Toyama Ryu Standard Cuts - Hidari Kesa 左袈裟

Falling diagonal cut to the left

Start in Seagon Kamae
Announce the name of the cut “HIDARI KESA” and raise the sword to the starting position.
- Movement should start with kissaki
- Reach out with kissaki as katana is raised overhead
- Do not change stance
Starting Position of cut
- Katana monouchi should be at about 10 degrees up. It has to be between horizontal and 45 degrees.
- Katana should be at least 6 inches above the head
- Koshira should be about 4 inches in-front of the forehead
- Koshira should be just within peripheral vision when looking forward
- Elbows should be pushed out to keep from obscuring view
- Bones in forearms should be aligned with tsuka
- Wrists should be pushed inward to “wring” the tsuka
- Keep the shoulders down and even
Making the cut
- The left hand should never move the right or left
- Start the cut with the hand moving forward (not down)
- The left hand should rotate and the right hand push up to snap the kissaki up
- Reach out with kissaki to a point as far forward as possible 6” to the right of the right foot and one feet over the head
- The kissaki should pass directly in-front at about the chest level
- The edge should be angled slightly farther down than the direction of the cut
- Stop putting energy into the cut after reaching this point
- Do not allow pad of hand to slip off the tsuka
- Let the arms relax and let the sword drop into the final position of the cut
- The kissaki should not bounce
- Do not drop the body
Finishing position of cut
- Make sure the pads of hands are still on top off the tsuka
- The right arm should be bent with the elbows at the sides
- The kissaki should be forward and level with the knee and about 6” to the left of the left foot.
- The edge should be still be angled slightly farther down than the direction of the cut
- The shoulders should be down and even
- The left hand should be directly in-front of the navel
- The right forearm should be resting on the left hand
- Moving back to starting position for the next cut
- Movement should start with kissaki
- Reach out with kissaki as katana is raised overhead
- Move the kissaki in a straight arc
- Do not change stance
\Moving back to Seagon Kamae after all cuts
- Lead the movement with the kissaki
- Move the kissaki to the center rising up at about a 45 degree angle and returning the ha to a vertical position
- Continue to raise the kissaki to throat level after reaching the center

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