“The hips are engaged fully to finish in the hanmi position in
the second suburi in such a way so as to avoid an ai-uchi or mutual kill
situation with the sword. This is a characteristic of Aikido. If our
hips were left in a straight forward position, this will result in a
mutual kill situation with the sword. This distinction can be seen in
the photographs of the founder using the sword.” – Morihiro Saito Sensei
Starting in ken-no-kamae-migi, prepare the strike by taking a step
back with your right foot and assuming the hito-e-mi posture, in which
your back toe is on the same line as your front heel. In this way you
move slightly out from the central line and lift the sword above your
head. Remember to always lift up the tip (kissaki) of your ken before
the hilt (tsuka).
When you are in the hito-e-mi position, your front elbow should be at
the correct distance from your head in order to have unobstructed
line-of-site. The sword should be slanted slightly backwards. Keep your
hips low and avoid lifting your centre.
From this position start turning your hips to prepare your strike,
close your elbows without obstructing your line-of-sight in front of
you, keep your centre at the same level and maintain a solid grip on
your sword.
Prepare the cutting strike in the same way as the first suburi,
bringing your ken to rest on one spot on your back. Take a step forward
with your right foot and cut down in front of you (shomen-uchi on the
line of attack). Avoid completing the strike moving the front foot
outside the line of the sword. Your foot and your ken should always be
on the same line, directed toward your target. End the movement by
turning your hips and returning to hanmi stance, relaxing your arms.
After the strike, wait two seconds, breathe out and return to ken-no-kamae-migi. Repeat the exercise.
