Bokken symmetry

I do everything left and right, and have a set of one-handed stuff I do - of course, left and right .How could it be any other way in Aikido?

Bronson Diffin wrote: So, any chance of bringing this to next years summer camp? I think it's a great idea. I had the opportunity to do (attempt really) a small amount cutting in my short stint in iaido ...enlightening to say the least. Bronson p.s. I can bring a stand and could probably scrounge another one

There are some serious issues involved with letting folk who've never used a real sword before cut... We're still trying to figure out how to go about it just at AIA with instructors as it is... Something to think about though...

Keith Larman wrote: There are some serious issues involved with letting folk who've never used a real sword before cut... We're still trying to figure out how to go about it just at AIA with instructors as it is... Something to think about though...

Yeah, I know. I knew it wasn't a real possibillity. Just wishful thinking on my part really

Bronson

Bronson Diffin wrote: Yeah, I know. I knew it wasn't a real possibillity. Just wishful thinking on my part really Bronson

Well, are you planning on coming out to L.A. anytime? We are planning on doing it again sometime with senior students on a more formal basis (not this year though).

Hey Keith,

Unfortunately my finances don't really permit me to make frequent trips cross-country. If I ever find myself out there though I'll be sure to drop in.

Bronson

Joshua Reyer wrote: Now, however, I've taken up a classical sword tradition. Again, it's right hand over left hand. Again, at first, I quietly wished I could do things with a left-handed grip. Only now, I'm being taught to cut with the hara, not with the hands, and dropping the hands down ahead of the kissaki is big no-no. And, wow, it's an amazing difference. I haven't reached the point where I can do it at will, yet, but when I do do it, hands and tip of the blade reach their respective destinations at the same time, the cut is straight, and I don't even feel my hands and arms.

And I'll just bet that you don't spend much time working on getting that nice bounce in your tip when you cut either... sorry, that just came out.

George S. Ledyard wrote: And I'll just bet that you don't spend much time working on getting that nice bounce in your tip when you cut either... sorry, that just came out.

Nope, no bounce, ideally. Bouncing has becomes a source of much vexation for me these days, when it happens.

Jun Akiyama wrote: Here's an old article that Rocky Izumi wrote on this subject: http://www.aikiweb.com/weapons/rock4.html If others have thoughts or information, it'd be great to hear them. -- Jun

This is interesting stuff to me. "[T]hose infernal 7% southpaws" cracks me up. I also believe it's a matter of majority rules, as far as wearing the weapon on the left. I remember from middle school that in art class there were a couple pairs of lefty scissors even. With the bokken, shinai, or katana, however, even though I have learned as a righty, it seems like both hands are quite essential, regardless of the right being in front.

One of the top touring golf professionals in the US, Phil Mickelson, was born a right-hander, but he learned to play lefty from an early age. I think it was his father who taught Phil this because the strong arm for a righty golfer is the left arm. This is evident when watching a righty swing. Because Mickelson's right arm is dominant, when he swings lefty, there's an important advantage for him.

By the way, at the yearly tournament in Doral (near Miami), I was standing next to the "rope sidewalk" that went from the end of one hole (green) to the beginning of the next hole (tee). Mickelson looked at me for a second, then he offered me that smile and nod he often does. It was a fun moment.

Drew

A link to Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu Nito Kenjutsu done by Iwami soke.
You may see how two hands work together in Musashi's school.
For myself, I train putting more importance on the right hand, then on the left hand, then together, then with the body having the hands as extensions. That is my personal work .. for now and it will change ! I do not even notice I practice with the one hand or one hand more thanh the other. Specially when I overtire one side I then put more on the other.
I remember hearing an Ueshiba uchideshi saying the left hand is energetically linked to the earth and the right to the sky. I have no ideas on the subject.

Joseph Tutton wrote: Musashi insisted that one train with the long sword in the left as well as the right hand. If one's right hand is injured, must he die? He also insisted that the Way is to wield the sword with one hand. Can one not hold the horse's reins and still cut? Can one not use both his swords? Musashi wore his swords in the traditional manner, but he was not a traditional fellow. All that matters is to cut down the enemy.

I practice Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu with Iwami soke who is 11th successor to Musashi. I do not speak for him but for myself as I understand the teaching. When Musashi says "when you cut have in mind that you cut and only that", I understand that one has to be simple minded . There is a power in uniting mind, body and sword. If you do not want to cut, do not wield the sword. Of course, because of our humanity and because we recognise humanity in the other, then if there is an opening to stop the sword before cutting then of course we must do so.
If one picks up the sword without the mind of cutting, one lacks sincerety. That is why there is a teaching that goes "learn the heart, only after learn the sword".
When I hold the bokken, I start holding with the hands, then the arms, the body and sometimes the heart. The symmetry is done by uniting the 2 hands as 1. That implies a lot of work. Just simple work for a simple mind

I've had some back problems this year. I've found that doing suburi on both sides is helping stretch out my back.

I don't think it's a big deal for suburi. We do jo on the opposite side all the time.

I wouldn't, however, expect my students to learn aiki ken katas on the left side (although we always learn jo katas on both sides). It would just be weird and unnecessary.

For the back problems, I found out a strange way of overcoming it: I do shomen while walking in the woods. There is no strain on the back as it is allways in a different position. The footing is on an uneven soil. It does change the strain.
I also do kodachi with the left hand.
We also have hidari and migi movements. I then do stress on the balance of efforts.
I believe it comes from the aiki work on the 2 sides.
I remember Judo has the same work. It is fascinating to be free with the 2 sides.