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What I was talking about was this... I was taught this weekend about the series of movements for bringing down at sword cut in shomenuchi, and it completely changed my thoughts on weapons cutting.
Specifically, when I had brought the sword up in the past, I had either brought it to the top of my head with the blade standing almost straight up (to keep an eye out for those behind me), or what I had thought was correct in that the tsuba was flat, and the blade mostly horizontal.
In all of this, most of the motion was from my wrist and shoulder.
So what I have been taught this weekend was that I need to bring the tsuba of the blade up higher, to let the grip of my left hands little fingers relax, and let the blade lean down at an angle somewhat, while thrusting the tsuba high.
Then, when I cut, there is a clear sequence of movements.
Left pinky contracts
Left ring finger contracts
...
Left thumb contracts
Left wrist drops and extends
Left elbow drops and extends
Left shoulder arm drops through and out of shoulders
Likewise with the right hand.
So what I'm saying is that I didn't realize that the left pinky finger starts the cut. I had been keeping a solid grip throughout, and so ruining the motion.
Keep in mind that this is something I need to think about more, and to work more into my cutting.... In addition, this has many implications for jo practice as well.
I may not be expressing this correctly, and it may be that next week's class will bring more surprises, or kill today's understandings.