tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30732562.post416913842078829735..comments2023-10-10T06:48:25.555-07:00Comments on My trip to Black Belt at 50... and beyond!: Sword PlayUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30732562.post-66958119558471365522009-05-17T11:43:00.000-07:002009-05-17T11:43:00.000-07:00We've been learning the sword for the past month i...We've been learning the sword for the past month in Rochester and having a blast doing it. So far we've learned the eight positions, the four types of cuts, the three cutting forms, XMA Sword Form 1 Kata, and the inside and outside figure eights with the sword. To answer some of your questions, the name of the hand guard on the bokken is the Tsuba (rhymes with tuba.) The handle of the bokken is called the Tsuka. The sheath for the sword is called a Saya. The action of drawing the sword is called Batto. The action of cleaning the blood from the sword (either by flicking the sword or striking the sword) is called Chiburi. Returning the sword to the saya is called No-to.<br /><br />By the way, great pictures of the cutting stances. Your description of Cutting Form 2 is accurate but Joe's excellent performance doesn't quite match the description.Philip - Brighton Dojonoreply@blogger.com