Hiki-giriHiki-giri 引き斬り is a pulling cut in which the blade is drawn through the target. More 引き斬り is a pulling cut in Japanese swordsmanship. It’s a Japanese sword-cutting technique in which the blade is drawn through the target with a pulling action. Rather than relying solely on the force of a swinging blow, the movement incorporates a drawing or slicing component along the blade’s cutting edge.
The term is used in Japanese kenjutsu and iaidō, including instruction associated with traditional sword schools. It describes the mechanics of the cut rather than a particular direction, such as kesa-giri (diagonal cut) or kirioroshiKirioroshi (切り下ろし) — Downward cut. A descending sword cut delivered from above, usually along the centerline. More (downward cut).
Translation and Kanji
Hiki-giriHiki-giri 引き斬り is a pulling cut in which the blade is drawn through the target. More 引き斬り | Pulling cut; drawing cut
- Hiki 引き — Pulling, drawing, or withdrawing, from hiku (引く), meaning “to pull.”
- Giri 斬り — Cutting or slashing with a blade, from kiru (斬る), meaning “to cut.”
The term may also be written 引き切り, using the more general character 切 for cutting. Both spellings appear in Japanese martial-arts instruction.
How Hiki-giri Works
A pulling cut incorporates movement of the cutting edge along the material being cut. This is sometimes described as a slicing action, as distinguished from a cut that depends primarily on the impact of the blade.
The action may be produced through coordinated movement of the hands, arms, and body. It does not necessarily require the swordsman to step backward. A practitioner may employ a pulling action while moving in different directions, depending on the technique.
The curvature (sori) of a Japanese sword can contribute to the slicing action as the blade follows its cutting path. Correct edge alignment (hasujiHasuji 刃筋 | Cutting-edge alignment — The alignment and orientation of a sword's cutting edge in relation to the direction of a cut. In Japanese kenjutsu and iaidō, correct hasuji ensures that the blade travels along its intended cutting plane, allowing an efficient cut without twisting or striking at an improper angle. More) and control of the grip (te no uchi) are also important to efficient sword cutting.
Hiki-giriHiki-giri 引き斬り is a pulling cut in which the blade is drawn through the target. More should not be confused with simply dragging the sword backward. In traditional swordsmanship, the precise mechanics depend on the school and the particular technique being performed.
Historical Usage in Japanese Swordsmanship
Komagawa Kaishin-ryū Kenjutsu
One significant reference appears in the writings of Tetsuzan Kuroda (1950–2024), the fifteenth-generation head of the Shinbukan tradition, which includes Komagawa Kaishin-ryū (駒川改心流).
Kuroda’s book Ki Ken Tai Ichi no Kai (気剣体一致の「改」), published in a revised edition by BAB Japan in 2015, includes a section specifically titled 引き斬り (Hiki-giriHiki-giri 引き斬り is a pulling cut in which the blade is drawn through the target. More) within a chapter devoted to sword technique and principles.
Komagawa Kaishin-ryū is a classical Japanese sword tradition associated with the Shinkage-ryū lineage. The inclusion of hiki-giriHiki-giri 引き斬り is a pulling cut in which the blade is drawn through the target. More in Kuroda’s discussion provides direct evidence of the term’s use in the modern transmission of a koryū sword school.
It does not, however, establish the date at which the expression first entered the school’s historical vocabulary.
All Japan Kendo Federation Iaidō
The All Japan Kendo Federation also uses the term in its official iaidō instruction.
In a June 26, 2015, examination commentary, examiner Eiji Aoki discusses the third standardized iai form, Ukenagashi (受け流し).
He emphasizes that the practitioner should perform the receiving movement, body adjustment, backward step, and diagonal downward pulling cut as one continuous sequence.
The action is explicitly identified as 引き切り (hiki-giriHiki-giri 引き斬り is a pulling cut in which the blade is drawn through the target. More).
This is particularly useful because the term describes an actual cutting movement within a recognized iai form, rather than appearing only in a vocabulary list.
