd kihon
Practice slowly, and halt just as the jo makes contact with the bokken,
and then shove the bokken to the side, close to the Uchidachis body.
It is important that the stike comes as much as possible from above, raise
the jo straight up, and close to the body.
To make the strike both quiet and powerful make sure that both arms are
straight throughout the entire strike, let the hands "lead the way".
Try to hit the
bokken with the front hand about one hands width from the bokken.
Raiuchi, the 9th kata
Mr Finn describes this kata in his book Jodo, Way of the stick, with two
thrusts to the belly, with Shidachi having his back towards the sword
during both. We felt that this was a bit strange so we swapped the order of
the thrusts so that Shidachi always faces the sword. It appears as this is
the way of SMR as well.
Back to Jodo.