I will not say you are wrong, sir, but I will say that in iaido, which I practice, the sword stroke is made by curling the pinky and ring fingers of the left hand around the tsuka. If your left hand is hung off of the end like that, where does the power of your stroke come from? I ask not to correct, but simply out of curiosity towards other ryu-ha. Origato gozaimasu.
During the time of the samurai everyone was right handed. If a child was left handed the right hand would be tied behind the child's back. And the child would be forced to learn to be right handed. This was done for uniformity.
I'm finding more and more... if it's not a traditional sword art, from Japan (aka, Koryu Kenjutsu/Iaijutsu/Battojutsu), or a modern representation (Kendo/Iaido)... don't listen to them. They don't know anything about the Japanese Sword. This man, while he means well, is misleading.
can someone tell me his name?he said it in the beggining but i cant figure it out. he seems to be the only guy in youtube who knows what he is talking about
@kempobrad - you have been taught correctly, unlike the chap in the video. He seems like a genuine and nice guy, but he has not been taught sword correctly.
Have you been taught privately by a master, or collectively in a group?
@joejimipac112742 it's "Domo Arigato" thank you very much, politely. "Arigatogozaimasu" thank you for something you are doing or going to do. "Arigatougozaimashita" thank you for something you have done. Among close friends want want to say thank you for passing popcorn you mumble incoherently ending with "mashita". Thanks for joining the group just say "domo". In this case to thank sensei for what he just taught you say "Domo Arigatougozaimashita".
So basically, because I'm left-handed, I would have to learn right-handed in class, then retrain my left side in my free time? Good to know both ways I suppose, but there won't be that level of 'corrective training' as there will be in class.
Why can't the just put the left-handers off in the back corner?
@sandman0077 No...he is incorrect. It's not tradition. It's because Japanese are biased against left handed people. You would have to learn right hand only. I don't do kenjutsu...I study Iaido...so I at least know something about it.
@sandman0077 well miyamoto musashi says everyone should study both hands and be equally skilled in both hands which is why I practice with both hands.
just had a swing with my iaito in the garden using the grip you advised. worked a treat. i used to hold it right up by the tsuba and the way you suggested makes cutting so much easier.
Nicely explained , thank you very much. I second your comments about the hands being apart when holding the sword. My sensei also emphasized it, calling it the "courtesy grip " ..because from an aikido standpoint, nage grabs that space in order to throw>> irimi nage.. In Aikido, we do all techniques from left and right, uchi , and soto ( inside and outside ). I had taken some classes in a "jujitsu" school and they only taught from the rightside...utter nonsense.
great video, regarding the right vs left issue in some eurpoean fencing schools the preference for the right side, it's due to the heart location, as handling the sword with it gives more distance... greetings from Yoseikan aikido south america.
VERY well explained, sir! Fighting a lefty definitely complicates things. When everyone's learning, it makes a lot of sense to cut out the variables by making everyone learn originally from the same hand. Then the technique can be applied "backwards."
i appreciate these videos, i wold like to see more if possible because i'm currently purchasseig my first bokken and don't have money for the instructors and all that stuff, so i'm just doing it with my buddies
it is also important to discuss that a sword to sword clash=impact is not correct, it is always right to say that Japanese Kenjutsu relies in deflections and redirections, and not sword to sword clash.
Sensei you should not make your videos so long. The reason that they use their right hand is because they beleaved that the left hand was the devils hand.
This is the best video I have found yet for anything related to swordsmanship. Thanks! I hope to learn kenjutsu, so this is really helpful.
SilentKnight1337 2 days ago
Very good - Thank you for your knowledge :D
HOBBL3 3 months ago
I will not say you are wrong, sir, but I will say that in iaido, which I practice, the sword stroke is made by curling the pinky and ring fingers of the left hand around the tsuka. If your left hand is hung off of the end like that, where does the power of your stroke come from? I ask not to correct, but simply out of curiosity towards other ryu-ha. Origato gozaimasu.
iamnoman85 5 months ago 2
Very good. I personally prefer the niten'ichi sword style.
JeremiahPendleton 5 months ago
how short is ur katanas tsuka?
kagetora7tsukiyo 5 months ago
no thank ypu.
ededdandtwiztid 6 months ago
During the time of the samurai everyone was right handed. If a child was left handed the right hand would be tied behind the child's back. And the child would be forced to learn to be right handed. This was done for uniformity.
xxmrbrooksxx 7 months ago
I'm finding more and more... if it's not a traditional sword art, from Japan (aka, Koryu Kenjutsu/Iaijutsu/Battojutsu), or a modern representation (Kendo/Iaido)... don't listen to them. They don't know anything about the Japanese Sword. This man, while he means well, is misleading.
BarefootZenMan 7 months ago 2
anyone know of any good kenjutsu schools in southern california ?
djrollzz 11 months ago
@djrollzz siuo ryu is the only legitimate iai/kenjitsu school i know in the area
alohaeast120589 2 weeks ago
You're either taking it on the side, or rolling the blade to the side as impact is made. Not a bad little video explaining things in a basic concept.
OMFGHUGEWOLF 1 year ago
can someone tell me his name?he said it in the beggining but i cant figure it out. he seems to be the only guy in youtube who knows what he is talking about
ninjastel 1 year ago
@kempobrad - you have been taught correctly, unlike the chap in the video. He seems like a genuine and nice guy, but he has not been taught sword correctly.
