Omote –

Front/Begin
Reiho for Kata
Tachi Otoshi -
Drop Sword &
Attack
 OMOTE
The letter “J” identifies shidachi. The letter “T” identifies uchidachi.
We’ve tried to limit our clarifications/translations of the original text. Comments about lessons from the kata are located in a
member-only area and require a password.

Tachi Otoshi: Pages 78-81

1. Partners stand 9 steps apart.
o J: Starting with left foot, take 3 small steps forward, fixing your gaze to the opponent.
 Go-rei:
 “Tachi Otoshi yoi”
 “Hajime”
2. T: Starting with left foot, establish ma-ai. J: Drawing back right foot, grasp the josekki with the left hand in a reverse grip
(gyakute uchi). T: Stepping forward with the right foot, take chudan no kamae. J: Drawing back left foot, bring the end of the jo
from behind, over the head, and into gyakute no kamae.
3. J: Take 1 step to the left with the right foot, move your body from in front of the kensaki, take the full jo in both hands.
4. Pivot with the left foot.
5. Step out with the left foot as you strike for uchidachi ’s head.
6. T: Step back at an angle with left foot, to receive the jo.
7. Stepping forward with left foot, cut for shijo’ s neck. J: Raise the left hand above head and push right hand forward. (Don’t
draw right hand back) and rotate your hips.
8. Receive the tachi underneath the cut, stopping the tachi for a moment with the josekki at eye height.
9. Apply Kuritsuke as in the Kihon.
10.-
11.-
12.T: Left foot, then right footsteps back. J: Moves into Kaeshizuki
13.-
14.-
 Tachi Otoshi: Pages 78-81

1. T: Step back with left foot. J: Step in with left foot and thrust to Suigetsu.
2. J: Releasing right thumb, draw the end of the jo back to the right rear.
3. J: Take Hikiotoshi no Kamae.
4. T: Step back with left foot.
5. J: Stepping out with the right foot, strike Ganmen, display Zanshin.
6. J: executes osame by drawing back left hand to the rear and taking the whole jo in both hands.
7. J: Left hand goes to left shoulder height placing right hand upon right knee while turning right hand so it’s
holding the jo lightly.
8. T: Draw the right foot back to left foot, taking Teito position. J: Pushing the jo to the right with the left hand
brings the left foot forward to the right foot.
9. J: Assumes Tsune no Kamae.
10.Return to starting distance.
11. strike Ganmen, display Zanshin.
Tsuburai – Break Tsuba
 OMOTE
Tsubawari Pages 82-85
1. Go-rei: “Tsubawari yoi”
2. J: Place left hand on jo in front of the right hand.
3. J: Deeply draw the right foot back. Draw the right hand upwards to
the josekki.
4. J: The right hand is positioned above the head with the jo between
the eyes. The left hand is placed above the knee, and the jo is
straight up and down.
5. Go-rei: “Hajime”
6. T: Stepping forward with right foot, cuts Kesagiri at shidachi’ s neck.
7. J: Draw the left foot back to the right while maintaining a straight
standing posture.
8.
9. J: Drawing the right foot back, rotate jo overhead and strike for
kote.
10. –
11. T: Bring left foot up to right foot and kensaki over to the left while
crossing hands, placing wrists into position so the josekki can be
released to the left. J: Step wide to the right with right foot,
dropping hips while maintaining the josekki at Suigetsu.
 OMOTE
Tsubawari Pages 82-85

1. T: Parry josekki to left with the left wrist while stepping in with right
foot. Cut one-handed to shidachi’ s inner left thigh.
2. T: Flip the wrist of the cutting hand. J: At the moment of
uchidachi’ s cut draw the left foot back and behind right foot. Drop
knee to the ground, rotating torso, and intercept tachi from below.
12. T: Parry josekki to the left with the left wrist, stepping in with
right foot, cut one-handed to opponent’s left inner thigh.
13. T: Flip over the wrist of your cutting hand. J: At the moment of
uchidachi ’s cut, draw left foot back behind the right foot, drop knee
to the ground, rotate body, and catch tachi from below.
14. J: Rising and stepping forward with the left foot, execute
Kuritsuke.
15.
16. T: Step back left, right, left.
17. J: Observing ma-ai, steps forward with left foot, thrusting
Suigetsu.
18. J: Without pausing, release the right thumb, draw back the jo and
execute Hikiotoshi uchi.
19.
20. T: Draw left foot back. (J): Stepping in with right foot, threatens
Ganmen using Zanshin. O-same is like Tachiotoshi.
Tsukizue – Walking Stick
 OMOTE
Tsukizue Pages 86-87

