Tameshigiri Videos

Tameshigiri 試し斬り is the testing of swords and swordsmen against a target.  Tameshigiri was once practiced on condemned criminals, but today the targets are tatami omote (straw like floor covering).  Please do not try tameshigiri without proper instruction and supervision. We require six months of classes before students begin this type of training. Stainless steel replica swords are not used since they can easily break and cause serious injury.  We use shinken cutting swords designed for real use.  Tameshigiri is performed on new tatami soaked overnight.  The price list and availability of these swords can be found on our shinken page and the targets on our tatami page.

If you can not see the video you may need to load the "ffdshow MPEG-4 Video Decoder" codec for your media player.  We suggest going to get the Combined Community Codec at http://www.cccp-project.net/ .

NEW Practical Plus Standard Katana
	Inazuma Giri - Lightning cut - A kesa (downward diagonal), gyaku kesa (upward diagonal), and kesa (downward diagonal) are performed in under a second.  See Video
	Mizu Gaeshi - Returning wave cut - A gyaku kesa (upward diagonal) cut is done on the bottom of the target and the severed piece is cut in two with a suihei (horizontal) cut before it falls.  See Video
	Kawasemi - Kingfisher cut - A kesa (downward diagonal) cut is performed on the top of the target.  A gyaku kesa (upward diagonal) cut is done on the bottom of the target and the severed piece is cut in two with a suihei (horizontal) cut before it falls.  See Video  See Slow Motion Video
	Rokudan Giri - This six cut sequence is from the fifth ZNBDR shoden seitei kata.  See Video
	Mizu Garuma -  A gyaku kesa (upward diagonal) cut is done on the bottom of the target and the severed piece is cut in two with a gyaku kesa (upward diagonal) cut from the opposite side before it falls.  See Video
	Nami Gaeshi - Wave cut - A kesa (downward diagonal) cut is performed on the first target.  A gyaku kesa (upward diagonal) cut is done on the second target followed by a suihei (horizontal) cut on both targets.  See Video
	Batto Giri - Draw and cut - The katana is drawn from the saya and cuts in a single motion.  Gyaku kesa (upward diagonal), kesa (downward diagonal), and suihei (horizontal) cuts are performed in this sequence.  See Video
	Futo Giri - Wide cut - A kesa (downward diagonal) cut is performed on a large 5 tatami target.  See Video
	Nuki Uchi - These two cuts are from the second Toyama Ryu kata.  A batto suihei (horizontal draw and cut) is followed by a kesa (downward diagonal) cut.  See Video
	Syo Hatto - These two cuts are from the first Toyama Ryu kata.  A batto gyaku kesa (upward diagonal draw and cut) is followed by a kesa (downward diagonal) cut.  See Video
	Tonbo - Dragonfly cut - Two kesa (downward diagonal) cuts are performed from hasso on a freestanding horizontal target.  See Video
	Tsubame - Swallow cut -  A kesa (downward diagonal) cut is followed immediately with a gyaku kesa (upward diagonal) cut.  The two cuts are performed from both sides of the target.  See Video
CAS Hanwei Wind and Thunder Katana
	Inazuma Giri - Lightning cut - A kesa (downward diagonal), gyaku kesa (upward diagonal), and kesa (downward diagonal) are performed in under a second.  See Video
	Kawasemi - Kingfisher cut - A kesa (downward diagonal) cut is performed on the top of the target.  A gyaku kesa (upward diagonal) cut is done on the bottom of the target and the severed piece is cut in two with a suihei (horizontal) cut before it falls.  See Video
	Mizu Gaeshi - Returning wave cut - A gyaku kesa (upward diagonal) cut is done on the bottom of the target and the severed piece is cut in two with a suihei (horizontal) cut before it falls.  See Video
	Rokudan Giri - This six cut sequence is from the fifth ZNBDR shoden seitei kata.  See Video
	Nami Gaeshi - Wave cut - A kesa (downward diagonal) cut is performed on the first target.  A gyaku kesa (upward diagonal) cut is done on the second target followed by a suihei (horizontal) cut on both targets.  See Video
	Batto Giri - Draw and cut - The katana is drawn from the saya and cuts in a single motion.  Gyaku kesa (upward diagonal), kesa (downward diagonal), and suihei (horizontal) cuts are performed in this sequence.  See Video
	Futo Giri - Wide cut - A kesa (downward diagonal) cut is performed on a large 5 tatami target.  See Video
	Mizu Garuma -  A gyaku kesa (upward diagonal) cut is done on the bottom of the target and the severed piece is cut in two with a gyaku kesa (upward diagonal) cut from the opposite side before it falls.  See Video
	Tonbo - Dragonfly cut - Two kesa (downward diagonal) cuts are performed from hasso on a freestanding horizontal target.  See Video
L6 Katana
	Yokonarabi - A kesa (downward diagonal) cut is performed on 5 tatami targets.  See Video With Slow Motion
	Batto Giri - Draw and cut - The katana is drawn from the saya and cuts in a single motion.  Gyaku kesa (upward diagonal), kesa (downward diagonal), and suihei (horizontal) cuts are performed in this sequence.  See Video See Slow Motion Video
	Rokudan Giri - This six cut sequence is from the fifth ZNBDR shoden seitei kata.  See Video
	Mizu Gaeshi - Returning wave cut - A gyaku kesa (upward diagonal) cut is done on the bottom of the target and the severed piece is cut in two with a suihei (horizontal) cut before it falls.  See Video
	Tonbo - Dragonfly cut - Two kesa (downward diagonal) cuts are performed from hasso on a freestanding horizontal target.  See Video