7 Ken Suburi

“Among the basic ken practices left by the founder are the ki-musubi-no-tachi and the 5 kumi-tachi. Since the kumi-tachi are quite complicated, we must learn the basic 7 suburi in order to avoid becoming confused and to be able to safely practice the kumi-tachi. I formulated 7 suburi practices by selecting movements from the 7 kumi-tachi. We must practice the suburi a sufficient amount in order to execute the kumi-tachi safely.” – Morihiro Saito Sensei

When you practice buki-waza (weapons techniques) the posture you begin in is called shizen-tai, which means “natural body”, or “natural position”. Grab your ken (sword) in the middle with your left hand keeping it at an angle of 45° on your left side; your elbow should be slightly bent, your back straight, chest lifted and your heels very close together with a slight opening between your toes. Your right hand is relaxed on your right leg. You are ready to start ken practice.

The movement to draw the ken is called nuki-tsuke in Japanese. Grab the handle below the tsuba with the right hand and at the same time advance with the right foot, moving into ken-no-kamae-migi, in which the left hand grabs the ken at the end of the handle (tsuka), while the right hand grabs above, just below the tsuba; the feet are in migi-hanmi (right foot forward). The end of the sword handle, or hilt (called the tsuka-kashira) is in front of your hara, while the tip (kissaki) is pointed at an imaginary opponent’s throat in front of you.

The ken-suburi-nanahon are all performed starting from ken-no-kamae-migi.

The movement to sheath the sword is called noto-tsuke in Japanese. Follow the same movement, but in reverse. From ken-no-kamae-migi, while stepping back with the right foot and aligning it with the left, release the ken with the left hand and with the right bring the ken to your left side with the blade turned up; then, grab the ken in the middle with the left hand and return your right hand to your right side, thereby returning to shizen-tai.

Before beginning suburi practice, say the name of the series and then the name of each suburi. At the end of each suburi wait for two seconds (ni-byo) in order to control your position and then return to ken-no-kamae-migi. Perform a kiai during each cut and always maintain a martial attitude (zanshin and metsuke).

Aiki Ken - Happo Giri

Happo-giri (ha: eight; po: direction; giri: cut) means an eight-directional cut with the sword (Aiki-ken). Imagine you are performing the happo-giri movements over the centre of an imaginary compass on the ground and your shomen-uchi strikes are executed towards an imaginary opponent standing at each of the 8 cardinal points. The purpose of the exercise is to teach you to move freely and quickly in all 8 directions, maintaing stability and low centre of gravity with the hips. Avoid bouncing up-and-down when you move or change direction and try to maintain your position over the centre of the imaginary compass on the ground, without shifting off-centre in any direction.

Starting in shizen-tai, perform a standing rei (bow) and say the name of the series outloud: “happo-giri”. The movement to draw the ken is called nuki-tsuke in Japanese. Grab the handle below the tsuba with the right hand and at the same time advance with the right foot, moving into ken-no-kamae-migi, in which the left hand grabs the ken at the end of the handle (tsuka), while the right hand grabs above, just below the tsuba; the feet are in migi-hanmi (right foot forward). The end of the sword handle, or hilt (called the tsuka-kashira) is in front of your hara, while the tip (kissaki) is pointed at an imaginary opponent’s 

To return to your starting position (north), step with your left foot 135° to your right, pivoting on the right foot as you turn your body by moving with your hips from left to right, keeping the sword above your head to face south; then turn with your hips 180° left to right to face north, ending in ken-no-kamae-migi.

The movement to sheath the sword is called noto-tsuke in Japanese. Follow the same movement, but in reverse. From ken-no-kamae-migi, while stepping back with the right foot and aligning it with the left, release the ken with the left hand and with the right bring the ken to your left side with the blade turned up; then, grab the ken in the middle with the left hand and return your right hand to your right side, thereby returning to shizen-tai.

From the shizen-tai position, perform a standing rei (bow) to complete the exercise.

Video shows Buki waza: 

Doshu Chronology

Doshu is a martial arts title, literally translated as ‘Master of the Way’. In aikido, for example, doshu is a hereditary title denoting the head of the Aikikai. The first aikido doshu was the founder, Morihei Ueshiba. When the founder died in 1969, his son Kisshomaru became the second doshu. When Kisshomaru died in 1999, his son Moriteru took on the role. Moriteru is expected to be succeeded as doshu by his son, Mitsuteru Ueshiba.

Morihei Ueshiba 1883-1969

• 1883 – Born on December 14 in Tanabe city, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan.
• 1912 – Moves to Hokkaido Prefecture and meets Sokaku Takeda.
• 1912 – Learns Daito-ryu Aiki-Jujitsu.
• 1919 – Meets Onisaburo Deguchi of the Omoto Sect in Ayabe, Kyoto.
• 1927 – Moves to Tokyo with his family and begins teaching the Way of Aiki.
• 1960 – Receives the Shiju Hosho Medal from the Japanese government.
• 1969 – Passes away on April 26, at the age of 86.

Kisshomaru Ueshiba 1921-1999

• 1921 – Born on June 27, in Ayabe.
• 1946 – Graduates from Waseda University, Faculty of Economics and Political Science.
• 1956 – Gives the first demonstration and starts to teach Aikido to the public.
• 1957 – Publishes the first textbook AIKIDO.
• 1969 – Assumes the title of Aikido Doshu.
• 1995 – Receives the Zui Hosho Medal from the Japanese government.
• 1999 – Passes away on January 4, at the age of 77.

Moriteru Ueshiba 1951-

• 1951 – Born on April 4, in Tokyo.
• 1976 – Graduates from Meiji Gakuin University, Faculty of Economics.
• 1996 – Becomes General Director of the Hombu Dojo.
• 1999 – Assumes the title of Aikido Doshu.