Hiki-giri and Oshi-giri
Hiki-giriHiki-giri 引き斬り is a pulling cut in which the blade is drawn through the target. More is frequently contrasted with oshi-giriOshi-giri 押し斬り is a pushing cut in which the blade is driven forward through the target, using a slicing action. More (押し斬り), or “pushing cut.”
In general:
- Hiki-giriHiki-giri 引き斬り is a pulling cut in which the blade is drawn through the target. More 引き斬り — A pulling cut in which the blade is drawn through the target.
- Oshi-giriOshi-giri 押し斬り is a pushing cut in which the blade is driven forward through the target, using a slicing action. More 押し斬り — A pushing cut in which the blade is driven forward through the target.
The distinction concerns the movement of the cutting edge relative to the target, not simply whether the practitioner advances or retreats.
Both actions are possible with a Japanese sword, and individual sword schools may emphasize or combine them differently. The distinction should not be treated as an absolute division between two mutually exclusive methods of cutting.
Hiki-giri and Hiki-waza
Although the words share the character 引 (hiki, pulling), hiki-giriHiki-giri 引き斬り is a pulling cut in which the blade is drawn through the target. More and hiki-waza are different concepts.
Hiki-waza (引き技) is especially familiar in modern kendō, where it refers to techniques executed while withdrawing from an opponent.
Hiki-giriHiki-giri 引き斬り is a pulling cut in which the blade is drawn through the target. More, by contrast, describes a cutting action involving the sword blade. It is not inherently a retreating technique.
This distinction is important when comparing terminology across Japanese martial arts.
Usage in Kenjutsu and Iaidō
Hiki-giriHiki-giri 引き斬り is a pulling cut in which the blade is drawn through the target. More is a legitimate Japanese swordsmanship expression with documented usage in both contemporary iaidō and the teaching of classical sword traditions.
It is best understood as a cutting method rather than the name of a particular kata or a fixed cutting direction.
The specific mechanics vary by tradition, but the fundamental idea is a cutting action that incorporates drawing the edge along the target.
Related Terms
Hiki 引き | Pulling — A pulling or withdrawing action.
Oshi-giriOshi-giri 押し斬り is a pushing cut in which the blade is driven forward through the target, using a slicing action. More 押し斬り | Pushing cut — A cut employing a pushing action along the blade’s edge.
HasujiHasuji 刃筋 | Cutting-edge alignment — The alignment and orientation of a sword's cutting edge in relation to the direction of a cut. In Japanese kenjutsu and iaidō, correct hasuji ensures that the blade travels along its intended cutting plane, allowing an efficient cut without twisting or striking at an improper angle. More 刃筋 | Cutting-edge alignment — The orientation of the sword’s cutting edge in relation to the cutting path.
Te no Uchi 手の内 | Grip control — The coordinated use of the hands to control the sword.
Sori 反り | Blade curvature — The curvature of a Japanese sword blade.
KirioroshiKirioroshi (切り下ろし) — Downward cut. A descending sword cut delivered from above, usually along the centerline. More 切り下ろし | Downward cut — A sword cut delivered from high to low.
Sources
- Kuroda, Tetsuzan. Ki Ken Tai Ichi no Kai (気剣体一致の「改」), revised edition. BAB Japan, 2015. Chapter 3 includes a section titled 引き斬り. Publisher’s book description and table of contents.
- All Japan Kendo Federation. “Iaidō Sixth-Dan Examination, Aichi,” June 26, 2015. Includes examiner Eiji Aoki’s discussion of 引き切り in the third standardized iai kata, Ukenagashi. Read the official commentary.
- Dai Nippon IaidoIaido (居合道) is the art of drawing the Japanese sword (katana), cutting, and resheathing it — performed with control, awareness, and grace. More Renmei, Agō-no-kai Yachiyo Branch. “Types of Techniques” (業の種類). Describes 引き切り in the Kissaki-gaeshi form, associated with Hōki-ryū. Read the Japanese curriculum description.
