The best ways in which to commit seppuku are considered to be ichimonji-bara (single-line disembowelment) in which a single cut is made across the abdomen and jumonji-bara (crosswise disembowelment) in which a single cut is made across the abdomen followed by a second vertical cut from the pit of the stomach to below the navel.
切腹の際の腹の切り方は、腹を一文字に切る一文字腹、一文字に切ったあとさらに縦にみぞおちから臍の下まで切り下げる十文字腹がよいとされた。