A Beginner's Point of View 246-247

Day 246:

I started off with 1-2-6-7-12 like usual. Today Sensei taught me a new kata. He decided to teach me the fourth kata before moving to the third. The fourth kata is a kneeling one, like the first, only you sit in an alternate position. Your left leg sits as normal, but your right leg is up on the foot, tilted sideways to the right. You sit somewhere in the vicinity of your left foot. I haven’t found a good position to sit in because it hurts when you put your weight on the ankle. Your hands are fists near the places to grip the sword at about even height with each other. When you sense your opponent moving, you grip your sword and saya, and thrust forward with it into the solar plexus, on top of the opponent’s tsuka. You use a fumi-komi for power and use the momentum to push your opponent with your tsuka, drawing your saya backwards. Look behind you to see your opponent behind you and rotate your left leg to beat ninety degrees to its original position, your foot sliding to your right. Place the blunt edge of the sword across your chest and slide it to tsuki into your opponent behind you while pushing the saya forward. You bring the tsuka of your sword above your head and look forward, turning your left leg to its original position. Raise your right hand up to grip with two hands and cut downward vertically down low. To finish, you bring your hands up a tad to above your right knee and perform chiburi to the right. Noto and slide your right foot forward a tad and stand up. Take one step back.

In Kendo class, the class was smaller. We learned mostly about etiquette. When to bring the sword to the hip, when not to lower the sword, when to draw, reminders of sonkyo and bowing. We did a few men and kote strikes while doing the manners. Sensei even gave a demonstration of the sixth Iaido kata to show why we do the motions with the shinai. After putting on bogu, I gave strikes and then received rei-hou and uchi-komi.

Day 247:

No class today because I’m expecting to work late and my wrist is a little sprained.