Tenouchi (手の内) – Quotes and Resources

kiai

Here’s a set of quotes and resources on tenouchi.  Tenouchi translates to the inside (内) of the hand (手) and “in kendo means the squeezing action of both hands at the point of striking [KendoInfo_Tenouchi].” It is a critical ingredient to generate a strong and sharp sae in a strike.  The videos by Koda Sensei and Fujiwara Sensei under the Resources section and the finer details in the articles (as summarized in the quotes) have helped me immensely to re-discover the tenouchi action.  As usual, I plan to update this article as I discover additional resources.

Enjoy!

Quotes

The quotes on tenouchi are in order of

  • General Comments
  • During Kamae
  • From the Start of the Strike
  • At the Instant Just Before the Strike
  • At the Instant Just After the Strike
  • After the Strike

General Comments

  • Koda Kunihide (Kyoshi 8 dan) [KendoJidai_KodaTenouchi]
    • I believe that sharpness and momentum are two of the most important factors required to determine Ippon.  When I see people who pass the examinations for higher dan ranks, I see that their strikes have these elements. For example, the examination hall is usually a large facility, and the strikes of those who pass the 8th Dan examination can be heard with a loud sound even from a distance.
    • If you can use Tenouchi flexibly, even if it is powerful, it does not hurt, and is a rather pleasant sensation. This is a sharp strike, and it is different from a strong and painful one.
  • Geoff Salmon (7 dan) [KendoInfo_Tenouchi]
    • It is an important aspect of kendo and in many cases, the final piece of the puzzle that decides whether or not a technique results in ippon.
    • Like every other component of kendo, tenouchi should be relaxed and natural.  Rather than create an artificial action at the end of your cutting swing, you should start the movement holding the shinai correctly. 
    • You should not change your grip at any stage of the cut.
  • Kurita Waichiro (Hanshi 8 Dan)  [KendoJidai_KuritaTenouchi]
    • In order to strike with Sae, Tenouchi is important.  Tenouchi refers specifically to the following four things:
      • How the left and right hand hold the Tsuka.
      • How to apply power.
      • The tension and balance of both hands when striking.
      • Relieving tension from both hands after striking.
  • [Kendojidai_Sekikawa] “Read the movements in your opponent’s body and mind (Sekikawa Tadaaki),” KendoJidai, June 27, 2022.
    • Tenouchi is a very important element to a complete strike. A strike with Sae comes from the correct Tenouchi. The grip on the Shinai should be the same as when gripping a sword or Bokuto.
    • However, when you put on Kote, your grip changes naturally and you end up putting more power into your upper forearm muscles. If you strike in this state, the power you put into the strike will drift instead of snap, and the Sae of the strike will be lost.
      • (Editor’s Note:  I can see how wearing the kote affects the grip and the importance of “good” kote that support the v-grip rather than the toraemon grip).

During Kamae

  • Shimatani Yasohachi sensei as translated by McCall Sensei [Kenshi247_Tenouchi2014] 
    • You should grip correctly yet softly.
  • Geoff Salmon (7 dan) [KendoInfo_Tenouchi]
    • I cannot over-emphasise that your grip should be light. If someone tries to pull your shinai forward out of your hand, it should slide forward without protest or friction.

From the Start of the Strike

  • Shimatani Yasohachi sensei as translated by McCall Sensei [Kenshi247_Tenouchi1014] 
    • Bending your left hand, move the sword up through the centre line of your body with the feeling of pushing back the kensen. The right hand follows the lefts action.
    • When bringing the sword down to cut, do so as if drawing a circle with the kensen.
  • Iwatate Saburo [Hanshi 8 dan] [KendoJidai_IwatateTenouchi]
    • Furthermore when striking, when the wrists are tense and bent, the force stops at the wrist joint and is not transferred to the Monouchi (striking part of the Shinai). This is so called “Tome-te” (hand-stop) and does not give a sharp strike.
  • Imafuku Kazuhisa Sensei as translated by George McCall Sensei [Kenshi247_Tenouchi2012]
    • When raising the shinai tip to strike – you risk losing energy in the strike if you bend your wrists in an awkward or crooked manner. Instead, as you raise the shinai tip to strike, keep your wrist fixed and allow the shinai to ‘slide’ in your hands.
      • (Editor’s Note:  Perhaps ‘slide’ refers to the creation of the gap between the shinai and palm shown in the figure of the article which would eventually be closed instantaneously at the moment of impact)

At the Instant Just Before the Strike

  • Koda Kunihide (Kyoshi 8 dan) [KendoJidai_KodaTenouchi]
    • The key is to tighten the grip for a moment at the end of the move.
  • Shimatani Yasohachi sensei as translated by McCall Sensei [Kenshi247_Tenouchi2014] 
    • In that instant you should squeeze with the pinky, ring, and middle fingers, especially strongly with the pinkies of both hands. At this time the underarm muscles of both arms will be employed and, depending on the utilisation of the right hand’s pinky, the upper part of the right arm will be stretched straight. The left hand is the driving force, and the right gives direction and support.
    • Squeezing both hands employ the push and pull action (right hand push, left hand pull). When you do this the wrists of both hands will extend straight.
  • Iwatate Saburo [Hanshi 8 dan] [KendoJidai_IwatateTenouchi]
    • It is important to instantly tighten the little finger, ring finger, and middle finger with the correct Tenouchi when striking.
  • Kasamura Koji (Hanshi 8 dan) [KendoJidai_KasamuraTenouchi] 
    • When I perform a technique, I squeeze the little fingers of both hands slightly. I believe that by doing this, the Kensaki will move fast and the Shinai will move strong and sharp, with power in the Datotsu-bu of the Shinai.
  • Kurita Waichiro (Hanshi 8 Dan)  [KendoJidai_KuritaTenouchi]
    • Using correct Tenouchi, you should grip your Shinai tightly with all fingers at the moment of impact.

At the Instant Just After the Strike

  • Kurita Waichiro (Hanshi 8 Dan)  [KendoJidai_KuritaTenouchi]
    • After striking, immediately loosen your grip and relieve the tension. The shorter this moment is, the more Sae your strike will have.
  • Shimatani Yasohachi sensei as translated by McCall Sensei [Kenshi247_Tenouchi2014] 
    • Immediately relax your hands to finish the cut. The quality of the “sae” (snap) of the cut is decided by the squeeze and release of the grip at this time.
    • At the instant of striking the grip must be immediately relaxed.  That is to say, you should immediately return both your grip and spiritual bearing to what they were before the strike.
  • Koda Kunihide (Kyoshi 8 dan) [KendoJidai_KodaTenouchi]
    • It is especially difficult for beginners and those who have difficulty in making a sharp strike to tighten and loosen the grip in an instant, so I encourage you to continue your training.

After the Strike

  • Koda Kunihide (Kyoshi 8 dan) [KendoJidai_KodaTenouchi]
    • It is also not good to strike in such a way that the Kensaki jumps up or is held down at the moment of striking.
  • Shimatani Yasohachi sensei as translated by McCall Sensei [Kenshi247_Tenouchi2014] 
    • … then move slowly – without a hint of carelessness – back into kamae.
    • Shimatani sensei used to emphasisze this during large men practice:  after striking you should relax and immediately allow your tsuba to come down to the level of the motodachi’s throat then, slowly and without losing concentration, step back into kamae.

Resources (References)

Here are resources on tenouchi seprated out by articles and videos which also serve as references.

Articles

Videos

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