Chapter – 16 Kenjutsu Training: Grip & Posture

Training Field Twenty-Seven

"Hooh…? It seems you have really worked hard in completing the obstacle course, as well as mastering all the footwork techniques…" said Yūgao in surprise and looked at Hayate, "Don't you think so too?"

Once Sasuke had finished displaying all the footwork styles that were taught to him, Hayate nodded with Yūgao's opinion, "Indeed."

Noting that both Yūgao & Hayate were satisfied with his footwork mastery, Sasuke spoke, "In that case, can we move to the next aspect?"

Yūgao responded, "Certainly we can move to the next aspect, but before that…" she paused, and said, "I want to ask something."

"What do you want to ask?" questioned Sasuke.

"How many days did it take for you to complete the Obstacle Course on the seventy-ninth training field?" asked Yūgao.

"Twenty-two days…" answered Sasuke in a flat tone. He figured that if someone from the Anbu or the Foundation was keeping watch over him from the Shadows, Yūgao might already know about this, so there was no point in hiding such a thing.

Hayate blinked in surprise, "That's faster than Uchiha Shisui… you seem to have broken his record for fastest completion of the Obstacle Course."

Sasuke shrugged, "Records are created to be broken, there's nothing to be surprised about something so obvious."

Yūgao spoke with a mild smile, "I suppose you are right on that part." And added, "But I guess this also makes you a genius. Although Uchiha Shisui was a little younger than you at the time he completed the Obstacle Course, this doesn't mean you aren't a genius."

"Is that so?" mumbled Sasuke with a thoughtful expression. Although he has inherited the genius of 'Uchiha Sasuke,' the memories and experience of the assassin play a much more important role when it comes to defining his genius. Therefore, he isn't certain whether he can be categorized as a genius or simply an exception. He feels that an anomaly would be a more suitable choice of word.

Hayate agreed with Yūgao, "Indeed… you are definitely a genius Uchiha Sasuke."

Sasuke shook his head, "Genius or trash, that's irrelevant at this point… as long as I can complete my objective, I don't care about other pointless things," and said, "Well, if there's nothing else for you to question, I would like to move to the next aspect of the Kenjutsu, if possible."

Both Hayate & Yūgao looked at Sasuke with a helpless smile, then nodded, "Very well then…"

Yūgao spoke, "There are two aspects you are going to be focusing upon next, grip. In Kenjutsu, the grip is a foundational element that significantly impacts technique, strategy, and overall effectiveness in combat. 

Talking about Grip itself, it is the manner in which a Kenjutsu user… or a user of any weapon for that matter holds & controls a weapon or engages with an enemy. Grip encompasses the positioning, pressure, and alignment of the hands and fingers to optimize control, power, and dexterity during battle. It is fundamental to effective technique execution, weapon manipulation, and strategic engagement or readiness for defensive maneuvers.

There are multiple aspects of the Grip itself, Hand Position, pressure & tension, thumb placement, finger alignment, adaptability, and grip transitioning.

Hand Position determines the part of the hilt at which you are going to hold the Sword for better leverage, control, and reach during strikes, blocks, and other offensive or defensive actions.

Pressure & Tension determine the amount of pressure your fingers and palm must apply to the hilt of the Sword or Katana to affect the firmness and stability of the grip in order to balance the tension that constantly builds up when you wield a sword for a long time during combat.

Thumb Placement determines the positioning of the thumb relative to the finger and grip surface for additional support, control, and stability. Variations in thumb placement can alter the angle and force of strikes & blocks.

Proper alignment of fingers along the grip surface enhances grip strength & control. It helps with the precise manipulation of the sword and facilitates intricate techniques and combinations. In fact, one of the most important aspects is pressure point alignment. Leveraging the pressure points to control the hilt can effectively enhance control over the sword. By exerting pressure with specific fingers and adjusting the grip dynamically, Kenjutsu users can modulate the speed, angle, and trajectory of their strikes.

Of course, having knowledge of these aspects is important, but what's more important is to be able to adapt to different positioning dynamically. A good Kenjutsu user must be capable of adjusting the grip width, angle, and grip pressure to optimize performance in order to accommodate changes in combat scenarios, enemies' tactics, and weapons' characteristics.

When talking about grip transitioning, it's all about seamlessly shifting between different hand configurations to maximize versatility and adaptability in combat, which means, being capable of seamlessly transitioning between the One-Handed Grip, Two-Handed Grip, Double-Handed Grip, Reverse Grip, and Draw Grip.

Certainly, each of these five grips has its applications, advantages, and disadvantages."

Explaining up to here, Yūgao paused, then she turned to Hayate, "Please…" who picked up his Shinai and started to demonstrate various grips while Yūgao continued to explain, "I will go upon them one by one.

The first up is naturally the One-Handed Grip. As can be inferred from the name involves gripping the sword with one hand on the hilt while the other hand remains free or positioned for balance and stability. It allows for quick, agile movements and precise strikes with the sword, and is often used for single-handed techniques such as deflections, thrusts, and quickdraws. 