1. Go-rei: “Tsukizue yoi”

2. J: Gently extend right arm forward placing jo on and perpendicular to the
floor.
3. Grip josekki with right hand.
4. Go-rei: “Hajime”. T: Step forward left, right, left.
5. T: Stepping out with the right foot, cut Shomen. J: Draw right foot back jo
while turning over the grip in right hand.
6. J: Grasp jo while turning over the grip in the right hand.
7. J: Stepping in with the left foot, raise jo making a large arc to the right front.
8. J: Strike left kote: (Technique contains elements including striking, thrusting, stopping
the opponent, enabling subsequent strike to be more effective).
9. -
10. T: Withdraw right foot deeply.
11. T: Take Hidari Jodan no Kamae. J: Immediately release right thumb and
draw jo back taking entire jo in both hands.
12. –
13. –
14. J: Pursue Uchidachi, striking Honte Uchi at left kote.
15. T: Lower tachi, drawing right foot slightly back. J: Matching timing with
Uchidachi in a natural way while displaying Zanshin.
 With Kodachi

Hissage – Holding
Lantern (Pull & Hook)
Hissage with Tachi
 OMOTE
Hissage Pages 88-91
With Kodachi / Tachi
1. T: Switch to kodachi and face Uchidachi
2. Go-rei: “Hissage Yoi”. J: Starting in Tsune no Kamae, draw right foot back, lower the josekki until the jo is
vertical while taking a Hanmi stance.
3. T: Using Seme, threaten Shidachi’ s throat while stepping out with the right foot transitioning into Hasso no
Kamae.
4. Go-rei: “Hissage yoi”. T: Proceed to proper ma-ai.
5. T: Step forward into Chudan no Kamae. J: Reveal the jo by turning the torso towards the front and Uchidachi.
6. J: Bring the right foot to the left foot and draw the left foot back taking Gyakute no Kamae.
7. T: Stepping forward with the left foot, lift the kodachi to Jodan. J: While maintaining Gyakute, withdraw the
left foot, transitioning into Hikiotoshi no Kamae.
8. T: Strike to Shomen while stepping in with the right foot.
9. J: Stepping with the left foot, apply a strong Kuritsuke. T: Draw back with the left foot and receive Kuritsuke.
10. T: Step back left, right left to reverse and release the left- hand grip from the lock.
11. –
12. J: Step forward with the left foot and thrust to Suigetsu.
13. –
14. J: Take right Hikiotoshi no Kamae
15. J: Stepping forward with the right foot, strike Hikiotoshi uchi. T: Step back with the left foot.
16. J: Display Zanshin. O-same is the same as Tachi Otoshi. T: Step back from left foot and retire.
Sakan – Left Side Thrust
 OMOTE
Sakan Pages 92-95
1. -
2. Go-rei: “Sakan yoi”. J: From Tsune no Kamae, grasp the josekki from the left.
3. J: Raising both hands above the head (presenting stomach as target), take the whole jo in both hands.
4. -
5. Go-rei: “Hajime”. T: Step forward left, right, left
6. T: While threatening ganmen with the kensaki, bring the tachi to the left hip.
7. T: Stepping in with the right foot thrust Suigetsu from below. J: drawing the left foot back deeply and the
right foot back slightly, receive the tachi while moving back into Hanmi. Keep the right knew slightly bent.
8. J: Releasing the left hand, raise the right hand toward the upper right, turning the upper torso to the right and
grasping the josekki with the left hand.
9. J: Stepping in with the left foot, strike tachi.
10. T: Step back right, left.
11. J: Quickly raise the josekki to ganmen, then step forward with the right foot and apply seme.
12. J: Bring the left foot up to the right foot.
13. T: Draw the right foot back and take Hasso no Kamae. J: Bring the right hand up overhead and to the rear
and take Hikiotoshi no Kamae.
14. –
15. T: Stepping in with the right foot make kiai and take “Issoku-itto” ma-ai with Chudan no Kamae.
16. –
17. J: Stepping out with the right foot, strike the tachi with a big wrapping motion.
18. T: Draw the right foot back.
19. J: Display zanshin. Osame is the same as Tachi Otoshi.
Ukan – Right Side
Thrust
 OMOTE
Ukan Pages 96-99
1. -
2. Go-rei: “Ukan yoi”. Ma-ai is taken the same way as Sakan.
3. -
4. Go-rei: “Hajime”.
5. T: With right foot out bring tachi to left hip.
6. T: Stepping in with right foot swing tachi up towards throat.
7. J: Step in with left foot and deploy Jo
8. J: Thrust to the side (Hibara).
9. J: Stepping in with the right foot, take the full jo in both hands overhead. T: Bring the right foot in front
of the left foot and step so your legs are crossed.
10. J: Strike Gyakute Uchi to temple (Kasumi). T: Drawing back the left foot, lean slightly to the rear. The
tsuka is above the head and the kensakki should be at (ganmen) height (roughly between eyes and bridge of
nose).
11. T: Pivoting on the right foot, turn and cut towards the neck. J: Drawing the right foot back to the left rear
with the right leg crossing the left leg simultaneously draws the left hand back.
12. J: Drawing the left foot back, release the left hand and immediately strike migi Honte Uchi to block
uchidachi at the wrist (Kote). Stop Uchidachi with the josekki pointed at ganmen.
 OMOTE
Ukan Pages 96-99

