Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu Techniques
Itto Seiho
1 sassen (sashi sen, finger point)
Uchidachi steps forward 3 steps in hasso and strikes shomen (shomen referring to kiri otoshi strike ending horizontal in this explanation) on the third. Shidachi starts from gedan, shifts to the right on his third step and stabs to the throat, the left hand is on the hip, koshimi deep stance as described earlier. Take the last steps short so as not to hit, or else aim over the shoulder. The 3rd step is to be fast. Both go to chudan, return to the center if needed, take their neutral kamae and move back. Uchidachi always moves back first. To start the next kata, both players always take chudan first.
2 hasso hidari
Both start from hasso. Uchidachi strikes shomen on the 3rd step, shidachi shifts to the right and cuts the neck, from deep stance, the rest as in sassen.
3 hasso migi
Shidachi starts with the left foot, same as 2 but to the left.
4 uke nagashi hidari
Shidachi starts from gedan with the left foot, uchidachi strikes men (men=strike ending at throat level from now on) on the 3rd step, shidachi steps with the left foot to the right (foot pointing to the right front, not towards uchidachi) and performs uke nagashi block. Uchidachi immediately steps back with the right foot to hasso (left foot forward) and prepares to strike again (a strike is always with the right foot forward for uchidachi, shidachi strikes with either foot forward. Uchidachi is pretty conventional.)
Shidachi steps forward with the right foot and cuts straight down to the hand or head as soon as uchidachi moves back to hasso.
5 uke nagashi migi
Shidachi starts with right foot, etc.
6 moji gamae (the most difficult one)
Shidachi remains in position in moji gamae. Uchidachi takes 5 steps and strikes towards the head. On uchidachi�s 5th step, shidachi brings the right foot next to his left taking jodan (uchidachi's target now becomes kote), and slaps down uchidachi�s sword to the left. Uchidachi pulls back his right foot to hasso. (In this case the step back may be shortened.) Shidachi follows, stepping forward with the right foot and taking jodan. Uchidachi sees the do open up, and cuts down from uchidachi's right to shidachi's left do while stepping back with the left foot. Shidachi strikes the sword down again (to the left). He pulls his left foot next to his right at the moment of this strike. (a lot of striking is done with the feet in shizentai position). Uchidachi pulls back the right foot to hasso again, shidachi follows at once stepping forward with the right foot to koshimi and cuts kote or men.
7 haritsuke
Shidachi starts in gedan. Uchidachi cuts men on the third step, shidachi strikes this cut to his right with his left hand on the mune. The mune must be on the palm of the hand, not the thumb (it would break), the sword points up and the ha points back during this block, use the left side of the sword. The feet are together, the body twists to the right, it is not so much a block as striking away the sword, timing is important. As uchidachi starts to move to hasso, shidachi steps forward with the left foot and stabs to the throat with the hand on the mune in the middle of the sword, from koshimi (deep stance).
8 nagashi uchi (this is also the most difficult one :) )
Shidachi starts from gedan with the left foot, steps to the right and does uke nagashi on the 3rd step, steps forward with the right foot and strikes. Uchidachi now steps to the left with the rear (left) foot after his first strike while doing uke nagashi on the right (that being the foot forward). Shidachi is crowding uchidachi who has to step back with the left foot to get the proper distance to cut. Uchidachi strikes again while stepping back with the left foot.
Shidachi performs uke nagashi again, moving to the left (his feet were together before this ukenagashi) with the left foot this time, then strikes again, stepping in with the right, while uchidachi was moving back to hasso. Uchidachi is still trying to get the advantage back, there's a big feeling of just hammering in on these kata.
9 tora bura (tiger sweep)
Shidachi stands in waki gamae, uchidachi walks up and strikes on the 5th step. Shidachi quickly steps back, and then forward with the other foot and strikes to the neck (hidari kesa, stop at the neck), turning the hips. The feet are changed almost in a jump. The hips should remain on the same height, this should resemble a tiger and not a frog.
10 kazuki
Shidachi starts with left foot, blocks uchidachi�s strike on the ha in a 90 degree block with the left hand on the mune, pushes down the sword in a big circle to his right while slightly moving forward (left foot stays in front) and and traps it between his sword and right leg. When uchidachi tries to move back, shidachi stabs him, bringing his feet together. Push the sword low enough to unbalance uchidachi.
11 aisen uchidome
Both start in hasso, both strike together. Uchidachi starts to move back to hasso, shidachi immediately follows, bringing his feet together, stepping forward with the right and cutting.
12 amashi uchi
Both sides start in Hasso. Shidachi's left wrist is the obvious target 'offered' to Uchidachi. When Uchidachi strikes at the kote, shidachi lets go of the left hand in a circular movement via the rear to avoid being hit, stepping sideways to the right. When Uchidachi retreats to hasso, Shidachi moves in with the right foot and strikes a 2-handed men.
Because this is the last kata, instead of stepping back, go to sonkyo and perform same reigi as before. If there is a bow with the swords on the floor, there is no bow later when standing apart. Only one bow is made.