One-handed grips provide greater reach and extension for thrusting and slashing techniques and enable rapid transitions between offensive and defensive maneuvers. Of course, it also has its disadvantages as it offers less leverage and control compared to a two-handed grip, and may lack power and stability for certain techniques, particularly against strong resistance.

The next up is the two-handed grip. It involves gripping the sword with both hands on the hilt, with one hand positioned above the other for enhanced control and power. It is commonly used for powerful strikes, blocks, as well as defensive techniques in Kenjutsu, and it provides increased stability, leverage, and precision compared to a one-handed grip. 

Using a two-handed grip helps superior control and manipulation of the blade for executing complex techniques and combinations, and it evenly distributes force between both hands, minimizes fatigue along with maximizing power generation. Of course, a two-handed grip is not without its disadvantages either as it requires coordination and synchronization of hand movements to maintain balance & fluidity, and it may limit flexibility and speed in certain situations compared to a one-handed grip.

The next up is the double-handed grip. It is a variant of the two-handed grip where both hands grip the hilt closely together, providing additional stability and control. It is often employed for precise and powerful cutting techniques, such as diagonal slashes and overhead strikes, and it allows for enhanced coordination and synchronization of hand movements to execute advanced kata and combat sequences. 

A double-handed grip provides a secure and balanced grip on the katana, minimizing the risk of slipping or losing control during engagement, and enables Kenjutsu users to generate maximum force and momentum for delivering devastating blows and effective defenses. Just like the previous two grips, the double-handed grip is not without its disadvantages either. It requires proper hand positioning and grip alignment to avoid strain or discomfort during prolonged use, and it may limit versatility and adaptability compared to other grip styles in certain combat scenarios.

After the double-handed grip, we have the reverse grip. It involves gripping the katana with the blade facing downward and the hilt positioned in the palm of the hand, typically used for specialized techniques or combat situations. It is primarily used for close-quarters combat, surprise attacks, or defensive maneuvers where conventional grips may be impractical, and it allows for quick and deceptive strikes from unexpected angles, catching opponents off guard and disrupting their defenses. 

A reverse grip provides a compact and concealable grip that enhances maneuverability and agility in confined spaces and facilitates rapid transitions between offensive and defensive postures, exploiting vulnerabilities in the opponent's defenses. Reverse grip also has its set of disadvantages as it requires advanced training and proficiency to master the nuances of reverse grip techniques and maintain control of the Sword, and offers limited reach and power compared to traditional grips, making it less effective for long-range engagements.

Finally, we have the draw grip. It refers to the grip used during the initial draw of the sword from its scabbard, emphasizing speed, precision, and readiness to engage the opponent. It is a critical component of Iaijutsu (Quick Draw Sword Techniques) and Battōjutsu (sword-drawing techniques), where Kenjutsu users must execute swift and decisive strikes immediately upon drawing the katana. It enables Kenjutsu users to maintain a secure grip on the katana while transitioning seamlessly from a resting state to a combat-ready posture. 

Mastery of the draw grips can optimize the efficiency and effectiveness of sword-drawing techniques, minimizing the time and motion required to prepare for engagement and enhancing situational awareness and responsiveness by enabling practitioners to initiate preemptive strikes or defensive actions at a moment's notice. Just like the previous four, it's not without its disadvantages either as it requires precise timing, coordination, and control to execute draw grip techniques safely and effectively without compromising technique or stability, and it may be susceptible to errors or accidents if performed hastily or without proper training and supervision."

After Yūgao gave information about all grip, she went on to Posture, "Talking about posture… It refers to the overall alignment and positioning of the body while holding the sword. It involves how one stands, how the shoulders are positioned, the placement of the feet, and the general alignment of the spine. A proper posture ensures stability, balance, and readiness to engage in combat. It also helps in maintaining proper form and executing techniques effectively." She paused for a moment, and added, "Considering that you have completed the Obstacle Course, you should have gained a general idea of balance, the center of gravity, and other aspects so I won't go too deep into this." Then she tossed a scroll at Sasuke which the young Uchiha caught and she continued, "More detailed information about the topic of Grip & Posture that I have just explained to you is recorded in this scroll… if you have any problem or doubt, refer to this scroll… naturally, you can come to either of us too for the explanation if there's any problem you are facing, understand?"

Sasuke nodded, "Yes," and sat down under the shade of a tree to read the scroll handed to him by Yūgao. After reading the scroll he would try to experience different grips & postures with a wooden Shinai to understand balance and center of gravity for the most efficient swordplay.

Receiving Sasuke's reply Yūgao breathed a sigh of relief. She had talked a lot today as she gave all the information about Grip techniques to Sasuke, and now she was feeling a little tired.

"Here you go…" At this time, Hayate handed her a bamboo bottle filled with water to make her feel refreshed.

"Thank you Hayate-kun," nodded Yūgao as she gulped down the water to relieve her thirst, and once again sighed.

Once Yūgao had finished drinking the water, Hayate said, "Let's take a short break before starting our training," to which Yūgao nodded, "Hmm."

.

.

As always, drop your power stones, comments as well as reviews, and also if you like the story so far, then make sure to add the book to your library for constant updates of new Chapters.