Tachi Uchi no Kurai
see also the Muso Jikiden Eishin ryu version
Tachi uchi no kurai is a form of kumitachi (paired sword form) practiced as part of Shinmei ryu and its branches. There is a seated set called Tsumi Ai no Kurai, but this is taught even less often than the Tachi set. The forms as practiced today are probably of relatively recent origin. Originally a lot more forms probably existed, and may have contained a jiujutsu component.
As the name suggests, an important aspect of the form is striking the swords together, so bokutou are used. Chiburi and noto is performed after each kata, so ideally bokutou with saya are used.
Reigi
On formal occasions, you start and end with the following reigi: Uchidachi and shidachi meet outside the embu area. Both have swords in teito, shidachi walks in front and turns around right. Both go to seiza and place the sword on the right with kashira level to the knee. Both hands move together for the bow. Stand, enter the embu area, perform shomen ni rei and tou rei as at the beginning of MSR iaido. Stand and perform the forms. Reigi at the end is the same but in reverse order.
1 Deai
Uchi and shi take the saya with the left hand, then the tsuka with the right and advance the right foot to a slight hanmi.
Both take three large, accelerating steps; right, left and draw sword, right and aiuchi towards the right knee.
Shi pushes through the center with a slight forward movement, draws the left foot next to the right and cuts a two-handed shomen uchi, advancing the right foot. Uchi moves the right foot back and performs a crossed block.
Shi draws the left foot next to the right and pushes through. Uchi abandons the block and lowers the sword to his left.
Shi retains control. Uchi slowly withdraws to chudan.
From issoku itto no maai, both lower swords to horizontal, perform yoko chiburi and noto. Left foot forward next to the right, hand releases the tsuka, and withdraw 5 steps to starting position.
2 Tsukekomi
Uchi and shi take the saya with the left hand, then the tsuka with the right and advance the right foot to a slight hanmi. Both take three large, accelerating steps; right, left and draw sword, right and aiuchi towards the right knee.
Shi steps forward with the left foot behind Uchi's right into hidari hanmi, pushes uchi's sword aside and with the left hand blocks uchi's wrist to his thigh. Shi thrusts upward with the kissaki to uchi's throat or chest, right arm against the body, tsuba in front of the hara. Uchi slowly withdraws to chudan. Shi retains control.
From issoku itto no maai, both lower swords to horizontal, perform yoko chiburi and noto. Left foot forward next to the right, hand releases the tsuka, and withdraw 5 steps to starting position.
3 Ukenagashi
From taito shize, nuke tou to migi hanmi, draw left foot up to right to chudan, withdraw right foot to hasso. Both advance three steps, left, right, left.
Shi attacks shomen uchi while stepping forward with the right foot. Uchi blocks crossed while keeping position.
Uchi steps back left and performs shomen uchi, shi advances left and performs crossed block.
Shi advances right with shomen uchi, uchi steps back right and performs open block.
Uchi steps back left with shomen uchi, shi advances left with open block.
Shi advances right with shomen uchi, uchi steps back right and sweeps shi's sword aside to hasso.
Shi advances right with seme tsuki to uchi's throat, uchi slides back.
Shi again advances right with seme tsuki to uchi's throat, uchi slides back.
Uchi strikes shi's sword aside and down, and thrusts to shi's hara, right foot forward, arms stretched, leaning forward. Shi takes a large step forward with the left foot, catches the thrust with uke nagashi, turns 90° around the left foot and cuts to the back of uchi's neck while stepping back with the right foot.
Uchi turns 90° under shi's sword and slowly withdraws to chudan. Shi retains control. Both turn around their mutual center to face back in the original direction.
From issoku itto no maai, both lower swords to horizontal, perform yoko chiburi and noto. Left foot forward next to the right, hand releases the tsuka, and withdraw 5 steps to starting position.
4 Ukekomi (or uke-iri)
From taito shize, nuke tou to migi hanmi, draw left foot up to right to chudan, withdraw right foot to hasso. Both advance three steps, left, right, left.
Shi attacks shomen uchi while stepping forward with the right foot. Uchi blocks crossed while keeping position.
Uchi steps back left and performs shomen uchi, shi advances left and performs crossed block.
Shi advances right with shomen uchi, uchi steps back right and performs open block.
Uchi steps back left with shomen uchi, shi advances left with open block.
Shi advances right with shomen uchi, uchi steps back right and sweeps shi's sword aside to hasso.
Shi advances right with seme tsuki to uchi's throat, uchi slides back.
Uchi steps back to jodan and intents to attack, shi immediately attacks the head or left kote in case of low jodan.
Uchi slowly withdraws to chudan. Shi retains control.
From issoku itto no maai, both lower swords to horizontal, perform yoko chiburi and noto. Left foot forward next to the right, hand releases the tsuka, and withdraw 5 steps to starting position.
5 Tsukikage
From taito shize, nuke tou to migi hanmi, draw left foot up to right to chudan.
Uchi advances left foot to hasso, shi lowers sword to gedan. Both advance three big steps. Uchi steps left, right, left. Shi steps right, left, right.
Uchi attacks shomen uchi while stepping forward with the right foot. Shi crosses swords from below while keeping position.
Both move forward to tsuba zeriai at chest height, right foot forward.
