From: Joseph Toman 
Subject: Suburi handout

The seven suburi

Seven Aikiken Suburi For the Rest of Us
November 1996
University of Oregon Aikido Club

Introduction

The seven suburi are an integral part of our style of aikido. This little
document is an attempt to get the beginner's arms and legs moving in roughly
the correct form, and as a reminder for those times when memory fails. It is
in no way definitive, and any real detail must come from personal instruction.

Holding the Bokken

Begin by standing in right hanmi. The bokken is held by placing the left hand
at the bottom of the hilt with the little finger almost falling off the very
end of the hilt. The grip is primarily between the thumb, ring finger and
little finger, and is applied with a wringing motion, keeping the arm relaxed.
The knuckle of the left hand index finger of the should be halfway between the
top and the side of the weapon. The middle and index fingers should be relaxed
and tucked under the bokken. The right hand should be one fist's width above
the left hand and it should mirror the left hand grip in all respects. It is
important to grip with a wringing motion and to keep the arms and shoulders as
relaxed as possible. The bokken should be held out in front of the tanden or
center with a feeling of extension. The orientation of the blade is rotated
slightly clockwise from the vertical.

Suburi

All of these exercises start from right hanmi with the bokken held as
described above. This will be referred to as a basic ready position.

First Suburi

The first suburi is a basic _shomen cut_. From the ready position, raise the
sword so that your left hand is on your forehead and the sword is angled
slightly back. During this movement your hips should turn from a triangular
orientation to a square one. Cut down and out with a wringing motion, as if
you were flinging something off the tip of the bokken, and let your hips
return to their triangular position. Finish with the sword in front of your
center. The tip should be just slightly lower than the hilt, though you should
not allow your wrists to flex up in order to accomplish this. At all times
keep the sword within the plane of your centerline. Always cut with a relaxed
motion.

Second Suburi

From the ready position, step back deeply with the right foot and raise the
sword so that the left hand is just above the left eye. This position is known
as _hasso kamae_. Step forward with the right foot and perform a shomen cut.

Third Suburi

This suburi starts the same as number 2, except the sword raise continues over
head in a circular motion until the sword is almost resting on the right hip.
This position is known as _waki kamae_. Step forward with the right foot and
perform a shomen cut, making sure the sword comes directly down the center
line.

Fourth Suburi

From the ready position raise the sword as you bring the right foot back to
the left foot. The sword should be directly overhead and your feet should be
together. Step forward with the left foot and perform a shomen cut. Now raise
the sword as you bring the left foot back to the right foot. Step forward with
the right foot and perform a shomen cut. Continue this process while
alternating feet.
 
Fifth Suburi

Do a shomen strike as in number 1. Rotate the blade clockwise until the edge
is up while raising the hilt to your forehead. Simultaneously rotate the left
hip back and the right hip forward. This is a _right parry_. Let the tip
of the bokken drop and continue around behind you in a circular motion as you
step forward with the left foot and perform a shomen cut. Rotate the blade
counterclockwise until the edge is up while raising the hilt to your forehead.
Simultaneously rotate the right hip back and the left hip forward. Your arms
should end up in a crossed position. This is a _left parry_. Let the tip of
the bokken drop and continue around behind you in a circular motion as you
step forward with the right foot and perform a shomen cut. Alternate left and
right in this way, moving across the floor.
 
Sixth Suburi

This suburi is the same as number 5, with one addition; in between each cut
and parry shuffle forward slightly and perform a _tsuki_ on that side. A
tsuki on any side is a thrust to the midsection with the tip of the bokken.
Shuffle forward slightly with the front foot and turn the blade so that it
faces the opposite side from the front foot, e.g., a right tsuki has the right
foot forward and the blade facing left. Again, alternate left and right in
this way, moving across the floor.

Seventh Suburi

This suburi starts from the ready position with a right shomen cut. Move
forward with the left foot and perform a left tsuki. Perform a left parry and
step forward with the right foot int a right shomen cut. Repeat, moving across
the floor.