Another good class tonight, again with four students. We rapidly reviewed the kneeling iai 1 through 7b, then learned the 8th. You rise almost directly straight up into jodan position, then step forward and slightly out with the right foot, then match it with the left, making a head strike. This is then repeated making the strike to the waist level. Bringing your blade to jodan, the right leg slides back and you kneel onto the right knee, bringing the blade in a slow cut down to horizontal. You then reverse your right hands grip, use your left to retrieve a cloth from with your gi, then wipe your blade clean and put it away.
Honestly, I didn’t like this one much at all, but it’s a part of the style, and as such must be learned.

We then reviewed the standing iai 1 through 5, then switched to shanai. With our shanai, we reviewed the free fighting patterns one and two. The first is a head cut, blocked by a head block, counters with a drop to left knee and waist cut, blocked by waist block, counters with jodan head cut, blocked with head block, countered by flip of sword and a D-cut starting just below the ribs as you slide in and cutting back out finishing at the hip as you pass by.
The second is similar, begining with a left temple cut, blocked by a temple block, countered by a drop to left knee and waist cut, blocked with waist block, countered with jodan head cut, blocked with head block, countered with shooting star draw cut.
(By no means is this a comprehensive explanation (obviously), but it is the gist of the motions and should serve as a reminder for anyone that is taught the technique by a ranked instructor.)

At the end of class we were told that a second set of armor is on it’s way so we may begin sparring soon. I have to get my WCoS armor cleaned up and bring it in to see if I will be allowed to wear it, which would be my preference. I know I need to work a little more on my face guard first.