TATE Hatoryu NY Japanese Sword Fight Performing Arts

“Koiguchi wo kiru” Opening the mouth of the scabbard 🙌🏼

In traditional sword drawing, the blade is not simply pulled out with the hand.

The sword is released by first using the left thumb to gently push up the tsuba (guard), slightly lifting the blade from the saya (scabbard). In filming, we often use a bamboo practice sword, so it can be drawn easily for safety and repetition.

However, a real Japanese sword is designed very differently. The habaki (a metal collar at the base of the blade) fits tightly into the scabbard, securing the blade so it cannot be easily drawn with one hand alone. Because of this, unless in very specific martial contexts, drawing the sword is never a casual motion.

The act of preparing to draw, pressing the tsuba up with the left thumb, creating that first subtle “opening”, is called koiguchi wo kiru (literally, “cutting the mouth of the scabbard”).

This small gesture carries deep meaning. It signals intent: readiness to fight. And in another sense, it can also imply a readiness to die.

In other words, it is a quiet declaration of resolve. One small movement holds an entire shift in inner state. ✨

This is one of the true beauties of tate (Japanese stage combat): from the smallest physical detail, a whole story, intention, and emotional world can be created. ⚔️🙏🏻

Cannes Directors’ Fortnight.
Our film “Death Has No Master” has been selected at the

Our Master worked as a fight coordinator and attended a world premiere with cast and crew in Cannes.

Director/ Writer/ Producer : Jorge Thielen Armand
Starring : Asia Argento
Dogreika Tovar
Jorge Thielen Hedderich
DOP: Luis Arteaga
Producer: Stefano Centini
Arantza Maldonado
Associate Producer : Justin Ambrosino
Composer: Vittorio Giampietro
Fight Coordinator:

Executive Producer: D.D. Wigley, Y.K.Well Enterprise

Congratulations! 🎉

Jōdan (High Guard) ⚔️

There are various forms of jōdan (high guard), but a common principle across all of them is staying in a half-body stance with the knees engaged and drawn in, always ready for the next movement.

The posture is designed to avoid openings while maintaining a clear line of sight to the opponent, which is why the elbows and sides are kept tightly engaged at all times.

In tate (stage/ film combat), there is also an important safety principle:

💫In order to maintain safety even in tight spaces, the kissaki (sword tip) is kept angled upward. This helps prevent injury to others who may be positioned behind you.

Tate is built on a foundation of technique that allows movement to be:

• Safe, even when repeated many times
• Structured within the frame of the stage or camera
• Aligned with the character’s emotional journey
• Clear in storytelling through movement

This is what makes tate unique, it is a form filled with layers of technical precision that support both safety and expressive storytelling.

In Tate Japanese Sword Fight or Stage/Film combat, every movement is a conversation. Precision, awareness, and trust come before speed or power.

波濤流では、技術だけでなく
“相手を思う動き” を学びます。