Day 519:
The instructors have brought us a new way to train. They say we need to understand how to react to others pressure. We did a new set of drills.
We did kiri-kaeshi all the way down the length of the dojo and back. We approached our opponent using okuri-ashi and then strike men, kote, and then doh. The motodachi did a drill to approach us with ayumi-ashi until we were in issoku-ittou-no-maai.
We then did some more advanced drills of suriage-men when the motodachi steps into maai. We then did some kakari-geiko and then a new way. We did kakari-geiko with the receiver ‘resisting’. Resisting means stepping away, dodging, and lightly blocking. I liked resisting. I was pretty good at it. I wasn’t bad at striking a resisting opponent, either. We finished with ji-geiko. I didn’t have to step out once.
Day 520:
We started with the new kiri-kaeshi. I don’t like it much since it’s awkward to know when to stop together. We did men-ouchi normally, with okuri-ashi, and motodachi ayumi-ashi. We practiced men-debana-kote and kote-suriage-men to sharpen our technique. We then repeated the kakari-geiko and kakari-geiko with resistance.
We finished with ji-geiko and kata. In kata, I practiced the first five with a student and then I did six and seven with sensei. Sensei said that my six and seven has improved. I remembered to not rush through the footwork and turn my body to the left as shidachi in seven.
Friday, October 18, 2013
Friday, October 11, 2013
A Beginner's Point of View 517-518
Day 517:
Today was a great practice. We really ground repetitions over and over to build endurance.
We did kiri-kaeshi, several men-ouchi, kote-kiri-kaeshi, kote-ouchi, doh-kiri-kaeshi, doh-ouchi, kote-suriage-men, and men-debana-kote. I was exhausted.
We finished with several rounds of ji-geiko and then we broke up for kata. I practiced a full seven kata with the instructor. Overall, he said I was much better and did not have any significant errors. Just fix a few little things like looking back at the uchidachi sooner to match gazes.
Day 518:
Today was a hard day. It was cold and rainy. I must be getting old because I like this weather but it sapped my strength.
Kiri-kaeshi, men-ouchi, kote-ouchi, doh-ouchi, men-debana-kote, kote-suriage-men, ai-ouchi-men, and a couple rounds of ji-geiko. I feel that flexing my left wrist makes strike better. I sparred with a classmate of mine who seems to have adopted ‘my’ nuki-men technique. I only say that because I used to use that waza against him all of the time and now he’s started to use it against me. It’s actually funny because I have a hard time defending against it.
Today was a great practice. We really ground repetitions over and over to build endurance.
We did kiri-kaeshi, several men-ouchi, kote-kiri-kaeshi, kote-ouchi, doh-kiri-kaeshi, doh-ouchi, kote-suriage-men, and men-debana-kote. I was exhausted.
We finished with several rounds of ji-geiko and then we broke up for kata. I practiced a full seven kata with the instructor. Overall, he said I was much better and did not have any significant errors. Just fix a few little things like looking back at the uchidachi sooner to match gazes.
Day 518:
Today was a hard day. It was cold and rainy. I must be getting old because I like this weather but it sapped my strength.
Kiri-kaeshi, men-ouchi, kote-ouchi, doh-ouchi, men-debana-kote, kote-suriage-men, ai-ouchi-men, and a couple rounds of ji-geiko. I feel that flexing my left wrist makes strike better. I sparred with a classmate of mine who seems to have adopted ‘my’ nuki-men technique. I only say that because I used to use that waza against him all of the time and now he’s started to use it against me. It’s actually funny because I have a hard time defending against it.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
A Beginner's Point of View 515-516
Day 515:
No class today as I am recovering from illness.
Day 516:
No class today as I am recovering from illness.
No class today as I am recovering from illness.
Day 516:
No class today as I am recovering from illness.