Have you been taught privately by a master, or collectively in a group?
sachifre 1 year ago
@joejimipac112742 it's "Domo Arigato" thank you very much, politely. "Arigatogozaimasu" thank you for something you are doing or going to do. "Arigatougozaimashita" thank you for something you have done. Among close friends want want to say thank you for passing popcorn you mumble incoherently ending with "mashita". Thanks for joining the group just say "domo". In this case to thank sensei for what he just taught you say "Domo Arigatougozaimashita".
nhaluta 1 year ago
So basically, because I'm left-handed, I would have to learn right-handed in class, then retrain my left side in my free time? Good to know both ways I suppose, but there won't be that level of 'corrective training' as there will be in class.
Why can't the just put the left-handers off in the back corner?
sandman0077 1 year ago
@sandman0077 No...he is incorrect. It's not tradition. It's because Japanese are biased against left handed people. You would have to learn right hand only. I don't do kenjutsu...I study Iaido...so I at least know something about it.
ronin2167 11 months ago
@sandman0077 well miyamoto musashi says everyone should study both hands and be equally skilled in both hands which is why I practice with both hands.
serenadesilhout 10 months ago
@serenadesilhout unless your sword is too heavy.
maxgunn555 9 months ago
@maxgunn555 practice makes it lighter every day
serenadesilhout 9 months ago
i've read from forums that learning from videos is different from learning in person. can anyone enlighten me with this?
russelkeith 1 year ago
domo arigatou gozimas(i'm not good with phonetics:/ )
itachisan1993 1 year ago
@itachisan1993 It's "domo arigato gozaimasu"
JoeJimipac112742 1 year ago
Very nice video. Thank you! :)
KidFoxxx 1 year ago
just had a swing with my iaito in the garden using the grip you advised. worked a treat. i used to hold it right up by the tsuba and the way you suggested makes cutting so much easier.
thanks very much from a very happy iaidoka!
Ranger4220 1 year ago
spoken like a true master.
mastershake704 1 year ago
wow, i actually never thought about that blocking matter.
Actually kind of scary to think of a sword snapping.
kintoki 1 year ago
Nicely explained , thank you very much. I second your comments about the hands being apart when holding the sword. My sensei also emphasized it, calling it the "courtesy grip " ..because from an aikido standpoint, nage grabs that space in order to throw>> irimi nage.. In Aikido, we do all techniques from left and right, uchi , and soto ( inside and outside ). I had taken some classes in a "jujitsu" school and they only taught from the rightside...utter nonsense.
dojomania 1 year ago
Domo Arigato, I love studying Kenjutsu techniques! I appreciate this video
Vadion12 1 year ago
great video. i liked the part about the right and left handed users. im lefty :)
ionfreak93 1 year ago
great video, regarding the right vs left issue in some eurpoean fencing schools the preference for the right side, it's due to the heart location, as handling the sword with it gives more distance... greetings from Yoseikan aikido south america.
mitsourugi 2 years ago
Nice and clear. Good video.
Mantinae 2 years ago
VERY well explained, sir! Fighting a lefty definitely complicates things. When everyone's learning, it makes a lot of sense to cut out the variables by making everyone learn originally from the same hand. Then the technique can be applied "backwards."
dasgregorian 2 years ago
I need to find schools in Virginia!!
mkkraze 2 years ago
I need to find schools in virginia beach!!!!!! but there aren't any!!!!!
parkour2693 2 years ago
@mkkraze if you find any, PLZ let me know lol.. ^^
DonZaloog88 2 years ago
i appreciate these videos, i wold like to see more if possible because i'm currently purchasseig my first bokken and don't have money for the instructors and all that stuff, so i'm just doing it with my buddies
norbert009 2 years ago
thanks for uploading :)
YinYas92 2 years ago
hmm...everything on your right hand.......not for me
cloud86735 2 years ago
i was taught the handle lies diagonally across your palms, and you grip it only with the last 3 fingers, which allows your index finger to...index.
kempobrad 2 years ago
on the right handed thing....its simple numbers as well....95% of the worlds population is right handed.
kempobrad 2 years ago
Very well done. Kudos. You seem legitimate.
XXNerdzillaXX 2 years ago
Arigatou sensei !!
SephyCFC 2 years ago 12
thankyou so much is very useful to me very good explanation!!
ninjastorm6 3 years ago
it is also important to discuss that a sword to sword clash=impact is not correct, it is always right to say that Japanese Kenjutsu relies in deflections and redirections, and not sword to sword clash.
stephen182006 3 years ago
Kinda sounds like the principles of jujitsu.
Ironhand09 2 years ago
i like, totally, love ur videos or somt?:D
lelalelilelu 3 years ago
Sensei you should not make your videos so long. The reason that they use their right hand is because they beleaved that the left hand was the devils hand.
HoShinRyuMaster 3 years ago 2
lol @ 4:32 I thaught the camera would have been cut in half
supadox 3 years ago 8
Great video Steven, very interesting and informative. I'm looking forward to following the whole series
belisariusorb 3 years ago
Did you just referenced to an Anime when discussing Japan's martial history?
MuMuLi 3 years ago
@MuMuLi Saito Hajime was a real person, but he may referencing to the anime, idk.
hakareshi 1 year ago
@hakareshi good to see that someone else besides me actually knows that
Vadion12 1 year ago
I agree with you on left handedness Saito Hajime of the Shinsengumi was left handed.
MetalThor777 3 years ago