Photo

Kanzaki demonstrates nido in which he slices through a roll of two wet straw mats with a single stroke. From top: Kanzaki swings his sword; the roll is cut slantwise in a motion that takes one-tenth of a second; the upper part of the roll appears to remain suspended; and finally falls to the floor. The swordsman took only a second to cut the roll and complete his follow-through.

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