LEFT Hand Katana Drawing Techniques You Never Knew Existed

*The content of our videos is based on the teachings of Asayama Ichiden Ryu and personal studies/experience | There is no intention of denying other Ryuha styles, theories, and cultural aspects

⚔️Join the Online Kobudo Training with Seki Sensei⚔️

❶ No previous martial arts experience is required; you can catch up anytime
❷ Every lesson will be RECORDED and will be available to rewatch anytime
❸ You can ask Seki Sensei questions about the techniques and samurai culture/history
❹ You can join even if you belong to another Ryuha style
❺ You can receive OFFICIAL DAN RANKS by taking exams online (and opening a DOJO in the future)

🧐Frequently Asked Questions About Our Online Lessons:
Q❓: I have no experience with katana. Will I still be able to catch up?
A💡: You don’t need any previous katana martial arts experience to participate in our lessons.

Seki Sensei, the instructor of the online lessons, will carefully instruct you on how to handle the katana regardless of your level. You will also be able to access all the videos of the past lessons so you can watch what every other student has learned. You can also send us videos of your progress, and Seki Sensei will be happy to give you feedback.

Q❓: What is the right length of the Iaito (zinc alloy training katana) I should use?
A💡: Please purchase an Iaitō at least two blocks longer than the standard length.

The standard length for Seki Sensei is about 177cm, so he should use a 2.45 Shaku long katana. However, he uses a 2.6 Shaku-long katana that is supposed to be used by someone 190cm tall. If the katana is too short, it becomes too easy to draw, which is not good for training.

Q❓: Can I join even if I belong to a different Ryuha style?
A💡: Yes, it’s not a problem at all.

The Seki Sensei himself has trained in more than five styles and various other weapons. If you don’t want others to know that you are participating, you can join the online lessons with your camera off. To have the Sensei check your progress, you can send us a video of you practicing.

🗡️Join the Online Iaido Training with Seki Sensei🗡️

Interested in taking Iaido lessons directly from the 8th Dan Iaido Master with 40 years of experience in Musō Shinden Ryu, Seki sensei? Sign up to learn authentic samurai skills with perfect English interpretation from Let’s ask Shogo.
❶ No previous martial arts experience is required; you can catch up anytime
❷ Every lesson will be RECORDED and will be available to rewatch anytime
❸ You can ask Seki Sensei questions about the techniques and samurai culture/history
❹ You can join even if you belong to another Ryuha style

💻Seki Sensei's Official Website💻

🎵Original Opening Theme Song "Hyakuren"🎵
Performance: Hanafugetsu (Singer/Suzuhana Yuko, Shakuhachi/Kaminaga Daisuke, Koto/Ibukuro Kiyoshi)
Compositions & Arrangements: Suzuhana Yuko
Mixing & Mastering: Watabiki Yuta

❓What is Asayama Ichiden Ryu? / Who is Seki sensei?❓

📱Instagram📱
*Please ask us questions through the DM here

#katana #iaido #kenjutsu #kobudo #asayamaichidenryu

[letsasksekisensei]

⚔Join the Online Kobudo Training with Seki Sensei⚔

❶ No previous martial arts experience is required; you can catch up anytime
❷ Every lesson will be RECORDED and will be available to rewatch anytime
❸ You can ask Seki Sensei questions about the techniques and samurai culture/history
❹ You can join even if you belong to another Ryuha style
❺ You can receive OFFICIAL DAN RANKS by taking exams online (and opening a DOJO in the future)


🧐Frequently Asked Questions About Our Online Lessons:
Q❓: I have no experience with katana. Will I still be able to catch up?
A💡: You don’t need any previous katana martial arts experience to participate in our lessons.

Seki Sensei, the instructor of the online lessons, will carefully instruct you on how to handle the katana regardless of your level. You will also be able to access all the videos of the past lessons so you can watch what every other student has learned. You can also send us videos of your progress, and Seki Sensei will be happy to give you feedback.

Q❓: What is the right length of the Iaito (zinc alloy training katana) I should use?
A💡: Please purchase an Iaitō at least two blocks longer than the standard length.

The standard length for Seki Sensei is about 177cm, so he should use a 2.45 Shaku long katana. However, he uses a 2.6 Shaku-long katana that is supposed to be used by someone 190cm tall. If the katana is too short, it becomes too easy to draw, which is not good for training.

Q❓: Can I join even if I belong to a different Ryuha style?
A💡: Yes, it’s not a problem at all.

The Seki Sensei himself has trained in more than five styles and various other weapons. If you don’t want others to know that you are participating, you can join the online lessons with your camera off. To have the Sensei check your progress, you can send us a video of you practicing.

