Day 427:
No class today because I am ill.
Day 428:
Today I feel better. I was able to do three sets without losing my breath. I think I’ve recovered from that Kendo class and horrible sleep all last weekend.
Only things to work on is linking metsuke and making sure to raise the iaito directly over my head before striking.
I've heard of the next Iaido seminar. It's two days instead of one day. I'm only hoping that it won't be too long each day. I might not be ready to participate if it's two full days.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
A Beginner's Point of View 425-426
Day 425:
Today was a straight-forward day. No special instruction, just kata. I completed three sets of kata and did well. I just need to remember to raise the iaito above my head before striking.
Day 426:
Today was oddly a bad day. I got off work early to take a nap and store up energy. I had planned to eat before class, but my nap was two and a half hours long. Not enough time to eat. So, I did kata on an empty stomach. Half of my kata had flaws in them. I did three full sets and a few spare ones before class was over. The instructor watched me for several kata and did not comment. I think that means I’m doing okay.
Today was a straight-forward day. No special instruction, just kata. I completed three sets of kata and did well. I just need to remember to raise the iaito above my head before striking.
Day 426:
Today was oddly a bad day. I got off work early to take a nap and store up energy. I had planned to eat before class, but my nap was two and a half hours long. Not enough time to eat. So, I did kata on an empty stomach. Half of my kata had flaws in them. I did three full sets and a few spare ones before class was over. The instructor watched me for several kata and did not comment. I think that means I’m doing okay.
Saturday, November 17, 2012
A Beginner's Point of View 423-424
Day 423:
Today I did three full sets of Iaido. Today was a bad day. I had a headache and an uneasy stomach all day. I did some awkward cutting vertically downward because of that. So, I just let it go and kept at it. It seemed as if I could only remember to use metsuke or bring the sword directly above my head after a cut, not both.
Day 424:
Today I decided to pace myself. I only accomplished two sets, but that was by design. I had a question about hakamas. I’ve seen some Iaidoka tuck in their hakama after kneeling in seiza and others leave it alone. Often, on leg of my hakama is splayed wider than the other and I wonder if I should do something about it. The instructor said not to bother. It was most important about economy of motion. Tucking is an extra step unless I need to do it to avoid stepping on my hakama.
I went back to Kendo for one night. The instructor made sure to let me know about stepping out if I needed to. I survived stretches and suburi fairly well. I also completed footwork drills, although I’m out of practice timing my fumi-komi and swings. I stepped into line for waza drills and was doing well. However, I started losing my breath. Even having a break halfway through didn’t help that much. I had to step out. I watched the others finish waza and then perform kakari-geiko. I still led ending rei-hou. It was a good practice, but I think I have more healing to do. I can’t wait to visit the doctor again in a few months.
Today I did three full sets of Iaido. Today was a bad day. I had a headache and an uneasy stomach all day. I did some awkward cutting vertically downward because of that. So, I just let it go and kept at it. It seemed as if I could only remember to use metsuke or bring the sword directly above my head after a cut, not both.
Day 424:
Today I decided to pace myself. I only accomplished two sets, but that was by design. I had a question about hakamas. I’ve seen some Iaidoka tuck in their hakama after kneeling in seiza and others leave it alone. Often, on leg of my hakama is splayed wider than the other and I wonder if I should do something about it. The instructor said not to bother. It was most important about economy of motion. Tucking is an extra step unless I need to do it to avoid stepping on my hakama.
I went back to Kendo for one night. The instructor made sure to let me know about stepping out if I needed to. I survived stretches and suburi fairly well. I also completed footwork drills, although I’m out of practice timing my fumi-komi and swings. I stepped into line for waza drills and was doing well. However, I started losing my breath. Even having a break halfway through didn’t help that much. I had to step out. I watched the others finish waza and then perform kakari-geiko. I still led ending rei-hou. It was a good practice, but I think I have more healing to do. I can’t wait to visit the doctor again in a few months.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
A Beginner's Point of View 421-422
Day 419:
Today I did three sets of kata, pacing myself and adding more metsuke.
Day 420:
Today I was able to finish three sets of kata before the instructor decided to give a lesson on the sixth kata. He pointed out that you need to draw the sword above your opponent’s head and swing down. It’s not enough to just flick the wrist because there’s no power behind the strike.
Today I did three sets of kata, pacing myself and adding more metsuke.
Day 420:
Today I was able to finish three sets of kata before the instructor decided to give a lesson on the sixth kata. He pointed out that you need to draw the sword above your opponent’s head and swing down. It’s not enough to just flick the wrist because there’s no power behind the strike.
Friday, November 2, 2012
A Beginner's Point of View 419-420
Day 419:
No class today because of severe weather.
Day 420:
Today another student showed up with no experience. The instructor spent all of his time teaching him instead. He did take the time to come over and let me ask a question. I asked about the tsuki in the eighth kata. Our printed lessons say that you thrust to the solar plexus. However, we’ve always been taught to thrust up through the ribcage and into the heart. We found out that thrusting to the solar plexus is feasible when your step away for the turn involves moving backwards.
I completed three sets of kata today, but that was only because I was hurrying. I get to anxious trying to add new moves into a kata that I wind up being too eager to make the actual cut. I just need to calm down and be smoother instead of faster.
No class today because of severe weather.
Day 420:
Today another student showed up with no experience. The instructor spent all of his time teaching him instead. He did take the time to come over and let me ask a question. I asked about the tsuki in the eighth kata. Our printed lessons say that you thrust to the solar plexus. However, we’ve always been taught to thrust up through the ribcage and into the heart. We found out that thrusting to the solar plexus is feasible when your step away for the turn involves moving backwards.
I completed three sets of kata today, but that was only because I was hurrying. I get to anxious trying to add new moves into a kata that I wind up being too eager to make the actual cut. I just need to calm down and be smoother instead of faster.
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