Happo-giri
Encyclopedia
In the practice of Aikidō
, happo-giri (or happo-no-giri) is an exercise performed with the bokken
, cutting in eight directions. Each cut is a simple strike from the top of the head straight down the centre line, with the bokken
ending parallel to the floor at roughly the same height as the lower abdomen. The order of the strikes is north, south, east, west, southeast, northwest, southwest, northeast, finally returning - without performing a ninth cut - to the original position (north).
In Iwama Style
training, each strike should be performed with proper kiai
and should be followed by proper zanshin
(or "lingering spirit").
The main purpose of happo-no-giri is to teach how to control one's surroundings while maintaining proper stance or kamae
, by moving around one's centre.
A similar exercise called happo-no-tsuki is performed with the Jō
.
Aikido
is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba as a synthesis of his martial studies, philosophy, and religious beliefs. Aikido is often translated as "the Way of unifying life energy" or as "the Way of harmonious spirit." Ueshiba's goal was to create an art that practitioners could use to...
, happo-giri (or happo-no-giri) is an exercise performed with the bokken
Bokken
A bokken , "wood", and ken, "sword") , is a Japanese wooden sword used for training. It is usually the size and shape of a katana, but is sometimes shaped like other swords, such as the wakizashi and tantō...
, cutting in eight directions. Each cut is a simple strike from the top of the head straight down the centre line, with the bokken
Bokken
A bokken , "wood", and ken, "sword") , is a Japanese wooden sword used for training. It is usually the size and shape of a katana, but is sometimes shaped like other swords, such as the wakizashi and tantō...
ending parallel to the floor at roughly the same height as the lower abdomen. The order of the strikes is north, south, east, west, southeast, northwest, southwest, northeast, finally returning - without performing a ninth cut - to the original position (north).
In Iwama Style
Iwama style
Iwama Style is the style of aikido that was taught at Iwama dojo by the founder of aikido, Morihei Ueshiba, and especially the lineage passed on through Morihiro Saito, a close disciple who was given responsibility over Iwama dojo by Ueshiba....
training, each strike should be performed with proper kiai
Kiai
is a Japanese term used in martial arts. There are numerous examples of the battle cry in other cultures: kiai is perhaps primarily a development of this. In the representation of Asian martial arts in cinema and in animated cartoons, Modern Kiai are often written by westerners in Romaji as...
and should be followed by proper zanshin
Zanshin
Zanshin is a term used in the Japanese martial arts. It refers to a state of awareness – of relaxed alertness. The literal translation of zanshin is "remaining mind"....
(or "lingering spirit").
The main purpose of happo-no-giri is to teach how to control one's surroundings while maintaining proper stance or kamae
Kamae
is a Japanese term used in martial arts and traditional theater. It translates approximately to "posture". The Kanji of this word means "base".Kamae is to be differentiated from the word , used in Japanese martial arts to mean stance...
, by moving around one's centre.
A similar exercise called happo-no-tsuki is performed with the Jō
Jo
JO, Jo or jo may refer to:*Jō, a ~4-foot-long wooden staff used in some Japanese martial arts*Cho , , also spelled Jo, a common Korean family name*Jo , a 1971 French comedy...
.