12 Posture Sword Series
Neutral posture with feet relaxed distance apart > sword is held, drawn in right hand > ‘Hai’ is shouted signalling feet together > ‘Rei’ is shouted signalling a bow > we step back to neutral posture
The shield position > left leg cross step > sword inside parry > stepping push cut through forwards an up (neck height) Ensure the blade is flat when we parry and facing inside for the final cute
Right lead leg steps gracefully back into the next posture
High position posture > right leg steps forwards > downwards cut
Right foot steps back > Left foot slides in close to follow
Hold the sword at the right side, tight to body, keeping the tsuba at eye level > Left leg steps back and we raise the sword > left foot then steps forward > cut diagonally from left shoulder out to right hip
We slowly lower our stance > Left foot steps back > Right foot steps back
Lift sword above eye line > arms should be crossed with right wrist on the inside > sword pointing to left > blade Up > right foot steps forward > horizontal cut from right to left
Pull blade up and back > lift over head as we spin under dropping low with blade > pointing forwards