Tuesday, March 30, 2010

A Beginner's Point of View 150-151.75

Day 150:

Today Sensei was trying to work us to death. It was the second to last class before tournament and he wanted us to work extra hard to prepare.

We did endless kiri-kaeshi drills. We did endless one-step men and one-step kote. We would slip in the idea that the one receiving would attempt oji-waza halfway through the drill to get the attacker to practice changing up the timing of the strike. We had several matches of keiko to work on our endurance.

Finally, we had lots of practice performing rei-hou, sometimes with keiko and sometimes just rei-hou by itself. We all left practice very tired, very sore, and very happy to have worked so hard in preparation for the tournament and testing.

Day 151:

Today was the last class before tournament, so Sensei decided we would take it easy. He wanted us to recover and have lots of energy, so we had a more instructional class. The entire class was centered around what to do at the promotional testing.

We would put on keiko with matches between all students, being judged on the rules that would govern the promotional test. We would practice etiquette and poise when entering and exiting the court. We would practice coming back to chudan-no-kamae while passing through an opponent’s space. We would practice passing through at an angle so we don’t clip our opponent.

This class had more lecture and example than hard work, but we did work. Now we feel ready for the test.

Day 151.5:

The tournament was familiar to me as I had been here exactly a year ago doing the same thing. I walked around to the tables to see that some of the students from the college were volunteering to work the tables. Since I wasn’t needed, I just started to read the program, stretch out, and perform some suburi.

There was no separate youth division, so we launched right into the Mudansha. I was starting off the sixth bracket of eight for my court, so I had time to watch the others fight. Some of them were very basic, others very more advanced than me. The matches went quickly, and I went to get ready. Somebody had stolen my program from my bag so that made me angry. I forgot to get another one to remember the day.

My first match was against a girl much shorter than me. I decided not to underestimate her. So, when the match started, I studied her and then decided to take the initiative. She gave a weak kiai and then slowly went for doh. I was confused why she would do this, so I took it as a real attack. I perform suriage-men, passed through, showed zanshin. The shinpan-cho did not award a point, so I repeated the action, as did she. Over and over the same pattern. I would kiai, she would slowly attack doh, I would perform some basic oji-waza and struck men firmly but gently, I would pass through, and then show zanshin. Soon, I was award two points and won the match. I felt sorry for the girl as this might have been her first ever tournament match, but I showed dignity and did not celebrate.

I was the first in a bracket of four kendoka, so I did not change ribbons. Apparently, they match up the fighters like this: A-B, C-D, A-D, C-B. This way, each fighter gets to fight two people and no-one needs to change ribbons.

My second match was against someone more my equal. He was just as fast as me, and just as tricky. We would size each other up carefully, launch into an attack, and the other would try either debana or suriage to defeat the other. Over and over would strike men or kote, trying to get that first point. One exchange I broke up by forcing a tsuba-zariei. My opponent tried to shove me down by throwing his arms in my face, but I did not fall. It got more intense with the exchanges. I decided that the match would end in a hantei, so I needed an edge. I allowed my opponent to chase me to the edge of the court. When he tried to charge me, I spun out of the way, letting him step on the boundary. I pushed him so he stepped out of the court. The shinpan called a yame and then a gogi. They conferred, and then decided not to call a hansoku. I was disappointed. The match ended when time ran out, and a hantei was called. The shinpan voted 2-1 against me. Maybe they thought my opponent had better spirit. This eliminated me from the bracket.

My opponent was also eliminated by points, so this is the first time I was not bested by the champion. The day passed quickly, lunch was served after the women’s division. After ‘shodan/nidan’ and the ‘sandan and above’ group, it was time for teams. We had a good chance this year. Our team had strong members, including our two sensei in the top slots. We fought a basic team and won 5-0. Our first two matches won 2-0 in each match against a less-experienced team. We just stuck to meat-and-potatoes Kendo and won cleanly.

If we won the next match, we would place for a medal and attempt to advance to the finals. Unfortunately, we went up against a powerhouse team. Each of our matches ended in a 2-0 loss so the team lost 5-0. It turns out that my opponent in the 2nd position was a nidan! I’m glad I lasted so long against him as I did.

After that, I put my bogu away and resigned to just watch the rest of the matches. One of the coordinators for the tournament addressed me by name and requested that I tie ribbons. For the rest of the tournament, I helped tie ribbons to keep things running smoothly. I thought that the team that eliminated us would win the championship, but that did not happen. I guess my lucky/unlucky streak is broken.

Day 151.75:

Today was testing day. I was number 31 this time. Well in the middle. We all put on doh and tare without zekken and sat in a 12-person wide, 4-person deep formation. They told us to relax and do not consider us required to sit in seiza the entire time. Good thing, because that hard gymnasium floor was cutting off circulation in my legs no matter which position I sat in.

After what seemed an endless wait, it was my turn. The panel of Sensei actually had us perform a full promotional testing this time. Each of us had two partners, one we would perform drills on and one we would receive drills from. We first did kihon, which was two men strikes, two kote strikes, and two doh strikes. Then we did a single pass of kiri-kaeshi. This time, I would shout ‘men’ with each strike and then held a very long ‘meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen’ after the ninth strike and keep holding it until after I pass through and show zanshin. I was completely out of breath by the time it was over. Finally, we did a short keiko. I remembered to trade off times with my partner so that sometimes we would complete, sometimes I would let him strike me, and he would let me strike him. I think our cooperation made us look good. Between my first and second partners, I switched around to the other side of the court, making sure to pass behind everyone and not in front.

At the end of the day, we watched the candidates for ikkyu and shodan perform just keiko and then kata. Finally, just before I left for the day, the panel of Sensei posted the results. I passed! I am now a ni-kyu! Time for some big dessert.

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