Wakizashi Throwing – Asayama Ichiden-ryū Iai Kata Variation

In this sequence, Tori’s Bokutō and Wakizashi are both sheathed at his waist. As Uke attacks with Shōmen Uchi, Tori evades with a diagonal step to the outside, retreating slightly. While moving away, Tori draws his Wakizashi and immediately throws it (as in Iai, but throwing instead of cutting), aiming toward Uke’s Tsuka-gashira (the pommel / butt end of the handle). Thanks to this distraction, Tori is able to draw his Bokutō and cut in a single motion (again, as in Iai), delivering a diagonal upward cut.

This sequence is a variation of a Kata from Asayama Ichiden-ryū. In the original Kata, the Wakizashi is not thrown: instead, as Tori draws it, he cuts Uke’s forward wrist, then drops the Wakizashi, and finishes with the same final drawing cut using the Bokutō.

In both versions, the timing is at the limit between Sen no Sen and Go no Sen: depending on the distance and timing, Uke may have time to complete his cut before Tori counterattacks (Go no Sen), but because the counterattack is immediate, it can also occur before Uke has fully finished his strike.