Monday, September 30, 2013
A Beginner's Point of View 513-514
Day 513:
Today we had a short class. Our instructors came back from a tournament really tired. One instructor even quit after beginner class and apologized for it. The other tried not to strike too much and hide it. We did full rounds of kiri-kaeshi, men-ouchi, kote-ouchi, kote-kiri-kaeshi, doh-kiri-kaeshi, kote-suriage-men, men-debana-kote, harai-men, and then ji-geiko in a three man rotation.
We then did four people in a kata rotation. I got to practice the first five kata with a student and the first seven kata with my fellow shodan and the sensei. I need to remember to twist my body to face the left as shidachi in the seveth kata. In the sixth kata, the footwork is like the second kata, that allows me to drive forward into the uchidachi.
Day 514:
Today was similar to the last class. We did multiple rounds of kiri-kaeshi, men-ouchi, kote-ouchi, kote-kiri-kaeshi, doh-ouchi, doh-kiri-kaeshi, men-dabana-kote, and tsuki-ouchi.
I had to step out for a rest, but just for a sip of water and to wet my face. That seems to make me feel better than the sip. I stepped in for some ji-geiko and rotational kata. Rotating kata is an interesting way to do it. I look forward to a six-way rotational kata.
Today we had a short class. Our instructors came back from a tournament really tired. One instructor even quit after beginner class and apologized for it. The other tried not to strike too much and hide it. We did full rounds of kiri-kaeshi, men-ouchi, kote-ouchi, kote-kiri-kaeshi, doh-kiri-kaeshi, kote-suriage-men, men-debana-kote, harai-men, and then ji-geiko in a three man rotation.
We then did four people in a kata rotation. I got to practice the first five kata with a student and the first seven kata with my fellow shodan and the sensei. I need to remember to twist my body to face the left as shidachi in the seveth kata. In the sixth kata, the footwork is like the second kata, that allows me to drive forward into the uchidachi.
Day 514:
Today was similar to the last class. We did multiple rounds of kiri-kaeshi, men-ouchi, kote-ouchi, kote-kiri-kaeshi, doh-ouchi, doh-kiri-kaeshi, men-dabana-kote, and tsuki-ouchi.
I had to step out for a rest, but just for a sip of water and to wet my face. That seems to make me feel better than the sip. I stepped in for some ji-geiko and rotational kata. Rotating kata is an interesting way to do it. I look forward to a six-way rotational kata.
Friday, September 20, 2013
A Beginner's Point of View 511-512
Day 511:
No class today as I am injured.
Day 512:
Today was a good day of stamina drills. After kiri-kaeshi, men-ouchi, and kote-ouchi, we did several rounds of ai-ouchi-men. We then did a new drill where the receiver walks forward at a constant rate and the attacker attacks at one-step distance. After that, we did hot-seat. I did well, striking the instructors several times. My fellow shodan was really able to outguess me.
No class today as I am injured.
Day 512:
Today was a good day of stamina drills. After kiri-kaeshi, men-ouchi, and kote-ouchi, we did several rounds of ai-ouchi-men. We then did a new drill where the receiver walks forward at a constant rate and the attacker attacks at one-step distance. After that, we did hot-seat. I did well, striking the instructors several times. My fellow shodan was really able to outguess me.
Friday, September 13, 2013
A Beginner's Point of View 509-510
Day 509:
Today the instructors decided to kill all of us with stamina drills. We had increasing repetitions for drills until we finish the type of waza and move to the next one. Three, five, seven, and nine repetitions for each of men-ouchi, kote-ouchi, jodan-men, jodan-kote, kote-suriage-men, jodan-suriage-men, and then ji-geiko.
I tried to step out after-jodan-kote, but the instructor encouraged me to stay in. I thought there was just a couple of drills left, but it lasted for multiple repetitions for several drills. I felt horrible, but I kept going. I was tired, out of breath, dizzy, eyes burning from sweat, and dripping nose, but I stayed in until the end.
