Generate Power

There are three mechanisms for generating power. These will be demonstrated using a bokken but they apply to all moves.

1. Hip Twist

   Movie of Hip Twist.

   Fig. 1 Start		Fig. 2 Strike

   1. Fig. 1 shows the start. Nage's arms are nearly straight. Many people have to lock their elbows straight to keep from bending their arms. The right hip is twisted as far back as possible so that the Boken comes right above Nage's head nearly touching Nage's forehead.
   2. Fig. 2 shows the strike. Nage's hips rotate so that the right hip is as far forward as possible. The hands are kept at the same level and allowed to move in such a way that the tip of the Boken stays on a straight line from the center of Nage's head to the end of the strike. Nage's arms do not bend. This generates a powerful strike without using the arms. The arms only connect Nage's hips to the sword. Be sure that Nage's shoulders rotate with Nage's hips.

2. Drop Hips

   				Fig. 3 shows Nage standing up with the sword raised to cut. Fig. 4 shows the bottom of the cut with Nage squatting down. Squatting drops the body weight putting tremendous power into the sword cut.
   Fig. 3 Sword Up		Fig. 4 Cut Down

3. Lunge Forward

   Fig. 5 Start		Fig. 6 Lunge Forward

   1. Fig. 5 shows the start with the feet together.
   2. In Fig. 6 Nage has lunged forward thrusting the sword. Lunging the body mass forward like this generates considerable power.