🗡Join the Online Iaido Training with Seki Sensei🗡

Interested in taking Iaido lessons directly from the 8th Dan Iaido Master with 40 years of experience in Musō Shinden Ryu, Seki sensei? Sign up to learn authentic samurai skills with perfect English interpretation from Let’s ask Shogo.
❶ No previous martial arts experience is required; you can catch up anytime
❷ Every lesson will be RECORDED and will be available to rewatch anytime
❸ You can ask Seki Sensei questions about the techniques and samurai culture/history
❹ You can join even if you belong to another Ryuha style

💻Seki Sensei's Official Website💻

🎵Original Opening Theme Song "Hyakuren"🎵
Performance: Hanafugetsu (Singer/Suzuhana Yuko, Shakuhachi/Kaminaga Daisuke, Koto/Ibukuro Kiyoshi)
Compositions & Arrangements: Suzuhana Yuko
Mixing & Mastering: Watabiki Yuta

❓What is Asayama Ichiden Ryu? / Who is Seki sensei?❓

📱Instagram📱
*Please ask us questions through the DM here

#katana #iaido #kenjutsu #kobudo #asayamaichidenryu

[scariuslvl]

In the roman army, legionaries carried their gladius (short roman sword) on their right because they fought in compact shield wall formation, and just as you show here; it takes less space to draw your sword from the same side your hand is on

[billevans]

I often wondered if there was any left hand drawing of the Katana, being that I am left handed. These Kata are awesome!

[TheCCBoi]

I could imagine the shock when a samurai draws with his left hand, slashes an opponent and never drops his umbrella lol. Great video!

[robinthebird]

I am actually Dexterous with both hands but given that I find it very odd to use a sword in my right hand, this was interesting to watch

[evy]

His partner always has the best reaction…. And sometimes even still surprised after seki sensei explains what he’s going to do

[KanuckStreams]

0:19 that look of surprise on his face is legit.

[nickregnier]

A brilliantly made video! Thank you explaining the reverse hand drawing, which makes a lot of sense with specific scenario situations...

[Andreas-ttpw]

I like that you show the katas from many perspektives and also the background music there is very cool and not distracting. Big thumbs up!

[lexikuro]

I saw a variation of the Saya Tate Zanshin on a scene in Nioh 2 where the protagonist uses their katana's saya to block a low sweep like in this video, didn't know it was actually taught and that it could actually come in handy like this!

[florianadolf]

Concise, clear and very accessible breakdown - as always. Thank you, Seki Sensei🙏

[emdivine]

It feels so strange watching this since I'm left-handed. My brain keeps reading your off-hand wielding as main-hand, so I need to specifically reinterpret what I'm seeing as being like a right-hand, awkward grip. Either way I'll get the trick of these kata, since they're about drawing on the same side and one-handed rather than across. It just always fascinates me how deeply handedness is wired into the brain

[dojorat]

Sensei, what are the actual names of each kata? I appreciate the terminology you provided of chiburi and kamae, but what is the name of the entire kata? Thanks!

[mattymaple]

Thanks for sharing. It is great that sec sensei shares his swords and wisdom.

[paolalanterna]

Maestro, le chiedo cortesemente di correggermi se sbaglio. Osservando l'utilizzo della katana con la mano sinistra ho notato che è funzionale alla distanza alla quale si trova il nemico che ci affronta. Spazio e tempo sono determinanti nel duello. Sguainare la katana con la mano sinistra a una distanza così ravvicinata trovo che sia strategicamente efficace, un potente deterrente psicologico e un eccellente modo di ricreare la giusta distanza dal nemico . Grazie dell'attenzione.

[HeLLsBr]

Hmmm I wanted to ask something for the first Kata. When you push the katana downwards with your left hand, doesn't habaki stop the unsheathing, because it gets pushed into the saya, thus drawing the saya as well? It is a really beautiful Kata and I am trying to learn it, but can't figure out how to solve the habaki issue 😂. Cheers!

[mandigallelli-boyer]

I love watching you guys, please keep doing this.

[lamaoscura]

Im a lefthanded, my friend try sparring with katana and don't understand my moviment. Simply i don't use "classic" kata, but adapt the moviment with my hand.

[alexanderkstrauss]

Amazing 🎉 thanks for the names of the zanshin also very helpful. ❤ apart from the tactical benefits of left hand draws I can’t overemphasize the proprioceptor and kinesthetic advantages for your technique from practicing every movements with your weak side as well. I already knew this from other combatives, shooting and snow/skate boarding for example and it certainly holds true for Kobudo as well. Helped me immensely for example popping the sheath at the final moment of the throw draw every time and with every movement. Any off hand waza will require so much more mental effort and drive that many more neuronal connections. All my love and respect. ❤❤ Glory to the true teaching 🎉

[projektg]

This is one of the Video together with the reversed grip which makes me wish to be in Japan and to be able to visit the Dojo as trainee. Since I was a Kid I collected sticks and playful practising with them like a lot growing up with the old King Arthur and Robin Hood movies and the rising popularity of Samurai movies in Europe (1990-2000). And never full stopped to do it. But never had the time or money to visit a fencing school. But since them no matter how deep I dive into the matter, I stumble over handlings, movements and stances which I think no one would ever use because they seems random unpractical or difficult to bring into normal technics. But they was official long ago and even swords got specially designed for them.