For kata, I helped refine the first three kata for a student who will eventually test for ikkyu. I advised him to square his hips for movement into jodan in the first kata to keep his sword on target. Still, I was embarrassed for messing up the second kata as shidachi.
Day 510:
Today was a hot, humid day. We took it easy and did more of a technique-sharpening day.
We did kiri-kaeshi, men-ouchi, kote-ouchi, jodan-men, and jodan-kote. The instructor gave us a lecture on how to hold the sword for jodan. We need to slide the sword up so the pinkie finger is not covering the tsuka. We hold the right hand with the web of the hand between thumb and forefinger is open to push the sword.
We went back to work and did ai-ouchi-men, men-ai-ouchi-kote (I hope I said that right) and then we took a break.
We did some kata. I got to practice the first seven kata and got advice. I need to keep my sword lower in the sixth kata to show no stance. In the seventh kata I need to cut instantly and then step carefully to avoid confusion.
Today the instructors decided to kill all of us with stamina drills. We had increasing repetitions for drills until we finish the type of waza and move to the next one. Three, five, seven, and nine repetitions for each of men-ouchi, kote-ouchi, jodan-men, jodan-kote, kote-suriage-men, jodan-suriage-men, and then ji-geiko.
I tried to step out after-jodan-kote, but the instructor encouraged me to stay in. I thought there was just a couple of drills left, but it lasted for multiple repetitions for several drills. I felt horrible, but I kept going. I was tired, out of breath, dizzy, eyes burning from sweat, and dripping nose, but I stayed in until the end.
For kata, I helped refine the first three kata for a student who will eventually test for ikkyu. I advised him to square his hips for movement into jodan in the first kata to keep his sword on target. Still, I was embarrassed for messing up the second kata as shidachi.
Day 510:
Today was a hot, humid day. We took it easy and did more of a technique-sharpening day.
We did kiri-kaeshi, men-ouchi, kote-ouchi, jodan-men, and jodan-kote. The instructor gave us a lecture on how to hold the sword for jodan. We need to slide the sword up so the pinkie finger is not covering the tsuka. We hold the right hand with the web of the hand between thumb and forefinger is open to push the sword.
We went back to work and did ai-ouchi-men, men-ai-ouchi-kote (I hope I said that right) and then we took a break.
We did some kata. I got to practice the first seven kata and got advice. I need to keep my sword lower in the sixth kata to show no stance. In the seventh kata I need to cut instantly and then step carefully to avoid confusion.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
A Beginner's Point of View 507-508
Day 507:
No class today because of the holiday.
Day 508:
Today was a day of instruction for overall refinement. After some kiri-kaeshi, men-ouchi, kote-ouchi, and doh-ouchi, the instructor gives me a lecture about seme. He said that I need to ride the opponent’s shinai into maai. That will transmit my spirit into my opponent.
Sensei gives his own lecture to the class about kote-suriage-men. You can do it by deflecting on either side, left or right. I like doing it on the left side because to swing to the right then up. That blocks the kote from being hit. Guest-sensei said to do it the other way. I don’t like it because it risks my kote and I’m not that fast recovering.
We did a few reps of kote-suriage-men on both sides and then some ji-geiko. I did not need to sit out all class.
No class today because of the holiday.
Day 508:
Today was a day of instruction for overall refinement. After some kiri-kaeshi, men-ouchi, kote-ouchi, and doh-ouchi, the instructor gives me a lecture about seme. He said that I need to ride the opponent’s shinai into maai. That will transmit my spirit into my opponent.
Sensei gives his own lecture to the class about kote-suriage-men. You can do it by deflecting on either side, left or right. I like doing it on the left side because to swing to the right then up. That blocks the kote from being hit. Guest-sensei said to do it the other way. I don’t like it because it risks my kote and I’m not that fast recovering.
We did a few reps of kote-suriage-men on both sides and then some ji-geiko. I did not need to sit out all class.
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