“The fifth suburi is the movement most often used in the
kumi-tachi. From the right hanmi we raise the sword from the right, in
such a way so as to protect our bodies and strike downward, ending up in
the left hanmi. From the left hanmi we move the sword to the left,
protecting our body and then step forward with the right foot to strike,
finishing in the right hanmi. We move our bodies fully to the right and
left in the kumi-tachi. In the suburi we practice adjusting our
positions to the right and left hanmi as appropriate.” – Morihiro Saito Sensei
In the fifth suburi, perform only yokomen and gyaku-yokomen strikes,
that is to say diagonal cuts at your opponent’s temples, executed
alternately to the right and to the left of the central line, moving out
from it just a little.
Start the exercise by immediately stepping forward with your back
foot and lifting the sword above your head, beginning to turn it a
little; correct your hanmi and cut your opponent’s right temple. The
first movement is a gyaku-yokomen cut.
Execute four strikes (or more if you would like), then start changing
direction. At this moment lift your ken up above your head and turn
your hips. Now strike the opposite temple of your opponent that you
struck in the previous cut. In this example you would strike the left
temple, turn and cut the right temple. Take a step forward to continue
the exercise.
You should always perform a small kaiten movement to stay out of the central line.
Usually, to finish in ken-no-kamae-migi, you should execute only 3
cuts in the second direction. At any rate, the number of strikes is not
set. The most important detail to pay attention to is to step
immediately forward and out of the central line with your back foot
without moving your front foot at all. It is a mistake to move the front
foot first.
To perform the repeated strikes correctly, shift your weight directly
on the appropriate leg, immediately step forward and cut your
opponent’s temple.
Another important point to emphasize is that when you execute yokomen
and gyaku-yokomen you should not cut by turning the blade slantwise.
These movements are too large and noticeable, easily blocked by your
opponent. Instead, lift your sword above your head, then cut diagonally
following a shallow curve.
Always keep the blade above the level of your ear and never at a
lower level. Don’t prepare your cut by lowering the blade, but rather
lift the tip of the sword from behind your back. Repeat the same
movement on the other side, paying attention to lift the tip of your ken
before your hands.
Wait two seconds at the end of each strike.
