Tōtoku Hyōshi 刀匿礮姿
In the photo the Sōke of Bujinkan dōjō performs 刀匿礮姿 – Tōtoku Hyōshi, that is to use the sword as a shield against attack of outside or inside, this can be understood inside the Kobujutsu (古武術) as Naka-zumi (中墨) , Shinmyō-ken (神妙剣) or Seichū-sen (正中线). Basically it is the concept of maintaining a center-line with your being, with your body and with the tools that life has to offer, inside of sanshin (三心) this sanshin is an attitude of the being in spite of the external or INTERNAL circumstances (omote and ura / 表裏).
For this there is necessary the transmission and the practice of a corporal attitude of the being inside the one, the unity (一), From the unity to the multiplicity
Shūmoku (撞木), Hitoe (偏身), Ichimonji–goshi (一文字腰), Hanmi (半身) and Ichimonji (一文字) are some of the terms used in the kobujutsu for this corporal attitude inside the science of the art of the war (the art of the peace).
There are multiple guards, but only one guard will give us the victory over ourselves and our reflections projected on the outside.
What time is it? Now.
Where are you? Here.
Who are you? This moment.
Everything is in one, in the unity (一).
From the humility of one advancing to zero.
Classical Martial Arts Research Academy 
Great write-up David. This principle is very important and is the base for understanding all weapons in the nine ryuha. Few people really understand that it is so much more than just a position, this is not just a kamae or a body position. or an obscure way to block shuriken thrown at you.
Its the underlying and hidden principle that guides all taijutsu and weapons training. You can find it everywhere once you truly learn it.
In the old days this was so important that for instance in Togakure ryu the test for becoming the next soke was three fold and one of the three tests was Tōtoku Hyōshi agains a sharp arrow shot from a bow directly at the practitioner.
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