Kenjutsu Stances

I wanted to post something my kenjutsu teacher sent the deshi about the stances in kenjutsu during our 1000 cut exercise:

1. Seiza

2. Handachi kamae
Pivot on left knee into handachi, ankles together.

3. Chugoshi kamae
Left knee stays in place, left toes curled under, directly behind the left
knee; right knee directly above right ankle, both knees bent to 90 degrees.

4. Zenkutsu kamae
Simply kick the left heel back and lock the left knee, without rising, the
rest as in chugoshi; outside edge of rear foot cuts into the ground; it is
useful to cultivate the habit of lifting the big toe (or trying to).

5. Kokutsu kamae
Shift weight to the rear leg, opening the thighs by rotating the left hip
joint outwards; do not allow the rear foot to point more than ninety
degrees toward the left of the embusen (center line), preferably it should
point forward only slightly less than in zenkutsu; note that the
difference between kibadachi and kokutsudachi is that the forward foot
points forward; the rear foot does not change from its normal kibadachi
position in which the feet point inward (pigeon-toed).

Cut large with hikkigiri (pulling cut).

6. Nisoku suburi
This is standard two-step cutting exersize. Do not allow the level of the
hips to rise from chugoshi on. This is supposed to be difficult.

7. Kokutsu kamae (hidari)
Same as 5, but with the legs reversed.

Cut high, stopping at chest level, with a sense of oshigiri (pushing cut).

8. Zenkutsu kamae (hidari)
Same as 4 but with the legs reversed.

Cut outward, stopping at waist level.

9. Chugoshi kamae (hidari)
Same as 3, but with the legs reversed.

10. Handachi kamae (hidari)
Same as 2, but with the right knee down and forward, left knee 90 degrees
to the embusen (center line)