13. T: As if pressing a cut toward shidachi’ s right thigh, step in with the left foot and cut. J: Bending both
knees, crouch down and drop the left hand down and thrust Suigetsu from below..
14. J: While maintaining control of the tachi, drop the josekki from suigetsu.
15. J: Immediately stand up holding the jo vertically at the right side.
16. -
17. J: Step forward with the left foot and raise the jo.–
18. J: Crossing the arms, strike Kasumi. T: As the strike is coming, step back left foot, right foot.
19. T: Drawing the left foot back, adjust and correct your posture. J: Leaving your feet as they are, take
Honte Uchi no Kamae and demonstration zanshin.
20. J: Bring left hand out in front of the right hand and grasp jo.
21. J: Taking Hidari Honte no Kamae, demonstrate zanshin

Osame: T: The right foot moves to the left foot. J: Draw the right hand back. The left hand should be at
the height of the shoulder, take the full length of the jo and bring the right hand to shoulder height as you
drop the left hand to the top of the knee and hold the jo with the hand on top. Release the thumb of the
right hand casting the jo towards the front. At the same time move the left hand to the right so that the
josekki passes down the Uchidachi’ s center line as it turns. Bring the left foot to the right foot as you take
Tsune no Kamae.
Kasumi –
Mountain Mist
 OMOTE
Kasumi Pages 100 – 103
1. Go-rei: “Kasumi yoi”.
2. J: From Tsune no Kamae grasp josekki with the left hand and draw the left foot back.
3. J: Place the right hand in front of the forehead. This is called Kasumi no Kamae.
4. -
5. Go-rei: “Hajime”.
6. T: Step out with the right foot and take Chudan no Kamae. J: Bring the right hand forward simultaneously with the right foot up to the
left foot.
7. J: While drawing the left foot back take Gyakute no Kamae and match with tachi.
8. J: Draw the left hand back and take the whole jo in both hands.
9. –
10. J: Stepping in with the right foot, strike tachi with Gyakute Uchi.
11. T: Moving back with the left foot, receive strike with wrists crossed.
12. J: Point josekki towards ganmen.
13. T: Draw the right foot back taking Hasso no Kamae. J: draw the right foot back into Hikiotoshi no Kamae.
14. T: Step in with the right foot and cut Shomen. J: Step out to the left with the left foot and then step forward with the right foot.
15. J: Take “Tai Atari” (attacking the body) stance.
16. J: Bring the left foot forward and square to Uchidachi placing left hand at suigetsu and right hand striking towards ganmen and push the
tachi back. T: draw the right foot back to the left foot and draw the kensaki to the upper right.
17. J: Stepping forward with the right foot do Tai Atari. T: Step back to receive, right foot, left foot, right foot.
18. –
19. T: Recovers into Hasso no Kamae.
20. J: Drawing back the left foot assume hidari Hikiotoshi No Kamae.
21. T: Step in with the right foot striking Shomen. J: Step out to the right with the right foot.
22. J: Step Forward with the left foot and apply Kuritsuke.
23. T: Step back with he left foot and receive Kuritsuke.
24. –
25. T: Step back left, right, left. J: Switching the grip with the left hand, step forward with the left foot and thrust to suigetsu.
26. –
27. J: Right side Hikiotoshi no Kamae.
28. T: At the moment of contact, step back with the left foot. J: Strike ganmen demonstrating zanshin. O-same is the same as Tachiotoshi.
Monomi – To Gaze at Something
 OMOTE
Monomi Pages 104 – 107

