A small extract from ‘A Book of Five Rings （Go Rin No Sho）’

on holding the long sword and footwork

Grip the long sword with a rather floating feeling in your thumb and forefinger, with the middle finger neither tight nor slack, and with the last two fingers tight. It is bad to have play in your hands.
With the tips of your toes somewhat floating, tread firmly with your heels. Whether you move fast or slow, with large or small steps, your feet must always move as in normal walking. I dislike the three walking methods known as ‘jumping-foot’, floating-foot’ and ‘fixed steps’.