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Nito-Ryu Kamae This page describes the basic kamae (ready stance) of using nito (two-sword) techniques. There are very few kendoka being taught nito techniques, so by practicing nito you'll be pushing the boundaries of modern kendo. (Nito is, after all, allowed in the rules.) Learning this technique will help free your mind from the modern kendo paradigm of one-sword thinking. So this page is an attempt to share what I've learned, check it out.. First, we'll show the primary method of weilding two swords. In picture #1 the left hand holds the shoto and the right hand holds the daito. Why is this the primary method? It's thought that because this is how the founder of Niten Ichi Ryu, Miyamoto Musashi, is shown holding his swords. But more likely it's because typically the right hand is stronger and more accurate on a person and thus better able to weild the longer diato.
The opposite kamae is shown next where the right hand holds the shoto and the left and holds the diato. Naturally this allows you to better weild the shoto for accuracy and strength of holding down your opponent's sword, however, there are some disadvantages with holding the diato in your left hand. Typically that hand is weaker and less accurate.
There is no overall reason to choose on stance or the other. Don't let anyone force you into using one or the other. Try both and train with the one that you feel suits you the best. Next, I'll comment a bit on footwork. I've had many questions asking about the proper use of footwork in nito. You'll find the footwork more free when using two swords. Whichever worked best for you in itto will probably work best for you in nito as well. In picture #3 the typical posture is shown where the right foot is forward. You should be fairly comfortable with this stance from itto kendo. In picture #4 the left foot is forward. This is like the jodan position in itto kendo and provides a good solid launching base for your strikes with the diato. This can give you a bit more reach. And it a bit easier to guard against tsuki attacks.
Picture #5 is a rather unusual method. Your left foot is foward with your left hand forward. This serves to put the shoto in the primary striking position. Most kendoka will not be accustomed to this position being used against them and once you become comfortable with it you will be able to surprise your opponent. Picture #6 shows the safest method, like #4 but with the shoto in the other hand. This gives you considerable striking power and also is more protective against tsuki attacks.
Next I'll illustrate different methods of holding the shinai. There are opinions about each of the methods shown here. "If I'm using two swords wouldn't I hold my diato at the pommel like I would in jodan normally?" This makes some sense because your rear hand is where the striking speed and power comes from. But it leaves you with a bit less control, but again there is further reach. The idea here is trying not to be limited in your choice of grip. In picture 7 I show the distant grip, as you would normally take in itto with the left hand. This gives to extra range, however, is a bit more difficult to recover from after a strike. And tends to be less accruate. Photograph 8 is about it has the brim origin conversely. Amount and the colorful skill where the tip is light by the fact that it has the brim origin can this having put out. In addition, from the fact that it has hidden with the handle, it is possible to prevent the attack to the gauntlet. But, the large sword which is only barely total length 114 cm, leaving petiole 20 cm rank, it is ready, you must strike with super Chikama, the risk is shouldered. That much, to enter into bosom, it to be possible, it can also aim for the gauntlet, but it made ゴチャゴチャ, "it is defeated and is not but it is tend to become the kendo that it is not possible also the thing which wins". Presently I have used photograph 9, (it has) at the place, exactly it is around per center of the handle. This is easy to have while I experience, 1st, in addition feels that it is easy to attack, hitting protruding to do to be easy about. It is only-too-natural thing, but it holds also the merit of the above-mentioned two, but also defect has. The return torso does not come out the bamboo sword and/or when, surface striking from between does not reach distantly, it was but, quickly reacting, it returns, if it attacked from between distantly and entered and it did the thing such that hitting protruding it does, it could clear. Copying * it is the point of caution at the place, but, the person who has the brim origin does, that way being to be necessary, but the person who has the handle head in regard to the brim competition and the person who has the central amount of the handle will have the brim origin. Because interval is close, in that way state being not to be able to put out skill, it does. And after dividing, in addition will try to reset to the origin.
It is method of being ready lastly, but like photograph 10 the true っ of sublevel immediately sometimes it can discover the person who has become remainder and this way which are conscious of the posture. When the excessively true っ immediately saying you are conscious too much with two swords, like the photograph the gauntlet has been less crowded, the elbow it extends, as with the photograph the far impression is difficult the clamp to that, protected the center with Kodati it is visible, but to tell the truth becomes "it pierces" because it is short and others being less crowded from above. If with the attack point, when holding down the bamboo sword of the partner, because it is easy to be connected to the thing which, is difficult to insert the weight of the body, is possible, like photograph 11 it is ready Kodati a little, slantedly it thinks relaxing comfortably, the elbow that it is important to be ready.
Method of pulling out the bamboo sword and method of supplying are sort of animated picture under. Animated picture is the opposite two swords, but also the correct two swords are the same pulling out and method of supplying. When pulling out, to pull out the bamboo sword which it has in the left hand first, after being able to give in the left hand, it pulls out the bamboo sword which with the right hand it has next on the right. Method of supplying does the thing of opposite. Originally is, three steps it enters from interval of nine steps entering the tournament place, it has meant after that to pull out the bamboo sword, but when it does that, two being to be, being late by any means, you put away. With present rule it is good thing, but doing gratitude, while three steps entering, when it starts pulling out, perhaps it is good. Because two it is, saying, in order being ready to be late from the partner, the tournament is already defeated and it is game. In order there are no times when it is late to the partner, in order also for method of pulling out and method of supplying to become smooth, you think that should practice.
Batto - video211.avi Noto - video2111.avi PostscriptAs for the opposite two swords to the correct two swords because the gauntlet which by his has put out before becomes opposite, when striking the gauntlet of the partner, the selfishness is different a little. Please look at photograph 12. This it is about the gauntlet of the partner is struck from the opposite two swords, but being the opposite two swords the large sword gauntlet side of the partner (the right side) to rub with Kodati being it is, shake the large sword that way and should have lowered, it does, but like photograph 13 when striking the gauntlet from the correct two swords, the right arm and the left arm (Kodati the large sword) must cross. That much, it is the case that it is difficult to strike, but there is also an advantage. Photograph 14 is about the gauntlet vis-a-vis the opposite two swords is struck. Producing the right hand before, when it strikes the gauntlet, vis-a-vis amount and the usual sublevel which it has been ready what without changing, to go to striking it is possible the opposite two swords, but like photograph 15 the gauntlet for the correct two swords being to be opposite to the usual gauntlet, not being accustomed and, after striking, being to be difficult to move to defense, seems that is many a thing which is sidestepped. You mentioned earlier, but the correct two swords are easy to be popular being the right hand, being about by the fact that it shakes the aspect and the aim of muscular strength to be difficult to come off, is, but this way there are also times when it is difficult to attach to the body. But, when you can realize, it becomes very threat even with the person who has been accustomed to the practice of two swords probably will be.
Original page (in japanese): http://www6.vc-net.ne.jp/~isiyosi/kamaekata.htm |