1. Go-rei: “Monomi yoi”.

2. J: From Tsune no Kamae bring the josekki to the left and grasp jo from below
3. J: Bring the right hand out to the right.
4. J: Grasp the jo one-handed as you drop the josekki to the floor. This is called Monomi no Kamae.
5.
6. Go-rei: “Hajime”.
7. T: Close ma-ai, step forward with the right foot and cut to Shomen towards Heiso (navel). J: Drawing the left
foot back and pivoting to the left, take the jo in the left hand.
8. J: Step back deeply with the left foot while bringing the jo from the rear. Rotate the jo overhead and strike –
intercepting and meeting tachi (arc of sword cut).
9. –
10. T: Step back deeply with the right foot and take Jodan no Kamae. J: Rotating the left hand up and back,
execute Kaeshizuki.
11. –
12. –
13. J: Demonstrate zanshin.
14. T: Retreating with the right foot, lower the tachi
15. O-same is the same as Tachiotoshi
16. –
17. –
18. –
19. -
Kasa no Shita -
Under the Hat
 OMOTE
Kasa no Shita Pages 108 – 111

1. Go-rei: “Kasa no Shita yoi”.

2. J: From Tsune no Kamae place left hand in front of the right hand and hold underneath the jo.
3. J: Draw the left foot back and take Hanmi, rotating the jo back, while keeping it horizontal to the floor at
shoulder height. Arc and stop with the josekki pointed at ganmen.
4. –
5. –
6. –
7. Go-rei: “Hajime”.
8. T: Close ma-ai and take Chudan no Kamae. J: Bring the right foot to the left foot (bend knees) then draw
back the left foot and match with tachi.
9. –
10. T: Stepping out with the right foot, raise the tachi to cut (Furikaburi).
11. T: Cut towards the upper arm. J: Step straight in with the right foot, reverse the grip with the right hand
and from the upper left, thrust to suigetsu.
12. –
13. T: Bring the right foot back to the left and raise the tachi to cut. J: Release the left hand’ s thumb and step
deeply with the right foot, sliding the right hand down the jo to the josekki. Take the whole length of the jo
in both hands and move in close with a left Hanmi stance.
14. –
15. T: Step out with the left foot to the left and forward while turning targeting and cutting for Shidachi’ s
neck. J: Stepping with the left foot towards the Uchidachi’ s rear, turn around, stepping with the right foot
to the rear of the left foot.
16. –
17. –
18. J: Strike to Kasumi.
19. T: Pivoting on the left foot, fix your posture. J: Demonstrate zanshin. O-Same is the same as Ukan.
Ichi Rei -
One Bow
Neya no Uchi - Inside a
Small Room (Bedroom or
Shack)
 OMOTE
Neya no Uchi Pages 116 – 119

1. Go-rei: “Neya no Uchi yoi”.

2. J: From Tsune no Kamae sweep the hakama and drop the left knee to the floor.
3. J: Take seiza, placing the jo to the right and fixing your gaze on Uchidachi.
4. –
5. –
6. Go-rei: “Hajime”. T: Take Hasso no Kamae and close the ma-ai.
7. –
8. –
9. T: Step out with the right foot taking Chudan no Kamae. J: Grasp the josekki with the left hand in a reverse
(gyakute) grip and raise the right knee at the same time spreading your feet apart while matching jo with tachi.
10. T: Take Hidari Jodan no Kamae as you draw back the right foot. J: Lift the right foot and at the same time
release the thumb of the left hand, taking the whole length of the jo in both hands and in one action plant the
right foot.
11. –
12. J: Left footsteps deeply forward.
13. J: Planting the right knee, strike the inside of Uchidachi’ s ankle.
14. J: Demonstrate zanshin.
15. T: Draw the right foot back slightly and slowly lower the sword.
16. O-same is the same as Ukan.
17. –
18. –
19. –
20. –
21. –
Hoso Michi –
Narrow Path
 OMOTE
Hosomichi Pages 120 – 121

