A Beginner's Point of View 253-254

Day 253:

In Iaido, Sensei was back and he spent some time teaching the new student. He also taught me a new kata, the ninth kata. The premise is that you are walking along with another kenshi to your left. He tries to draw, so you draw first. You step with the right, then step with the left and grip the sword. Step with the left and twist the saya up and out like in the sixth kata. You pivot on your right foot and slide your left foot back while turning to the left. Draw and cut your opponent from neck to hip. You then place your hand on top of the sword to brace it and then step forward with the left for a tsuki. Draw the sword back with your right hand while holding the left steady. As you pull it back, twist your right wrist to bring the tsuka up to your right pectoral muscle height. Adjust your right foot to be in line with your body and place your left hand on the saya. Chiburi diagonally downward and to the right while sliding your left foot back. Noto and slide the left foot up to be even. Step backwards and to the left, twisting your body back to its original position. Then step backwards two more steps and bring your feet together. This kata is a lot harder than it sounds, but it’s worth doing.

In Kendo, the whole class practiced putting on men together. We waited as a younger student fumbled with his men himo and tried to put them right. He must have been embarrassed. I was embarrassed when I was learning to put the men on at first and I was always last. The instructor gave a speech about learning to tie on your men quickly and properly. Then we broke up into lines and I helped the students with kiri-kaeshi, men strikes, kote strikes, and then kiri-kaeshi again. I was part of the motodachi rotation. It is more efficient this way. Afterwards, we had practice promotional tests for all the testing students. We saw several candidates rotate in and out of the places and fight. I had a practice keiko against the instructor, a nidan. I think I did fairly well, but I did block out of reflex. Maybe I shouldn’t do that for promotional tests. Still, I struck doh and kote fairly well, and even snuck in a doh (but just one as to not try to show off). I always made sure to give a big kiai.

Day 254:

Today was the last practice before tournament. Class was supposedly ‘light’ but we still worked hard. This class was all about how to compose yourself during shiai and promotional. We practiced our kiai and composure by practicing suri-ashi.

Then we gathered our men and stood in line. We did a quick bow in again (no shomen) and then put on men. An instructor walked in front of us and gave comments about how to wear our men and how to sit. It was good stuff to remember.

We then broke up in to a circle of people. Two of the instructors joined Sensei in practicing being shinpan. We were picked at random based on our rank to have a practice match while the shinpan practiced being shinpan. I had a match against a visitor whose zekken showed a university over the border up north. He was really fast. I matched him for speed and there were several times when either of us could have been scored for points. I struck doh on him unevenly and pulled my arm again. It didn’t feel like an injury. More like it was pulling the old one. I think this will be a long-term injury, like my abdominal muscles used to be. I’ll have to be careful. I won my match 2-1 by striking men and going through fast, pushing myself to my fastest charge and screaming a loud kiai. It was a lot closer then it looked. After a few more matches, we broke up for the evening.

I could not stay for practice since I had to go to work early, but Sensei asked me to help shinpan for a little while. I agreed since it was not going to aggravate my arm. I was a shinpan for a full team match. It was hard keeping up with all of the action, but I did my best. A few of my calls differed from Sensei, but that is what I saw. A couple of times we discussed in gogi and the final call was against me. No worries. I understand how the shinpan judge and the method suits me fine.

Day 254.5 (tournament):

The tournament has arrived! I drove down to the normal place and set up at the hotel. When it came time for the tournament, there were several of us who had never been to a tournament. I gave them some advice about helping out at tables, especially since most were testing the next day. I was not. I was planning to leave the next day early in the morning.

The tournament was the same type of tournament that goes on this time of year. I participated in the Mudansha and Teams divisions. In Mudansha, my first opponent did not show up, so I was given a default victory of a win and a point. My next opponent was a very low-ranking kyu. I took it slow and lined up good men strikes. I won 2-0 against that person. At first, the table was going to advance someone else! The only other winner in my bracket had a no-show and a win with a single point. I pointed out the error in the guise of a question, and the sensei at the table found the error and corrected it. Whew. My next match was against someone closer to my rank. We attacked and defended against each other back and forth over and over. Close to the end of the match, he snuck in a very slight debana-kote. It was a good point, so I lost. Well, I did give a great performance. I helped out for a long time. The tournament went over time by hours.

In team matches, our dojo had two teams. Sensei chose not to compete with us. We recruited someone from another school to fill out our roster. I was chosen to be the captain for our second team. I was ikkyu and the highest-ranking on the team. So, I organized us into shape and tried to make us ready on time. We faced a team from a powerful school. That school fielded five team and this was their second place people! Not one person was beneath shodan! Two of my people were without rank. Everyone expected a ten-point shutout. My team did very well. We lost twice and forced a tie for three matches. Everyone was very impressed with us. In my match, I fought against a nidan who seemed nearly ready to test for sandan. We went at each other aggressively, trading blow for blow. Back and forth we raged, trying to crisp, clean points. Eventually, the shinpan-cho called an end of time. I can tell this team was impressed with us. Our youngest fighter went against a shodan who seemed ready to test for nidan and lasted a full minute against that person!

After the tournament, we all went out for food and to share stories. Head Sensei asked me if I learned anything. I told him that I learned that when I think my kote is closed off, I still have one inch open. He seemed pleased that I could learn that on my own.