Iwama Aiki-Ken Suburi - Common Mistakes in Bukiwaza 

My pleasure!

Good question and simple answer. The Japanese never have left handed people if they did they tied the left hand to make the right only work. As the Ken and Jo were taken from the Samuri it follows their way of fighting. Saying this some of my black belts do use the Jo with the left hand but never the Ken as it represents the sword.

Glad it was helpful!

Glad it was helpful! I have watched sensei in motion and when he is cutting faster than when showing slow he does end the cut with his step in the same timing. I do it as it gives me a timing from head to toe. If it works as well for U as it does me. I think U will really find a great change in your Aikido body. It does take many years, it did me anyway.

@@Tony_Sargeant thanks so much for the reply, and for putting so many great resources online.

I thank you and all those who take the time to watch them.

Well one of the reasons why I never followed Hitohira was his Aikido tome was to far from what his father taught me over my 27 years. He did himself when younger lean more but as tie went by he became more upright and told us off if we stuck our 'Butt out" In Germany once he said "Tony U look like a Duck" From that day on I changed my posture. I like H as a person but cannot find anything nice about the way he teaches big steps and as U say the body posture. It looks so different to anyone else and'All who follow him also look odd' Sorry thats what U asked me for and that is what I think. But U may like it if U trained so long with him. I am so happy my time was with his father. Does this answer your question?

@@Tony_Sargeant, I thank you very much for sharing your thoughts to me, I appreciate that. Your answer surely satisfies my question from an historical dimension, but I was wondering if you have something more technical to add on top of that. Why did Saito switch from a "duck" posture to a more upright posture and why did his son come back to the duck one? What are the technical reasons to prefer one rather than the other one? I suspect Saito has never given you this answer considering the traditional Japanese way of teaching, but I'm sure you've developed your personal opinion on this and it would be nice if you wanted to share it with us.

I love your persistence. But on Y/T I neve r write a lot back to questions. Perhaps when I get time I will make a film stating why I do not do H Aikido. But If U look at O-Sensei film of when he was around 50 years old U will C at the end of his throws a line from his heel going all the way up to his head is in a line that is straight. This is the line one should aim for when cutting Ken and jo as well as Taijutsu.