Comments for Should there be any "play" in your left hand in the transition from raising the long sword to initiating a cut?

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Jul 08, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		Can lead to bad habits
by: Matt

The 'loose' grip in the left hand is actually a bad habit I have been struggling to correct lately. It would be better to do it correctly from the start.

Your left pinkie should have a death grip on the shinai during all parts of the suburi. The only time it would be appropriate to relax it is after tenouchi at the completion of the cut. Some of the relaxing come from separating the upswing and downswing. They should be one continuous action with no pause.

Kendo-Guide.Com: Yes. Matt is right. The left pinkie and the right finger are particularly important. And we can relax them but we never ?unlock? them.

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