Budo international Martial Arts Magazine Jul. 2013 | Page 23

the most unimaginable facts. But things do not happen exactly like that. Even if the unusual or paranormal does happen, the technique requires of a scientific understanding so that it can be made accurately. Many techniques have been developed, as imagining twisting a towel, tireless repetitions called Uchikomi, or training with a heavy machete. In this last proposal we find some inconsistencies. If the technique directed to the Tameshigiri involves leaving the arms relaxed and wielding the sword so that it can flow lightly according to what the arms and hands command- which supposedly will fill up with ki for only after a movement of half contraction start the cut( I say half, because the contraction in expansion should be done only at the end of this technique)- how can you possibly train with a heavy machete giving rise to hypertrophy of the muscles that carry out the cut? Hypertrophied muscles will adulterate the desired technical principle. In the moment the sword strikes the first hurdle, the Hara must make an espiration move, so that it tightens slightly, since if it is too contracted, the desired Ki will not flow, and if it ' s fully relaxed it will not provide the needed balanced fastening. In other words, it ' s not easy... Many teachers of the past have reported that the in tests made on corpses, many cuts executed with the hara relaxed didn ' t manage to go beyond the teeth. Although we know that 21