Shii-Cho Basic strike tutorial.

[Kreyopresny]

Great videos, very informative and easy to follow.

This is very similar to the early Iaido katas I was taught, where you would lead with the Djem So as your draw cut, and then finish with the overhead strike. Main difference is they were done kneeling, but you see similar ideas with the footwork and the way the blade is pointed. My big questions are these:

1. Why drop the blade all the way back on the Sai strikes?
2. Why the flick on the Djem So? It seems a poor economy of movement.

Thanks in advance, hoping to learn.

[Tanq]

Great videos, very informative and easy to follow.

This is very similar to the early Iaido katas I was taught, where you would lead with the Djem So as your draw cut, and then finish with the overhead strike. Main difference is they were done kneeling, but you see similar ideas with the footwork and the way the blade is pointed. My big questions are these:

1. Why drop the blade all the way back on the Sai strikes?
2. Why the flick on the Djem So? It seems a poor economy of movement.

Thanks in advance, hoping to learn.

I have a background in iai, so I think I can kind of help you...sorry guys for delving into alien lingo.

I'm assuming you're referring to the seitei iai set by which you are referring to the seiza kata like mae and ushiro. On the surface the sai cha in Shii-cho (beheading, or cleaving zone 1 from zone 4), which is what I'm guessing you're referring to as Djem So, looks like the nukutsuke in mae, but the mechanics are a bit different even if they grossly look the same. The target for the nukutsuke is to cut across the opponent's eyes and uses the body in a different way than in sai cha. Instead, think of the yokogiri (horizontal cut) that's the 2nd to last cut in #11, sougiri, except it's aimed at the neck instead of across the belly (which would be a sai tok in Shii-cho). How you use your fingers/hands in conjunction with your arms/hips is *slightly* different based on the fact that the cutting arc is wider with the yokogiri.

So tl;dr - Sai cha looks similar to a draw cut in that the general trajectory is the same, but I think there are subtle differences in how you employ your body.

As for the other questions:
1. I also struggled with this initially because it's such a major no-no in kenjutsu and iai, but I've seen this kind of cut before in longsword, where it's known as a Zornhau. Basically, you're making a fully dedicated swing with your entire body behind it and letting the blade follow through the entire trajectory - naturally you end up in the tail guard position.
2. Sorry can't help you with this one, I was kind of curious about this, too, but I understand the principle being demonstrated (not the flick, the cut).

[Kreyopresny]

I'm assuming you're referring to the seitei iai set by which you are referring to the seiza kata like mae and ushiro. On the surface the sai cha in Shii-cho (beheading, or cleaving zone 1 from zone 4), which is what I'm guessing you're referring to as Djem So, looks like the nukutsuke in mae, but the mechanics are a bit different even if they grossly look the same. The target for the nukutsuke is to cut across the opponent's eyes and uses the body in a different way than in sai cha. Instead, think of the yokogiri (horizontal cut) that's the 2nd to last cut in #11, sougiri, except it's aimed at the neck instead of across the belly (which would be a sai tok in Shii-cho). How you use your fingers/hands in conjunction with your arms/hips is *slightly* different based on the fact that the cutting arc is wider with the yokogiri.

Yes, I was referring exactly to a nukutsuke cut, now that you mention it though, it does make more sense. Really I was just commenting on the similarity between this beginning saber form and the beginning iai kata.

As to my questions, thanks for the help on the first one, it just felt... wrong from my experience... Still wondering about that second one. Is the flick meant as a block? Used like a jab in boxing to keep the opponent back? I can't imagine it's there for no reason, so I'm just wondering what that is.

[Tanq]

Yes, I was referring exactly to a nukutsuke cut, now that you mention it though, it does make more sense. Really I was just commenting on the similarity between this beginning saber form and the beginning iai kata.

As to my questions, thanks for the help on the first one, it just felt... wrong from my experience... Still wondering about that second one. Is the flick meant as a block? Used like a jab in boxing to keep the opponent back? I can't imagine it's there for no reason, so I'm just wondering what that is.

Oh, now that I actually sat down and looked at it again, I think that first "flick" may be part of the sun djem though I could be wrong. There's a similar (in principle) movement in the jo kata called seigan...based on the timing you can displace the blade, go for the hilt itself, or if you feel like a stinker you can completely disarm the opponent if you put your whole body behind the deflect. Of course, the sun djem and sai cha could all be in one cut, too...

Just my guess.

[Darth Nonymous]

Oh, now that I actually sat down and looked at it again, I think that first "flick" may be part of the sun djem though I could be wrong. There's a similar (in principle) movement in the jo kata called seigan...based on the timing you can displace the blade, go for the hilt itself, or if you feel like a stinker you can completely disarm the opponent if you put your whole body behind the deflect. Of course, the sun djem and sai cha could all be in one cut, too...

Just my guess.

That is correct. The :flick" is the sun djem or "disarming slash". in more practical terms it is a covering parry placing you on top of your opponents weapon and with a clear line to their neck and head.