How to Take Chudan: Draw Your Sword

One: Chudan directly from sageto.

Two: Chudan after sitting in sonkyo.

One is fairly easy so I would like to start from Two, Chudan after sitting in sonkyo.

Chudan after sitting in sonkyo

We all know how to take taito so I would like to explain how to draw your sword.

Nuketo

Nuke is "to draw" and "To" is a sword. In this case, "To" is a shinai.

On this command, push out your shinai a little forward (Picture 1) and start drawing your shinai towards your opponent (Picture 2). At the same time, take a small step forward onto the right foot (Picture 3).

* When drawing the shinai with the right hand, the left hand stays still(Picture 4).

Flip your sword forward as if you are slashing your opponent. And grabthe shinai with the left hand too (Picture 5).

When you stop here, you are ready to go. That means you are in the chudan position.

Picture 1: Front

Picture 2: Front

Picture 1: Side

Picture 3

Picture 4

Picture 5

Chudan Position

Sit in Sonkyo

Twist the left foot (Picture 6)so that both heels meet together (Picture 7). And slowly let your body move down until your butt touches the heels(Picture 8). That is called sonkyo.

Picture 6

Picture 7

Picture 6: Close-up

Picture 7: Close-up

Picture 8

Picture 8: side

* Until you get used to the sonkyo position, you may feel unstable. Keeppracticing. Do not lean forward when you are in sonkyo.

Sonkyo

Kamae-te

"Kamae-te" means "take a stance". In this case, take chudan.

On a command of "Kamae-te", stand up and quietly be in the chudan position (Picture 9).

Since your heels are together when you come up from the sonkyo position, you have to twist the left foot back so that the left toe faces towards the front (Picture 10).

Now you are ready to practice.

Picture 9

Picture 9: Side

Picture 10

Picture 10

Chudan directly from sageto

We take chudan from sageto when we hear a command, "Kamae To". Now do not confuse it with "Kamae-te". Kamae-te is actually an order form of a verb, kamaeru.

"Kamae To" is actually saying, "Draw your sword and be in the chudanposition".

If you are not familiar with Japanese, it may be hard but you can get used to it. Just practice.

* Even though you take chudan from the taito position, we must take the taito position first and then draw our sword. So the sequence is actually...

1. Sageto Position
2. Taito Position
3. Draw the sword

(Picture 1 to 5)

4. Be in the chudan position.

Please do not skip the taito position because that is the place we wear our sword.

Now you know how to take chudan. Now you have to know how to put your sword back, "Noto (Osameto)".