Uchi steps back with the right foot to hasso, shi steps back with the right foot to waki.
Uchi steps forward with the right foot and cuts horizontally to shi's left knee or body, depending on distance (optionally place left knee on the floor). The tsuka remains close and stops left of the hara. Shi withdraws left and cuts shomen uchi.
Uchi slowly withdraws to chudan. Shi retains control.
From issoku itto no maai, both lower swords to horizontal, perform yoko chiburi and noto. Left foot forward next to the right, hand releases the tsuka, and withdraw 5 steps to starting position.
6 Suigetsuto
From taito shize, nuke tou to migi hanmi, draw left foot up to right to chudan.
Uchi advances left foot to hasso, shi raises his sword horizontally to eye level. Both advance three big steps. Uchi steps left, right, left. Shi steps right, left, right.
Uchi steps forward with the right foot and cuts horizontally to shi's right knee (optionally place left knee on the floor). The tsuka remains close and stops left of the hara. Shi withdraws the right foot and cuts shomen uchi.
Uchi slowly withdraws to chudan. Shi retains control.
From issoku itto no maai, both lower swords to horizontal, perform yoko chiburi and noto. Left foot forward next to the right, hand releases the tsuka, and withdraw 5 steps to starting position.
7 Doku myoken
From taito shize, nuke tou to migi hanmi, draw left foot up to right to chudan.
Uchi advances left foot to hasso, shi lowers sword to gedan. Both advance three big steps. Uchi steps left, right, left. Shi steps right, left, right.
Uchi attacks shomen uchi while stepping forward with the right foot. Shidachi attacks ai uchi shomen uchi, right foot forward.
Both move forward to tsuba zeriai at chest height, right foot forward.
Uchi steps back with the right foot to jodan, intending to strike, shi immediately attacks with ganmen ate, right foot forward, back of the sword resting on the right shoulder.
Uchi lowers the sword to the side and withdraws to chudan. Shi keeps pressure, and when uchi withdraws, brings the kissaki to uchi's men, and lowers to chudan.
From issoku itto no maai, both lower swords to horizontal, perform yoko chiburi and noto. Left foot forward next to the right, hand releases the tsuka, and withdraw 5 steps to starting position.
8 Zetsumyoken
From taito shize, nuke tou to migi hanmi, draw left foot up to right to chudan, withdraw right foot to hasso. Both advance three steps, left, right, left.
Shi attacks shomen uchi while stepping forward with the right foot. Uchi blocks crossed while keeping position.
Uchi steps back left and performs shomen uchi, shi advances left and blocks diagonally, supporting the blade with the left hand.
Shi advances in okuri ashi and pushes uchi's sword aside with a clockwise motion, followed by a thrust to the side of the throat, the left hand still supporting the blade. Uchi moves back right to migi hanmi, his sword being pushed aside.
Uchi slowly withdraws to chudan. Shi retains control and goes to chudan.
From issoku itto no maai, both lower swords to horizontal, perform yoko chiburi and noto. Left foot forward next to the right, hand releases the tsuka, and withdraw 5 steps to starting position.
9 Shinmyoken
Uchi: from taito shize, nuke tou to migi hanmi, draw left foot up to right to chudan. Uchi advances left foot to hasso.
Shi remains in shizentai.
Uchi advances left, shi places hands on the sword.
Uchi advances right and left, shi advances right and left while drawing the sword.
Uchi attacks shomen uchi while stepping forward with the right foot. Shidachi blocks one-handed, left hand at saya, right foot forward.
Shi pushes the block slightly. Uchi tries to attack from waki, shi grabs tsuka with both hands and cuts the left of uchi's neck. Uchi is forced to withdraw the right foot.
Uchi withdraws to chudan. Shi keeps pressure, and goes to chudan.
From issoku itto no maai, both lower swords to horizontal, perform yoko chiburi and noto. Left foot forward next to the right, hand releases the tsuka, and withdraw 5 steps to starting position.
10. Uchi Komi
From taito shize, nuke tou to migi hanmi, draw left foot up to right to chudan, withdraw right foot to hasso. Both advance three steps, left, right, left.
Shi attacks uchi's left neck while stepping forward with the right foot. Uchi blocks as in kirigaeshi.
Shi steps forward left and cuts uchi's right neck, uchi steps back left and blocks right.
Shi attacks uchi's left neck while stepping forward with the right foot. Uchi blocks left.
Shi steps forward left and cuts uchi's right neck, uchi steps back left and blocks right, pushes shi's sword down and moves to waki.
Shi cuts shomen uchi, right forward, shi tries to attack from waki but is forced to step back with the right foot.
Uchi slowly withdraws to chudan. Shi retains control and goes to chudan.
From issoku itto no maai, both lower swords to horizontal, perform yoko chiburi and noto. Left foot forward next to the right, hand releases the tsuka, and withdraw 5 steps to starting position.
Second form:
This is the same as the first except shi cuts twice to the neck before uchi's failed counterattack.
Third form:
Shi strikes shomen uchi, right foot forward, uchi strikes shi's right yokomen in aiuchi, right foot forward.
Shi has the center and presses forward to uchi's men, uchi withdraws left with crossed block.
Shi pushes through the block, uchi abandons.
Uchi slowly withdraws to chudan. Shi retains control and goes to chudan.