Should a straight cut end slightly below the navel, parellel to the ground, or should it continue past the navel, stopping at knee height?

I suppose it depends on whether you want to cut your adversary to the navel and steal his belt, or if you prefer to cleave him neatly in two.

Ppersonally I cut to knee height (of course, this doesn't make it 'right'). For my students, I insist that the cut goes to a minimum of through-the-belt.

Charles already knows my answer, since this question stems from a discussion we had.

I tend to cut to knee level or below. I haven't had much exposure to other schools of thought so I'm interested in hearing what others do. Is there an generally accepted standard?

During normal kibun, we usually cut to about the knee. During special kibun, we practice cutting top of the head (high), middle of the body (middle, about parallel to the ground) and to the knee (low). Normal kibun is primarily for form. Special kibun is primarily for focus.

Pumsae is done according to whatever the technique should be.

I suspect most of us will respond that basic cuts should finish with the point at knee height.

There is a competing trend to have cuts finish at the waist. To be honest, I personally have encountered this in schools where the instructor took primary instruction in another sword art before becoming involved in HDGD.

As long as you know why you are performing the cut a certain way, and perform it with proper body mechanics, it doesn't much matter.

A related question is at what height do you perform horizontal cuts?

During gibon, at chest height. During sparring, right above the navel. I hit just above the navel, because it's hardest to block at that height.

About the straight cut; when my grip is correct, it's hard for the sword's tip to go down any further than past mid-waist, without tilting my upperbody downward. This brings me to another silly question; do you tilt forward during gimase, or to stick out your hips towards the back, while keeping your back straight (GiCheon-esque)? Wouldn't tilting forward make cutting down past the knee possible, and standing straight make cutting past waist level impossible?

Hello everyone!

I was taught to finish all my cuts in basics at the waist. I believe this helps in developing control over the sword. I do, however, cut down to the knee for “follow through” (for lack of a better term) when the technique calls for it in a hyung, ill soo suk, or chokbalgum.

Haidong!

Michael Tabone

If you're not taking armor into account, then I'd say the best height would be between your opponent's lowest ribs and the top of his pelvis. But then that's if you're using a jingum and trying to kill him.