Do Strike: Basic Do Uchi

Do strike (do-uchi) is very easy after learning men strike and kote strike. Basically lift up your sword just like when we strike men.

However, we have to change the direction of the sword so that we can cut our opponent's right waist.

As men strike, we learn do-uchi step by step. There are 3 types;

1. Sankyodo Do Uchi
2. Nikyodo Do Uchi
3. Ikkyodo Do Uchi

As explained in men strike, kyodo means "movement" so sankyodo means three movements, nikyodo means two movements and ikkyodo means one movement.

Firstly, we learn Sankyodo.

We have three movements.

1. Lift up our hands right above our head from chudan and take a step forwards onto the right foot on a command, "Ichi!".

2. Strike do on a command, "Ni!"

3. Take a step backwards and go back to chudan on a command, "San!"

COMMAND

1. Sankyodo Do Uchi, Hajime!
2. Ichi!
3. Ni!
4. San!

Repeat 2 to 4 until the commander shouts "Yame (Stop)".

KIAI

The practitioners shout, "Do!" as striking a do on a command, Ni!

Some Important Points

Above your head again

Now you bring your sword right above your head as you do when striking men. So other than kote strike, we bring our hands right above our head.

Turning your swords

Bad Example

Lowering and moving the sword away from the center

It is easier for practitioners to grasp what they are doing if there issomeone in front of them standing.

It is becuase the practitioners have something to aim at.

If we don't have a person to aim at, the do height is about the same as kote height, parallel to the floor.

However, this time the angle of your sword is different. It is angled diagonally down to the right.

We change the direction of the sword only using our wrists. Some people tend to lean their body to the left to change the direction of the sword.

Remember, we always keep our body straight.

** Please Do Not Spend Much Time on Sankyodo Do Uchi**

Once the practitioners acquire how to change the direction of the sword, then can move to Nikyodo Do Uchi.

Nikyodo Do Uchi

1. Lift up our hands right above our head from chudan and take a step forwards onto the right foot and strike do on a command, "Ichi!".

3. Take a step backwards and go back to chudan on a command, "Ni!"

COMMAND

1. Nikyodo Do Uchi, Hajime!
2. Ichi!
3. Ni!

Repeat 2 to 3 until a commander shouts "Yame (Stop)".

KIAI

The practitioners shout, "Do!" as striking a do on a command, Ichi!

Ikkyodo Do Uchi

We have only one movement.

1. Lift up our hands right above our head from chudan and take a step forwards onto the right foot, strike do, take a step backwards and go back to chudan on a command, "Ichi!".

COMMAND

1. Ikkyodo Do Uchi, Hajime!
2. Ichi!

Repeat 2 until a commander shouts "Yame (Stop)".

KIAI

The practitioners shout, "Do!" as striking a do on a command, Ichi!

These are the methods of the really basic do strike training.

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