A Beginner's Point of View 714-715

Day 714:

Today was a better day. I did 3 full sets of kata in Iaido.

However, in Kendo I was lacking in energy. After suburi and kihon we did many men-ouchi strikes. I was really getting sluggish inside. I haven’t felt this bad since I had liver damage.

Sensei has been striking the newest young student, albeit gently. I asked if I could do so also. I hate it when I get paired with her and she doesn’t get the entire experience. Still, Sensei said it was okay if I was gentle. So, I only tap her. She seems eager to receive strikes like a full student.

At the end of class it was balloon Kendo for her birthday. She took us all on gauntlet-style. My balloon popped in 3 seconds. Sensei said it was a dojo record. Great. She did have several good strikes for someone so young.

Day 715:

Today had lousy traffic, everyone showed up late. I only got to complete 2 sets of kata in Iaido. I asked Sensei about the fifth kata in hasso-no-kamae. He said the cutting edge is off by 45 degrees, not straight ahead. The follow-up strike follows the plane of the sword from the down cut.

In Kendo, after suburi it was a beginner class. We did a lot of kihon strikes and then immediately into ji-geiko.

Afterwards, we had a class in kata. Finally! I needed lessons in shoto kata. I actually got to practice uchidachi kata. I really need more practice. I know all of the pieces for uchidachi and shidachi, but not the order to put them in. For example, the uchidachi uses left jodan, gedan, and chudan, in that order.