1. Ippon me (Mae)
Sit
formally facing the front in seiza.
Slowly grip
the scabbard with the left hand while
gripping the sword handle with the right. Push the
tsuba with the left thumb until the sword is loose.
Rise on the knees,
while drawing the sword.
Raise the feet and push toes against the floor.
Drawing the
saya backwards (sayabiki) and with
the
sword sideways, with the edge to the left, complete
the draw and cut the
opponent from the left side of
the face
to the right across both eyes, just as
the right
foot steps out Left knee is on
the ground).
Advance one step
on the knee, raising the sword above
the head and complete by cutting down to within
15cm
from the floor.
Perform 'chiburi'
to shake blood off the sword and return
to scabbard. Return to the starting position.
ipponme1.WMV (163kb)
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2. Nihon me (Ushiro)
Sit facing the back of
the dojo.
Grip the sword and scabbard and turn the body
anticlockwise 180 degrees while drawing the sword.
On completing the
turn complete the draw as for
Ipponme, above.
Note that the feet will be reversed.
Complete the 'kata'
as for Ipponme.
3. Sanbon me
(Ukenagashi)
Sit in seiza
facing the right of front.
Look up to the left and rise to the knees
while drawing the sword upwards as your
opponent prepares to cut downwards from
your left.
Step out with the left foot angled to the left,
and complete the draw while raising the right
knee off the ground, and block the cut with
your sword.
Swivel the body anticlockwise to face the
opponent, right foot making a ‘T’ with the left, and cut
across the opponent’s torso from above your right shoulder
as your left foot
moves backwards.
Perform chiburi by resting blade on thigh just above
right knee and letting blood drip off.
Change grip on the right hand, and and do a reverse return
of the sword into the scabbard.
NOTE
ON CUTTING: As the front foot completes the step, in
position for the downward cut, the
cut
begins, and ends with the back leg
drawn
sharply a short way towards the
front,
absorbing the force of the cut.
NB:
For obvious reasons, the opponent is always an
IMAGNARY opponent. He/She is your
mirror image.
The‘katas’ herein are intended merely as a guide or
reminder of the basic steps to students of Iai.
Volumes could be written about each kata, and
eventually
will be.
 
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