Lower the head to below the level of the sword. The katana is worn on the left side with the Ha facing upward. The Sageo are tied into the Obi of the hakama. The end of the Tsuka should be directly in front of the naval. Any time you change partners or receive individual instruction from the Sensei, tachi rei should be performed.
Many beginners tend to hold the sword too tightly.
In the beginning, training should concentrate on gripping the sword properly. The sword should be held loosely but firmly. It should act as a natural extension of the dominant hand. There should be a space between the hands, this allows for better mobility of the weapon. The majority of the grip strength is applied by the little finger and the index finger is used for balance.