By Mathis E. Isaksen, Member until 2017

Another course has now run its course; in particular the course Kodachi 2 which I myself have attended. A fun thing to deal with on a Saturday morning, many might think, but the truth is that it can be more relevant than you think (for those who are not in the know, a kodachi is a short sword or a long knife; Japanese mind you).

One thing that can be said about the course is that it contains both a large theoretical and a large practical part. As the level rises on the courses, it is no longer enough to simply learn things through the execution of techniques. You will also need to have an understanding of the technique in order to learn how to perform and use it correctly.

If you e.g. looking at the practical part of Kodachi 2, it's not really that different from Kenjutsu 2. Both weapons can slash and thrust. The Kodachi may use slightly complicated handling techniques, but in reality there is not much difference. The real big difference is the length. Far from, or close. Kodachi is of course the close version, and that is also why you can draw comparisons to things like the Jujutsu courses, which are largely about close combat. In close combat, it is important to be completely clear about what is happening. A moment's hesitation can mean the difference between life and death. Fortunately, this clarification naturally applies both ways, so even if you may not be completely settled yet, you still have a chance.

One thing you often hear on these courses is that you don't have to reinvent the deep dish. It has already been done through thousands of years of evolution and we can now simply train the essence instead of doing all the hard work. It almost sounds too good to be true, one might say. I even remember that once we were told that we only had to learn a few things to be able to do the same as higher kyu graded swordsmen. "Stop!" you think, we have only been taught for a few hours over a few months. My own personal experience, however, is that when one day I stood and watched a training partner train with his sword, I had to think to myself "He really looks like someone who has been doing it for a long time". So there must be something that works.

What must not be forgotten is that a sword can also simply be thought of as an extension of one's arm. After all, we have already 'learned' all the basics – power generation, tai-sabaki (moving the body) etc. All the hard work that you think you lack with the sword, it is found in our karate e.g.

I myself had a little 'aha' experience when I practiced with my kodachi myself. I remembered what Kimu Sensei had said to some of the other students in the course when we practiced swordsmanship. "You have to focus the power in the kisaki (point of the sword) of the sword, that's what you cut with." When I myself tried to chop with that in mind, I discovered that the chop became more precise and hard. Right off the bat No. 1! The sword now cut through the air. I told my experience to a training partner, who in the first go achieved the same result as myself. Just like when you strike in karate, you generate the force with the body and focus it in the arm - now the arm is just a bit longer.

Yes, there is a difference between using a sword and using your arm. And this is where we have the essence – the essence of the sword. When we learn these things and put them together with our foundation - suddenly we can do much more than we and others tell us to.