performing a sayabiki without touching the blade?

[Nyetna Khazûl]

Hello. :)

I stumbled across this vid with James Williams: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCdI9WQ6e0I

...and I got special attention to what he was saying in 00:20 - 00:50 about not touching the blade when your performing sayabiki (I think it´s called sayabiki, if I´m wrong please correct me).

Can someone please describe a good variation of the finishing sayabiki without touching the blade? Someone maybe knows how mr James Williams does it?

You all have to excuse me for my ignorance, I´ve tried to google but I haven´t found any useful info. :S

[Dotanuki]

I'm not sure if you understand what sayabiki means.
Noto is the sheathing of the sword.
Sayabiki is the movement of the saya [sheath] during Noto, pulling it forward to meet the kissaki [tip], then pulling it back as you sheath, then pulling it forward again to meet the tsuba [hilt] then finally sliding it back again. That is how I do it.
Some styles have no sayabiki at all. Some have different variations.
I would not presume to tell you how he does his, because this is not my style, I would not mistakingly want to tell you the wrong thing.
This really is a "ask your instructor " type question, as I don't know if you can properly convey how to do this, without physically showing someone face to face.

[bobO]

So how does one do Noto without touching the blade. I run my blade along the my left index finger and with the tip of my thumb forming the other side of the channel. Is this correct. Your not gonna tell me to ask my sensei are you.Where still using bokken and I think I will be for awhile. AS to my old ryu I think you just brought the saya out a little then everything went back together. I know when Sifu did it, it was quick.

[Dotanuki]

So how does one do Noto without touching the blade. I run my blade along the my left index finger and with the tip of my thumb forming the other side of the channel. Is this correct. Your not gonna tell me to ask my sensei are you.

PRACTICE!!

Seriously though, If you really want the answer to that question, go to Bugei.com and join their Forum. That way you can ask James himself, since he was the one who made that statement.
Very often statements are made that only pertain to that style, the next style will turn around and tell you to do what the previous just told you not to do. ie., keep your back leg straight, keep your back leg bent.
Was James' demo geared for trained practicioners? Or for the general audience, if it was for the general audience then a lot of people will be stabbing and cutting themselves trying to do what he said.

Bob-O, I know you hate when people say ask your sensei.
But what do you want me to say?
Maybe the way you do it is how you were taught in the Mugai Ryu.
For me to tell you how, would be pompous and tell you how to do it would be wrong, unless I was an instructor in the Mugai Ryu.
If I told you how I THOUGHT James' did it, then I would probably get all sorts of nasty posts from Nami Ryu practicioners, this Forum would then look just like E-Budo and SFI, is that what you want?
Normally I try not to even answer posts such as this, because they just give me headaches [I got one now]. The only reason I answered it is because it seemed Nyetna didn't understand what sayabiki meant. Before I get posts correcting me, you can also use sayabiki on certain draws.

Personally I have a very hard time trying to follow the written word in explainations. I have a even harder time trying to explain a physical activity with the written word. I have a hard time explaining things I do as a second nature. Bob-O explain to me how you breathe all day long, better yet tell me how you would walk from point A to point B.

What really bothers me is when sword instructors tell you the only way you can learn the sword arts is from a qualified instructor, you can't learn from a book or video. Then they turn around and make books and videos.
Talk about mixed messages, talk about having your cake and eating it too.
When koryu practicioners tell you, you can only truely experience JSA by only practicing in Japan, from a Japanese instructor, They are right!
They just admitted they are unqualified to teach or transmit knowledge, so don't even bother with them. Save your money, go to Japan, find a real instructor and learn.
I am being facetious, but I am pointing out the absurdities!

[Brian Brazier]

like Dotanuki said it is all practice, and feel, once you have done it 1,000 times you will instinctively know where the sword is during Noto. Other forms of Ryu and Iai may say it that you do use your finger or back of your hand during Noto, if you really want to find out just how many different forms there are post that question on SFI, I'm sure you will get 100 different answers, and the obvious ask your instructor.

[bobO]

Got Ya, I'm doing it the way I was taught, haven't cut anything off yet and it works everytime. I agree this is one of those ask your sensei questions, For all the reasons Dotanuki stated. I also agree that most of these teachings need to be hands on, with the teacher right there. I think I pointed this out in a previous thread. I like to use the example of tying your shoelaces, It's not as easy as one would assume. I think I'll pass on going to SFI, Dotanuki's comments where what I was fishing for. They work for me. Thank you! This comes from having nothing but bokken for years and years!!

[Nyetna Khazûl]

I'm not sure if you understand what sayabiki means.
Noto is the sheathing of the sword.
Sayabiki is the movement of the saya [sheath] during Noto, pulling it forward to meet the kissaki [tip], then pulling it back as you sheath, then pulling it forward again to meet the tsuba [hilt] then finally sliding it back again. That is how I do it.
Some styles have no sayabiki at all. Some have different variations.
I would not presume to tell you how he does his, because this is not my style, I would not mistakingly want to tell you the wrong thing.
This really is a "ask your instructor " type question, as I don't know if you can properly convey how to do this, without physically showing someone face to face.

Ah yes! Noto is the correct term, thank you for the correction.

Acutally I just got interested in what mr Williams was saying in the vid and I got to think that maybe someone on this forum have been training with him or something like that. I´ve tried to google his name to find an E-mail adress to him but I´ve been unsuccesful. :-O

[Brian Brazier]

I will be studing Namiryu with one of his students this summer, though I don't know how long it takes to get to Noto. James Williams email isn't listed anywhere, if you want a quick awnser from him I would join the Bugei Forum and send him a PM

[Nyetna Khazûl]

I will be studing Namiryu with one of his students this summer, though I don't know how long it takes to get to Noto. James Williams email isn't listed anywhere, if you want a quick awnser from him I would join the Bugei Forum and send him a PM

Thank you wery much! :)