Green Belt 3rd tip

This is the first sword form and the shortest in regards to floor plan and duration compared to the Blue belt sword form which is of a definite greater size. The sword form performed below is done with a XMA blade that the students can use after completing their 3rd tip grading. James prefers to use his bokken for this form though.
When training keep particular attention on your:
- Sequence
- Posture
- Attitude
- Eyes
- Sword arcs and facings
- Keeping fingers and hands away from the blade & making sure the blade points away from you

Griffon Main Page

Sword

Lessons

Terms and Notes

Good place
The Good Place refers to that place where your legs are at the appropriate distance apart while you are standing preparing to do your kick combination. At this level both sides of the hips are forward which will allow you to kick as you please.

Palm height
When lining up the palm in front of you when you are doing your combinations; remember that you are hitting with the bottom part of the palms. This means that they should look as though they are angles up slightly when you are striking.

Striking
Make your strikes strong and focused with everything behind them but always remember to keep your focus, your eyes, your targets in mind and not to snap your joints. If you keep these things in mind and train them well you will be able to make your uniform sing.

Side Kick






Hook Kick

The front kick circles from the heel to the back of the leg to the raising of the knee and then releases through the foot.

The side kick sets itself up like the front kick and then combines the pivot step of the round-house to then allow you to thrust forward with the heel.
This kick used the heel with no foot flex to strike any forward facing part of the body


The hook kick sets itself up like the side kick and can even be used after doing a fake side kick to tray and catch someone off guard.
The part of the foot is the back of the heel. Keep this kick in front of you so that you don't throw out your hips or cut the power. The hook kick can go either down, across or upwards and is a very fast kick.
This kick can be used to strike any sideways facing of the body and can work in concert with the round-house allowing you to strike anywhere.

Side kick 1st combination
- Back straight, elbows in & knees bent
- Feet should be in 'Good Place'
- Leading hand palms
- Back hand palm
- Back leg kicks
For the kick: turn leading foot open slightly, raise knee forward, pivot with the support foot turning your body sideways- then thrust out with the heel, bend knee and return to good place
Order for kick: good place - knee - kick- knee- step back down into 1st good place.
Palms are to move towards the head balloon and should look like they are going up slightly.

Side kick 2nd combination
- Back straight, elbows in & knees bent
- Feet should be in 'Good Place'
- Back leg kicks
- Leading hand palms
- Back hand palm
For the kick: turn leading foot open slightly, raise knee forward, pivot with the support foot turning your body sideways- then thrust out with the heel, bend knee and return to good place
Order for kick: good place - knee - kick- knee- step forward and down into good place then step back into original good place.
Palms are to move towards the head balloon and should look like they are going up slightly.

Hook Kick 1st combination
- Back straight, elbows in & knees bent
- Feet should be in 'Good Place'
- Leading hand palms
- Back hand palm
- Back leg kicks
For the kick: turn leading foot open slightly, raise knee forward, pivot with the support foot turning your body sideways- then open the knee past the intended target and move the heel past it, when your leg is extended then 'hook' your heel back to the back of your leg and then return to good place.
Order for kick: good place - knee - kick- knee- step back down into 1st good place.
Palms are to move towards the head balloon and should look like they are going up slightly.

Hook Kick 2nd combination
- Back straight, elbows in & knees bent
- Feet should be in 'Good Place'
- Back leg kicks
- Leading hand palms
- Back hand palm
For the kick: turn leading foot open slightly, raise knee forward, pivot with the support foot turning your body sideways- then open the knee past the intended target and move the heel past it, when your leg is extended then 'hook' your heel back to the back of your leg and return to good place
Order for kick: good place - knee - kick- knee- step forward and down into good place then step back into original good place.
Palms are to move towards the head balloon and should look like they are going up slightly.

The sword form is the shortest of the 4 forms after Green belt but it is also the most technical of them as well. It uses a 'T' floor plan which is the first and last time it is introduced in this and Blue belt. This form works best with a double handed sword and can be done with either a Chinese, Japanese or even European blade type.

Step 1. - Begin in the start position. As you grab with the right hand step forward and draw up and down to cut in front of you down to your right side. Pivot the feet so that your right side is facing the start direction and cut across mid-torso height.
Step 2. - the left hand reaches up, grabs the bottom of the handle and helps guide the back of the blade onto the right shoulder as you pivot back to the start direction. Circle the blade around your shoulder as you shuffle forward and cut down top left to bottom right.
Step 3. - Move the back of the blade onto the left shoulder as you step up with the left leg. As the blade comes around to cut top right to bottom left step circle out with the left leg to do a crescent step to so that you are facing slightly to the left.
Step 4. - Move the back of the blade onto the right shoulder as you step up with the right leg. As the blade comes around to cut top left to bottom right step circle out with the right leg to do a crescent step to so that you are facing slightly to the right.
Step 5. - As you bring the left leg parallel to the right and move into a middle horse form guide the back of the blade to the right shoulder. Move it around your shoulders as you step around with the right to face the start direction in a forward stance and cut horizontally.
Step 6. - left hand lets go as you slide the back of the sword up the left arm to the left shoulder and then around your shoulders as you step behind and around with your left leg 270 degrees so that your left side is facing the start direction. The sword cuts horizontally across your body until it reaches your left side where you then turn the palm down. Your left leg should be forward and your left arm held above the blade.

Step 7. - Pivot on the balls of the feet and twist to the right by 90 degrees. As you do so cut out and withdraw left to right with the sword finishing with the tip facing forward.
Step 8. - Pivot back to the left 90 degrees, let the right arm circle around and up above your head. Your left hand reaches up and grabs the sword and you cut straight down as you step forward with your right leg.
Step 9. - Leg go with the left hand and press someone away followed by a right side kick.
Step 10. - Step forward and single hand cut high right to bottom left with the left hand in ready
Step 11. - Left hand reaches forward and presses the handle of the sword so that the base slides into the right. The left hand then grabs the top of the handle at the bottom of the guard.
Step 12 - 16. - Repeat steps 6 to 10, changing sides to the opposite but in step 11 the turn is only 180 degrees unlike the 270 in step 6
Step 17. - Right hand reaches forward and presses the handle of the sword so that the base slides into the left. The right hand then grabs the top of the handle at the bottom of the guard. Step back with the left leg while maintaining the sword and eyes forward. Turn eyes to the start direction as you bring your right foot together with your left. As you crouch down circle the blade around and up in front of you to uppercut towards the start direction.
Step 18. - Small downwards figure 8 followed by a switch jump to the right with a press. Make sure to keep hands and fingers away from blade.
Lunge forward into a forward stance and stab.
Step 19. - Turn 180 degrees and slide into a right toe stance while your bring both hands to the sword and cut straight down in front of you. Your back should be facing the start direction.
Step 20. Circle figure 8 to the left then right as you do a switch jump and press to the right.
Step 21. - The left hand goes tot eh pit of the right shoulder.
 - The right hand pushes the blade to the sky as you step forward with the right leg
 - As you step around and behind with your left leg you continue the swords arc and point it towards the ground.
- As you step forward with your right leg you bring the sword once more to point to the sky with the handle resting on the forearm as you turn to face the start direction in a left toe stance as your left hand brushes past the knee.
Step 22. - Step back with the left leg, bring the left hand to the left hip and blood flick the sword down to point at the ground.
Step 23. - Step up with the left leg and sheath the sword and return to the start position.