How to do it
From iwama:
- Keep your hand should be flat.
- Bend at the elbow as if you’re slapping yourself in the face.
From glenn:
- Move the hishaku parallel to the wall as you move your thumb.
- (He also likes to pause briefly after moving your thumb).
(These are not in conflict with each other).
The old-school way
In the past, the hishaku go used to be flat for everything.
- Placing on futaoki
- Taking off from futaoki
- Placing on kama
- Taking off from kama
This results in the handle going super high up.
The new-school way
Lately, everything is “natural”. suzuki and glenn agree on this.
- When lifting the hishaku, stop when the handle hits your palm.
- When placing down the hishaku (including hikibishaku), keep the handle in a “natural” position.
In both cases, the handle should be aligned as a natural extension of your arm.