Misogi with Kodachi

misogi yamaoka

Misogi

In his book "All of Aikido", Yoshigasaki Sensei traces Misogi, as we practice it in Aikido, back to a samurai. This samurai was Yamaoka Tesshu (山岡鉄舟, 1836–1888). His disciple Ogura Tetsuju (小倉鐵樹先生, 1860-1944) founded the Ichikukai Dojo. There, Koichi Tohei practiced Misogi years before he started with Aikido, mainly with Hino Tesso (日野鐵叟, 1898-1987). The training was extremely hard. Tohei reported, that once, exhausted by a misogi, he discovered the principle of relaxation on the mats in the Aikido Hombu Dojo.
In his book, Yoshigasaki Sensei describes Misogi with bell and with bokken. In the following videos he explains another variant with kodachi, the short sword.

suzu bokken kodachi

Preliminary exercises

1. One-handed exercise with the kodachi.
2. Find out the correct position where the movement with the kodachi ends.
3. With one-handed execution, there is a risk that the balance will be lost.
4. Therefore, it is better to perform the exercise in Seiza. Completely relaxed.
5. Comparison of the performance with bokken or with bell. The bell does not pause in the upper position. With the kodachi it is the same.

Misogi with kodachi

Short variant

Misogi with kodachi

Explanation of the different rhythms

Misogi

Explanation to the use of the voice. Do not sing !