Recently I've been working on the harmony between the travel of weapon and self.
(Helped by entertaining the thought that the weapon will always prefer to travel in line with the grain of the wood.)
A weapon in motion along a path that has no conflict with universal principles will feel in total harmony with your body .... which is also adhering to the same principles. This is difficult to achieve if you grip too tightly as your joints are not free to sense the correct path.
"The correct path already exists - all you need do is allow your body to find it."
Even greater harmony exists if your grip concentrates on the little finger and its neighbour. All movement is free and relaxed, smooth yet still powerful and unifiesthe mind, body and weapon.
Using first finger prioritised gripping tightens the body and prevents you 'feeling' the correct path.
Why not experiment with the idea.
I do not doubt what my experience tells me is either correct or better than what I did before.
There are too many references to gripping with little finger from diverse sources that I value, to ignore them.
(Helped by entertaining the thought that the weapon will always prefer to travel in line with the grain of the wood.)
A weapon in motion along a path that has no conflict with universal principles will feel in total harmony with your body .... which is also adhering to the same principles. This is difficult to achieve if you grip too tightly as your joints are not free to sense the correct path.
"The correct path already exists - all you need do is allow your body to find it."
Even greater harmony exists if your grip concentrates on the little finger and its neighbour. All movement is free and relaxed, smooth yet still powerful and unifiesthe mind, body and weapon.
Using first finger prioritised gripping tightens the body and prevents you 'feeling' the correct path.
Why not experiment with the idea.
I do not doubt what my experience tells me is either correct or better than what I did before.
There are too many references to gripping with little finger from diverse sources that I value, to ignore them.