The Challenge of Sequential Cuts

Students often struggle with executing smooth, continuous down-up-down cutting sequences. The difficulty lies not in performing individual cuts, but in maintaining speed, precision, and fluidity through the transitions while controlling blade placement.

Speed and Precision Requirements

While most practitioners can execute individual downward and upward cuts, few can perform them in rapid succession with clean technique. The true test is maintaining this pattern while cutting through resistance, not merely moving through empty space.

Progression from Wooden to Steel Practice

Training typically begins with a wooden bokuto to establish basic movement patterns and footwork. Upon advancing to steel blades—aluminum alloy or shinai—the margin for error decreases significantly, as sharp edges present real danger of finger injury.

Target Size and Cutting Precision

Full overhead swings create wide arcs that obscure actual target dimensions. A human neck, for example, measures only several inches wide, requiring practitioners to focus the cut through a narrow window rather than across the entire swing trajectory.

The Airplane Landing Principle

The blade must enter the target, execute the cut cleanly, and exit fully through the target zone—similar to an aircraft making a complete landing. Practitioners often prematurely retract the blade, failing to follow through the angle of attack and compromising both power and safety.

Core Exercise: Extended Position Drills

The foundational exercise requires extending the blade fully while pointing toward ceiling corner joints, then pulling downward. The practitioner then rings the blade outward and upward, repeating this extended sequence to recalibrate muscle engagement and joint positioning.

Muscle Memory Development Through Repetition

Initial practice will produce discomfort and fatigue in the elbows and arms due to unfamiliar muscle activation patterns. Proper technique requires thousands of repetitions to establish the neural pathways necessary for automatic, precise blade control.

Progressive Target Reduction

As muscle memory develops, practitioners gradually decrease target size to build accuracy within realistic dimensions. This progressive refinement transforms awkward movements into economical, powerful cuts capable of clean severing strikes.

Shihan Dana Abbott Sword Training: DAILY 4: Upward and Downward Cutting Angles

Learnthesword

Upward Cut

2 min read·8 key moments·PT6M7S video

Key Takeaways

•The Challenge of Sequential Cuts
•Speed and Precision Requirements
•Progression from Wooden to Steel Practice
•Target Size and Cutting Precision

Today's segment: Upward and downward cutting angles Learn the Sword Daily answers many of those hard to find details about Japanese Swordsmanship while offering advice on how to improve one's practical application and technique. Shihan Dana Abbott Sword Training: For more information on Japanese sword training go to our website at https://www.learnthesword.universitymartialarts.com/

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Backhand Cut Slash Cut

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this video teach about upward cut?

This video covers the challenge of sequential cuts, speed and precision requirements, progression from wooden to steel practice. It provides detailed instruction from Learnthesword.

How long does it take to learn upward cut?

The basic mechanics can be understood in a single session, but developing reliable execution requires consistent drilling over weeks of practice. This 8-part breakdown helps structure your training by isolating each phase of the technique.