Here is a concept of sword play . Where the shoto in Seigan no kamae (pointing at the eyes) hides the diato behind it . A false impression for the other to attack what seems weak .

The defense is any variations of movement using nito ryu (two swords)

In these three videos a rope is used as a defense .  The rope or purse strap for womens defense is about 2 feet long .  Held in the hand you pass the rope from the inside of a punch or grab .

Catch it with your free hand . Then allow the other hand to move around the wrist to settle on top of the attackers hand . Rope now ensnared to the wrist . Use your knuckles or boshi (thumb strike) to the small bone on the back of the hand .

And inturn apply take ori (bamboo break) to the wrist going down .

Here we have a short vid of a student staying with an attack . As the punch comes in turn inwards and brush off the punch you could  use gassho toward face (or any other metsubishi ) pull your lead leg back in a lowered hicho no kamae . This allows a knee strike to the thigh muscle and then the options are open to almost anything .

Playing with handbo

Hicho no kamae

Here is a great look at a weapon that can be difficult to use . The Kyoketsu shoge has many elements to it , yet you must not focus on any of them . The ring at the end is there for strikes or jabs . But it is also there as a loop to bind . You body must move and understand space as well .