Words of wisdom and guidance from Sokes of the past

Fundamentals from the 15^th Soke, Shiokawa Houshou Sensei

1. When facing your opponent, cut Makko-giri straight down from heaven to earth.
2. Cut yoko ichi-monji at heart level, parallel to the ground, and cut out strongly.
3. When cutting kesagiri, extend out towards your opponent; don’t cut small.
4. Always keep the kissaki pointed at the opponent, even a felled opponent.
5. During chiburi, the hands are the same height, and don’t lose focus or vigor just because the cutting is done.

Regarding strength and the power of the draw: don’t exert unnecessary effort; what should be fast, do with speed, what is critical, extend and cut big.

Words of Wisdom from Nakagawa-sensei, 13^th Soke

• Those who walk the same path have mutual understanding and help each other.
• Those who merely perform the same movements will have endless spite and compete with each other.
• Regarding Iai;
  • First, correctness of body
  • Second, correctness of heart and mind (spirit)
  • Third, perfection of technique
• Those who pursue Mugairyu Iaihyodo all walk the same path; therefore they share mutual understanding, and so are expected to help each other.