Toyama Ryu Standard Cuts - Jōdan 上段

High vertical cut - right hand ends level with shoulder

Start in Seagon Kamae
Announce the name of the cut “JŌDAN” 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 katana 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 forward and one feet over the head
- 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 fully extended
- The top of the right hand should be level with the top of the shoulder
- Kissaki should be above head and not stretched forward
- The shoulders should be down and even
Moving back to starting position for the next cut
- Movement should start with kissaki
- Reach out with kissaki as katana is raised overhead
- Do not change stance

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