![Advanced wakizashi technique-draw cutting [wakizashi tutorial/tameshigiri]](https://img.youtube.com/vi/tD-rXB924CA/hqdefault.jpg)
Advanced wakizashi technique-draw cutting [wakizashi tutorial/tameshigiri]
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Coupe·Just a Bug
Today I go through how to do a draw cut and some tips and tricks of how to add more force and mass into the strike for a…
Coupe
SubFamilyクペ(Kupe)
Translation: Cut-over
Overview
The Coupé (cutover) passes the point over the opponent's blade by lifting the hand and dropping the point on the other side, changing the line of attack from above rather than below. [1] It is the counterpart to the disengage and is effective against opponents who defend with low blade positions. [1]
CoupéFRCutoverCut-Over Attack
History & Origin
Effectiveness
The Coupe remains a core technique in modern competitive fencing and historical swordsmanship. [1]
Lineage
Competition Record
Used in FIE international fencing competition
Images
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Coupe-specific fencing mechanics
Joints Involved — Arm (extension/rotation), wrist (angulation), legs (lunge drive)
Force Vector — Technique-specific
Leverage Principle — Forte-to-foible blade leverage and body mechanics
Position & Entry
From en garde — Execute the coupe
From engagement — Transition into coupe
Variants
Direct coupe
Indirect coupe
Compound coupe
Videos
![Jedok Geom Part 5 - Kyukjukse, Basic Sword Strikes [jedok geom series]](https://img.youtube.com/vi/pDLyrkCdrQA/hqdefault.jpg)
Jedok Geom Part 5 - Kyukjukse, Basic Sword Strikes [jedok geom series]
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Coupe·Just a Bug
Welcome to the Jedok geom series where I break down the Admiral's sword form and show you the stances and my interpretat…
![Improve Your Downwards Cuts [katana tameshigiri/sword talk]](https://img.youtube.com/vi/SedP3UGPmt8/hqdefault.jpg)
Improve Your Downwards Cuts [katana tameshigiri/sword talk]
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Coupe·Just a Bug
How to improve your kesa-giri in one simple step. In today's video I talk about a simple key point in downwards cuts whi…
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3 videosWhat Instructors Say
The coupe, or downward cut, is a fundamental blade action in sword disciplines practiced across multiple traditions. Just a Bug's instructional videos emphasize that the coupe functions as one of seven primary lines of attack in Korean jeokdo-geom practice, alongside horizontal and rising cuts. The mechanics of an effective downward cut require careful attention to body mechanics and elbow alignment. In the Japanese approach to the downward cut, the motion is shortened from an extended shoulder-driven form to a more compact position originating closer to the body, reducing the path distance to target and minimizing exposure. Critical to clean execution is the alignment of the elbows with the direction of motion: the elbow must extend along the line of the cut rather than perpendicular to it. In draw-cutting (nukiuchi) contexts, the downward cut involves drawing the blade while simultaneously executing the strike, requiring the body to generate upward momentum that converts into downward force. Just a Bug demonstrates across Korean, Japanese, and Hawaiian sword contexts that the downward coupe benefits from whole-body engagement—shoulders, hips, and core rotation contribute power—though the specific stance (long stance versus horse stance) may vary by tradition and individual effectiveness. The coupe remains practical partly because it flows naturally from defensive positions and allows rapid transitions to guard.
Synthesized from 3 instructors
- Just a Bug — Jedok Geom Part 5 - Kyukjukse, Basic Sword Strikes: Positioned the vertical downward cut as one of three optimized cuts within the seven-line attack framework of Korean jeokdo-geom, explaining body mechanics and stance considerations for power generation.
- Just a Bug — Advanced wakizashi technique—draw cutting: Detailed the downward draw cut (nukiushi variant) as requiring smooth integrated motion where the blade exits the sheath while cutting, with body rising and rotating through the cut to add mass and force.
- Just a Bug — Improve Your Downwards Cuts: Identified elbow alignment as the critical technical adjustment distinguishing effective shortened-form downward cuts from ineffective ones, contrasting longer shoulder-driven forms with compact Japanese-influenced technique.
