Sword training is a matter of solo practice, paired practice, and forms. Paired practice allows us to learn and practice individual skills. As we train with both the bokken (wooden sword) and shinai (bamboo sword), our paired practice focuses on skills pertinent to each.
Bokken Skills
- Uke (receiving an attack)
- Uke Osae (receiving and suppressing)
- Uke Osae Nagashi (receiving, suppressing, and evading)
- Maki Osae (roll and suppress)
- Maki Otoshi (roll down)
- Maki Kaeshi (roll and reverse)
- Hari (slap)
- Nuki Jodan (evade, pulling back)
- Nuki Chudan (evade, dropping down)
- Suri Age (sliding up)
- Hazushi (evade by drawing out the attack)
- Tsuki Nagashi (parrying a thrust)
Shinai Skills
- Harai (sweeping strikes)
- Hajiki Age (blocking upward)
- Hajiki Kaeshi (block and reverse)
- Hajiki Nagashi (block and flow)
- Gasshi Uchi (simultaneous strikes)
- Uchi Otoshi and Suke Uchi (striking down and slicing the wrist)