The Horizontal Slash
April 26, 1991
Mark J. Norton
In the book "Autumn Lightning" [Dave Lowry, Shambala Books, date], a Yagyu horizontal
slash technique is described. The sword is held forward and out to the left side,
blade flat with edget to the right. A horizontal slash is made with power coming
from the hips. After the first cut, the blade is reversed and a second slash is made
from right to left. Key to power here is in the hips, they must be engaged with
the blade to make the cut right.
Several targets of this cut come to mind. A belly slash would be effective against
a non-armored person, but would strike the Do-ate of a better protected opponent.
Cutting the ligaments just below the hip would disable that leg. Cuts to the arm
are possible with this cut. Then there might be an underarm opening.
The Yagyu Shinkage style of swordsmanship is of historical interest to Aikido students
since O-Sensei study it before embarking on a study of jujitsu. Lowry indicates
that the Yagyu were the first to merge to precepts of Zen learned from Takuan with
sword technique. It was felt that only with clarity of mind described and attained by
Zen practice could any truly master the sword. The Yagyu Shinkage Ryu also taught
spear, naginata, battojutsu (iaido), and unarmed grappling techniques (which eventually
produced Daito-ryu Aiki-jutsu).