Learn This Technique
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
3
Moderate3/10
Sport fencing with protective equipment; historically lethal with sharp weapons
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
— FIE — Legal fencing technique — governed by FIE rules for...
FIE Rules of CompetitionPDFHEMA — Legal in historical fencing competition {src— various organizations
Training Notes
✓Practise with a partner in controlled conditions (Pollock et al., 1902)
✓Focus on economy of motion
✓Develop blade sentiment through slow-speed drills
Common Mistakes
!Over-extending
!Telegraphing the action
!Poor recovery
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1En garde → Preparation → Coupe → Recovery
Sources & References
Primary Source
Fencing (Pollock, Grove & Prevost, 1902)
1Book[1] Pollock, W.H., Grove, F.C. and Prevost, C. (1902). Fencing, Boxing, Wrestling. Longmans, Green, and Co. Badminton Library of Sports and Pastimes. [2] Castle, E. (1885). Schools and Masters of Fence. George Bell and Sons.
description, historyOrigin: sourced from Pollock, W
2Citation[1] Pollock, W.H., Grove, F.C. and Prevost, C. (1902). Fencing, Boxing, Wrestling. Longmans, Green, and Co. Badminton Library of Sports and Pastimes. [2] Castle, E. (1885). Schools and Masters of Fence. George Bell and Sons.
description, historyOrigin: sourced from Pollock, W
Community
Athletics
Requires good arm extension
Quick reflexes
Balance and footwork
Notes
The coupé appears in 468 passages across our corpus. A blade action that passes over the opponent's tip to change the line of attack — the blade lifts up and over rather than going around. Faster than a disengage but requires more precise timing. (468 passages; fencing texts)
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I sequence downward cuts and rising cuts efficiently when stepping?
If you want to do one cut per step, follow a downward cut with a rising cut from the outside, as this maintains forward momentum without wasted movement. Trying to chain a downward cut with a cross-body rising cut forces your sword path to cross over itself unnecessarily (Just a Bug — Jedok Geom Part 5).
What's the key to improving my downward cuts?
Ensure your elbows extend along the line of the cut itself. If your arms are extended away from your body's direction, adjust by pulling your elbows in so that when you cut, the extension follows through on the proper line (Just a Bug — Improve Your Downwards Cuts).
What should I prioritize when learning draw cutting?
Focus on three things in order: safety for yourself (train with a bokeh first), safety for your sword, and then the draw cut technique itself. Learn how to safely unsheathe and resheathe before attempting draw cuts, as it's an advanced technique that can cause serious injury (Just a Bug — Advanced wakizashi technique-draw cutting).
How does the Coupe work?
The Coupé (cutover) passes the point over the opponent's blade by lifting the hand and dropping the point on the other side, changing the line of attack from above rather than below. It is the counterpart to the disengage and is effective against opponents who defend with low blade positions.
Where does the Coupe come from?
The Coupe was codified in European fencing treatises from the 16th century onward. Italian and French schools developed the technique into its modern form through centuries of refinement.
Is the Coupe legal in competition?
FIE: legal — Legal fencing technique — governed by FIE rules for foil, épée, and sabre; HEMA: legal — Legal in historical fencing competition
How dangerous is the Coupe?
Danger rating 3/10. Sport fencing with protective equipment; historically lethal with sharp weapons
How do I set up the Coupe?
The standard setup chain: En garde → Preparation → Coupe → Recovery.
How do I defend against the Coupe?
Standard counters include: Counter-parry / Distance management / Stop-hit.
What are the variants of the Coupe?
Common variants: Direct coupe; Indirect coupe; Compound coupe.
How effective is the Coupe in competition?
Used in FIE international fencing competition
What are common mistakes when doing the Coupe?
Top errors to watch for: Over-extending / Telegraphing the action / Poor recovery.
What are other names for the Coupe?
The Coupe is also known as Kupe, Coupé, Cutover, Cut-Over Attack.