Dead or dying waza #2: katate-men (片手面)

This is second installment in a short series about waza that are rarely used, are pretty much dead, or discussion about kendo theory that is not much talked about nowadays. Enjoy!

”片手面”は左または右の片手で相手の正面または右か左の横面を打つ「業」である。普通には左片手で相手の右横面を打つから、玆ではそれについて述べるが、他の場合もこれに準じて行うのである。

“Katate-men” is a waza where you use your left or right hand to strike your opponents shomen or yokomen (left or right). The technique is usually seen with the attacker striking the opponents migi-yoko-men with their left hand and this is the method I will explain below. However other methods exist and they conform to the rules that I will lay out.

左片手で右面を打つ方法は、相手を攻込み、機を見て”右小手”とか”突”を攻撃すると、相手は自ら構えをくずし、横面に隙を生ずる、そこをすがさず左足から踏み込んで、十分身体を開き、左手を伸ばし、刃筋を正して、左片手で相手の右面を打つのである。

The method of striking migi-yoko-men with your left hand is as follows. Whilst your are pressuring your opponent keep an eye out for opportunities to attack. Should they attempt to attack your kote, tsuki, etc, they will break their kamae in doing so, opening a chance to attack yokomen. In that instant step forward with your left foot, open up your body sideways, stretch out your left arm, and with your shinai at the correct angle, strike their migi-yokomen with your shinai.

もう一つの方法は、相手が右小手を打ってきた場合、右手を竹刀から離して、それを外しながら右足を左足の後方に退いて身体を開くと、同時に左片手で相手の右面うぃ打つのである、

Let me explain another method. When your opponent attempts to attack your kote, remove your right hand from the shinai and simultaneously move your right foot behind your left one, opening up your body sideways, and strike your opponents men.

注意

(1)　片手打ちが、”打ち”が定り難く横振りになり易いから横に払うのではなく、斜め下に打ちおろすようにすること。
(2)　相手が右小手を打ってきた場合には、右手を離してそれを外すのと、左手で振りかぶる動作とが同時に行われること。　
(3)　左胸は十分に伸ばすこと。右手は腰なり腹なりにつけ、胸を張る心持で打つこと。
(4)　片手打ちは十分に打てないものであるから、身体全体で打つように心がけること。

Points to take care of

1. Its very easy for one-handed strikes to come from the side, please ensure that the strikes go diagonally down into your opponents men.
2. When countering a kote attack with this waza, ensure that the releasing of the right hand from the shinai and the swinging around of the shinai happen simultaneously.
3. Be sure and put your right hand on your hips/stomach and ensure that you stretch out your left chest when striking.
4. One handed strikes are very hard to do, so please take care to attack with your entire body.

Warning

Although this waza is pretty rare nowadays, its far from dead. However, used incorrectly it can be a very dangerous technique as there is a strong chance that you might hit the men around the area your opponents ears are at. This can cause not only pain but – I have heard – severe and permanent damage to the ear.

Note

As always, please remember that these translation is done by a non-professional. Any and all mistakes are my own.

Source
剣道の学び方。柴田範士、柏木範士。昭和四十五年発行。