A Beginner's Point of View 457-458

Day 456:

In Iaido, we started right away with structured lessons. We learned intricacies of the 6th, 7th, and 8th katas. In the 6th kata, I need to make the initial cut lower because the ki-saki must cut down through the chin. I also need to remember to turn my head first before turning my body for the next cut. In the 7th kata, the end position should be horizontal, not with the ki-saki down. In the 8th kata, before the stab to the second opponent, you should keep the blade flat and horizontal. During the stab, you rotate the wrist and twist the outside edge up.

In Kendo class, we had a more traditional class with two rows of drills. After warm-ups and suburi, we really crunched into many iterations of kiri-kaeshi, men-ouchi, and kote-ouchi. Then I had to rest because of the many iterations of drills. I sat out, missing ji-geiko. Sensei showed up while I was resting. He only showed up to deliver some necessary paperwork. He looked much more recovered than last time. I jumped back in for a few ai-ouchi-men drills.

Day 457:

Today was an unusual class. Our dojo was being renovated, so the organization that we rent the space from gave us a large room to practice in. It had ceilings that were almost too low and it was carpeted. The instructors decided to have only a kata day. Rei-hou was subdued as we have to talk out loud, but not shout.

I got paired with an ikkyu who was going to test at the tournament next month. I went over the first three kata in both shidachi and uchidachi roles until he had it down. I had forgotten the fourth kata, so the instructor stepped me through it. I remembered the steps as I did them. The instructor then gave a lecture on the fourth kata using me as a partner.