Sunday, March 25, 2012

A Beginner's Point of View 355-356.5

Day 355:

In Iaido, I did my routine a full three times. However, the instructor gave me some advice. He said that when using jodan-no-kamae for zanshin, you hold your sword high to look intimidating, not in a relaxed stance with elbows bent. I tried it and that’s not a very stable position for chiburi. I guess I’ll have to practice it.

In Kendo, I felt really tired. I could not finish suburi and shout the repetitions back. I was really tired all class, sweating a lot. We did a lot of kiri-kaeshi, menouchi, and sashi-menouchi. Over and over, I saw a lot of students not reaching or even keeping their right arms high enough for shoulder-level. I made sure to give lots of encouragement. We finished by doing a pair of keikos.

Day 356:

Today was a very warm day. As it went on, I was sweating, even though the overhead fans were on. As I practiced, the instructor gave advice to another student. He was saying that the best way to spin around is to place your weight on your right knee and use your left foot as a pivot. Turn around slowly and then draw. I tried it and it did make the turn easier and smoother.

In Kendo, we did warm-ups and suburi. I nearly made it all the way, but lost my breath at the last twenty haya-suburi. We had a new student with us. I had to coach him silently through the suburi and during the footwork drills. After that, he went to another instructor while the rest of us put on men and did drills. We did drills that helped to work up fumi-komi. Kiri-kaeshi, menouchi, koteouchi, and dohouchi. We finished class with several keikos. However, I was exhausted. I nearly had to stop and step out. I toughed it out and finished class, but my last two keikos were really pathetic. I was moving slower than the students and was outclassed by everyone. I was glad when class was over.

For the past couple of weeks, the instructor was very upset that a particular student was always walking in front of him, violating a rule of etiquette. Even when the instructor would explain to the class why we do not pass in front of the instructor, he keeps doing it. I approached the student after class. I started by complimenting him on his efforts. Then I told him about the rule of no passing in front. I explained why it exists and I told him how to avoid doing it. I made it very clear that I was not blaming him, but he seemed to not understand that he was doing something wrong. I just told him how the rule worked and to walk around behind the line of students or behind the instructor and he would be fine. The student promised to do better. I hope I was not out of line in doing this, but the student just did not understand that he was being rude after more than two weeks of the instructor explaining to the class about no passing in front (and he was still doing it).

Day 356.5:

Warm-ups, could not do haya-suburi, men-tsuke right away, got in for rei-hou, kiri-kaeshi, menouchi, koteouchi, step out, feel terrible, back in for men-aiouchi-men-men, step out, watch keikos, help film instructors doing keiko, lecture on maintain shinai, clean/dry bogu, tie men different way, maybe start tying flaps again

My sense of timing is legendary. We had a random bonus Kendo practice this weekend. Of course, the day before the practice, I was at a medical specialist to find out what’s been making my endurance plummet. He asked for seven vials of blood and I gave them happily.

The Kendo practice started late, even though a couple of us arrived early. I used that time to stretch out and get the blood pumping. Once we all arrived, I led the class in rei-hou. We started off doing slow stretches and some nice, hard suburi. My stamina started to break again, so when I heard the command for haya-suburi, I stepped out to rest. After haya-suburi and breathing, I stepped in again. We put on men and started doing lots of kiri-kaeshi, over and over again. I was getting winded after doing a full rotation’s worth. All of that kiai really takes a toll on my lungs. We did lots of menouchi and koteouchi as well.

Suddenly, I lost all my strength. I felt like collapsing. I forced myself to finish waza with the sensei and then stepped out. I had to take off men and get some water. After several minutes of watching, I decided to step back in. I put on men and participated on a drill that went men-aouchi-men-men. Then the partner led the same thing. It was to teach zanshin. A good drill, but it was taxing. After a few times, I stepped out for good. I really did not feel well. I watched as the sensei organized the class into rotating groups of keikos. They filmed the keikos, and I filmed the keiko between the two highest-ranking instructors. They really made sure their form was top-notch to show the lower-ranking students how it was done.

We then bowed out and began the demonstrations of equipment maintenance. We actually took apart our shinais, sanded the staves, oiled them, and reassembled them. A good idea. We then got some advice on taking care of our kote, men, tare, and doh after practices. I have been doing most of these things already but there were a few things that I haven’t seen before. I think I should start tying the flaps tightly to the men again. It’s been a while since I got in the habit. After the equipment demonstrations were done, we had pizza. I was ravenous with hunger, even though I did not feel it. I had three big slices of pizza and a cup of soda. After I got home, I was thinking about my next meal. I should take it easy for a few days.

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