Toyama Ryu Standard Cuts - Hidari Kesa / Gyaku Kesa 左袈裟 /逆袈裟

Falling diagonal cut to the left followed by reverse diagonal cut

Start in Migi Seagon Kamae
Switch the forward foot
- Step up with the right foot and back with the left foot
- Maintain position
Announce the name of the cut “HIDARI KESA GYAKU 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 first cut
- The left hand should never move the right or left
- Start the cut with the hands 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 the first 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
Moving back to starting position of the second cut
- Rotate the body to the right keeping the torso straight
- The shoulders should be kept level
- The kissaki is kept at the height of the knee as the katana is shifted to the rear using the right hand
- The left hand is kept directly in-front of the navel
- The kissaki should be about 6” to the left of the left foot
- The ha should be pointed downward and slightly forward (to the left)
Making the second cut
- The left hand is kept directly in-front of the navel
- Start the cut with the body starting to rotate clock-wise
- The left hand should rotate and the right hand push down to snap the kissaki forward
- Reach out with kissaki to a point as far forward as possible 6” to the left of the left foot and at the height of the knee
- The kissaki should pass directly in-front at about the chest level
- The edge should be angled slightly farther up than the direction of the cut
- Stop putting energy into the cut after reaching this point
- Try to keep the pad of hands on the tsuka
- Let the arms relax and let the sword continue up into the final position of the cut
- The kissaki should not bounce
- Do not raise the body
Finishing position of the second cut
- The kissaki should be as far forward as possible, about 6” above the head, and about 6” to the right of the right foot.
- The monouchi should be horizontal and the katana pointed forward
- The edge should be still be angled slightly farther up than the direction of the cut
- The hands should be above the head
- The shoulders should be down and even
- The left hand should be directly in-front of the navel
- The torso should be rotated to the right
- The back should be straight
Moving back to starting position for the next cut
- Keep the kissaki at the same level
- Move the hands is a straight line
- Rotate the katana is a clockwise arc
- Rotate the torso
- All movement should occur at the same time
- The back should be kept straight
- The shoulders should be kept down and level
Moving back to Seagon Kamae after all cuts
- Move back to the starting position for the next cut
- Make a slow motion chudan cut
- The back should be kept straight
- The shoulders should be kept down and level

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