#30: What Constitutes a "Cut"?

I was talking to someone via Facebook the other night in regards to what constitutes a cut.

According to a book they read, it said that

a cut is decisive, made with a resolute spirit. A slash on the other hand is made without this intent, and even if it is strong enough to kill, it is no different to just touching the opponent.

Expanding upon this concept of a 'cut', when we play our kendo, the components for shiai (for example) means in order to show a decisive and resolute spirit, we must add kiai, fumikomi and zanshin, and also perhaps cut strength/power.

However, if one or more of these is weak, it is possible that we are not awarded the ippon.

My question is this: What happens if you are unable naturally to produce a loud kiai? Or if you are very light and small bodied so your fumikomi is not loud/strong? And in the same situation you are not heavily muscled to make cut power and sound?

The only thing that you are left with then is having strong zanshin and seme.

Answer: Then, you must exert your force of spirit by using more seme and zanshin to overwhelm your opponent, and convince the shimpans of your cut, and not slash.

I feel this is perhaps one of the biggest obstacles that some people may face, especially those of the fairer gender since as Mark has often mentioned, for some females they will never be able to generate the same force of strength, and sound as men can just because their bodies are not built that way.

I do not mean this in any derogatory manner but from an anatomical point of view.

At the same time, skinny light bodied males will suffer the same problem, unless you have trained hard and developed your skills and zanshin to reflect your spirit.

What this does mean though, is for larger stronger louder people, they must work very hard to produce kiai, fumikomi, power and zanshin. If you are a big person and you give off a wimpy kiai, no shimpan will award you an ippon because they will be naturally expecting more spirit from you.

Let the inner beast out when you make the cut, apply your tenouchi properly to stop that power from becoming a bludgeoning and add all the other elements in.

What are your thoughts on this?