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Comment by rawnshah on December 19, 2008 at 3:30pm

The "flat" kesa (neck to armpit, or top of neck to bottom of neck) is much harder to do because the angle brings it closer to cutting a suihei and goes more against the grain of the goza. What you have here is closer to doing one of the more difficult ones against goza (out of the four choices of vertical/makko, kesa, kiriage, or suihei). Nice!

Comment by rawnshah on December 19, 2008 at 3:28pm

It's interesting that you draw and turn left to cut. There's a variation of this in the Shinshin-ryu katas where they walk past the (single) target, draw, stab to the left-rear (to the eyes), then turn and cut kesa. Not as difficult as this certainly.

While turning around to the right may seem smoother because of the path of the draw, unless you've practiced the feet movements, one can trip over themselves. Turning left requires a full draw to grip, then turning and cutting rather than nukitsuke (draw-cut).

Comment by Al Kilgore on December 18, 2008 at 11:22am

I cut with a conventional shaped katana. In recent years, extra wide, thin blades have gained popularity. These designs are easy to cut with and generally allow the target to remain in place after the cut because of the extra width and relative thinness. Since it is wider, incorrect technique tends not to bend the blade as much either, it is a good one to start with to boot.The regular Bizen shape I use requires the exponent to be more exacting with the technique. This cut is a more difficult variation of "kesa" in that it is intended to go from neck to armpit. Hasuji is harder to hold in this one as opposed to that of a steeper angle. My noto is not as good as I would like, I have since ironed that out. All of the targets were cut cleanly, it is just that one stayed in place. This cut is difficult because the target is approached and then the back is turned. Do not try this if your scabbard mouth (koiguchi) exhibits cuts or gouges of any kind. This indicates that your draw and noto are still uncontrolled and you run the risk of injuring yourself and your saya. Make more time to practice so that you can do it safely.
Peace and Health unto you.
~Al