as successors. Perhaps the most famous of these was Sōkaku Takeda, founder of Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu. In contrast, some writers have claimed that other famous historical personages such as Musō Gonnosuke were in the line of transmission of Jiki Shinkage-ryū. However, Gonnosuke was never in the direct lineage of Jiki Shinkage-ryū. Characteristics The Jikishinkage-ryū style has many differences when compared to modern kendō, especially in its footwork and breathing techniques. The unpō (運法) is the footwork used in the Jikishinkage-ryū style and can be translated as law, rule or method (for) transporting, conveying or carrying ('walking'). Unlike the suriashi of modern kendo, it is stressed that both feet stay firmly planted on the ground at all times. The kiai (気合) consists not only of the shouting, like most martial arts, but of the proper way of inhaling and state of mind as well. This is even more reflected in the synchronous deep breathing called Aum (唵) (or a-un) with one's partner which accompanies most movements. Every kata (形) has two distinct roles called uchidachi (打太刀) the striking/attacking sword and shidachi (受太刀) the doing/receiving sword. Some parts of the kata are identical for both roles, like the kamihanen (上半円) upper semicircle and shimohanen (下半円) lower semicircle (also called johanen and gehanen). These are unconventional waza (技) techniques and characteristic for this style. Roughly, the swordsman draws a semicircle (upwards or downwards) with both his right hand (holding the sword), and his left hand (free). He finishes the movement with his arms extended, the sword pointing upwards, and the free hand's index finger pointing downwards. These movements can be considered as a greeting and a form of meditation, and are usually executed in the beginning and end of a kata or suburi (素振り) session. They represent all the things in heaven and all the things in earth, and the practitioner in the center of everything. Another typical technique is the morōde (両腕) both arms movement in which uchidachi raises with both arms the sword of shidachi to jōdan and receives the subsequent uchikomi with the side of the blade. This results in thrusting the left arm forwards and turning both arms outwards to allow to absorb shidachi's cut which is in kiritsuki style like performed by a kaishakunin (介錯人). Jikishinkage-ryū exponents train with both ōdachi (大太刀) and kodachi (小太刀) (but not both at once). Clothing Kenjutsu was practiced in a thick kimono (keikogi)