1. Go-rei: “Hosomichi yoi”. T: Take Taito.

2. J: Grasp the jo with the left hand in front of the right hand.
3. J: Place the jo on the right shoulder.
4. Go-rei: “Hajime”.
5. T: Close the ma-ai stepping left foot, right foot. J: Close the ma-ai stepping left foot, right foot, then
stepping out with the left foot while raising the jo above the head.
6. J: Strike Shomen and continue the path of the jo to the floor. T: Drawing the right foot back to the
right rear, move the body offline – the tsuka will be struck.
7. T: Place your hand on the tsuka and square your body to Shidachi.
8. T: drawing the sword, step in with the right foot and cut Shomen. J: drawing the left foot back to the
right foot, execute Tai Hazushii Uchi.
9. –
10. J: Strike right Kote as you draw back the right foot.
11. T: Draw the right foot back into Jodan no Kamae. Then draw the left foot back. J: do Kaeshizuki.
12. –
13. –
14. J: Take the whole length of the jo in both hands, applying seme by stepping forward with the right foot.
15. J: Stepping in with the left foot, strike to Ganmen. T: Withdraw the left foot and at the same time from
Jodan no Kamae, lower the tachi to the left forward corner.
16. O-same is the same as Ukan.
The Following 3 kata are not in the makimono but
are effective drills and waza
Uchi Otoshi – Drop & Strike
 Outside Forms
Uchi Otoshi Pages 122 – 123
1. T: Close the ma-ai and take Seigan no Kamae. (This is a feeling, not a
physical Kamae as tachi takes Chudan no Kamae). J: Observe Uchidachi
from Tsune no Kamae.
2. –
3. J: Take josekki with the right hand in a gyakute grip while stepping
in deeply with the right foot. Strike down the sword with Gyakute
Uchi.
4. –
5. –
6. J: Release the thumb of the left hand taking the whole length of the
jo in both hands.
7. –
8. J: Stepping in with the left foot, strike Ganmen with Honte Uchi
and demonstrate zanshin. O-same is the same as kihon. T: At the
instant of the strike, draw the left foot and retire/break the kamae.
Note: This is usually performed as a drill in multiple successive and repetitive
movements and the “go-rei” is not indicated.
This kata is not in the makimono
Suigetsu - Water-Moon
Target
 Outside Forms
Suigetsu Pages 124 – 125
1. Go-rei: “Suigetsu yoi”. T: Take Hasso no Kamae and step into ma-
ai. J: Keep zanshin from Tsune no Kamae.
2. Go-rei: “Hajime”.
3. T: Closing ma-ai, cut to Shomen. J: Stepping with the right foot
out at an angle to the right and forward, thrust to suigetsu with the
right hand.
4. –
5. T: Draw back the right foot taking Hasso no Kamae. J: Move the
right hand back as you draw the right foot back taking Hikiotoshi no
Kamae.
6. T: Step out with the right foot taking Seigan no Kamae with the
feeling of cutting to Shomen.
7. J: Right footsteps in, striking the sword with Hikiotoshi Uchi.
8. –
9. T: Draw back the right foot. J: demonstrate zanshin. O-same is
the same as Tachiotoshi.
Shyamen –
Target the Temple
 Outside Forms

Shyamen Pages 126-127

1. Go-rei: “Shyamen yoi”. T: Take Hasso no Kamae and step into ma-ai. J: Keep zanshin from Tsune no Kamae.
2. –
3. Go-rei: “Hajime”.
4. T: Step in with the right foot cutting to Shomen. J: Take the josekki with the left hand using a gyakute grip, evade the
cut by moving forward and to the right and strike Kasumi using Gyakute Uchi.
5. –
6. –
7. T: Deeply draw the right foot back and take Jodan no Kamae. J: Releasing the thumb on the left hand, rotate the
right hand over the head and to the rear, turning the jo over to the right side. Take the whole length of the jo in both
hands.
8. –
9. J: Step in with the left foot and thrust to suigetsu.
10. –
11. J: Demonstrate zanshin. T: Draw back the right foot and retire the sword. Osame is the same as Ukan.