One on one review of requirements with Brennan (99% steel) this morning. We each had notes and thoughts for the other. His notes directly related to my techniques were:

• On battle stance, make certain to keep the hind elbow up.
• The draw cuts should be performed without bending the torso, particularly the vertical ones, instead using the legs, shoulders and arms.
• Expert blocks (instead of Advanced) include the vertical head blocks as well as two new augmented lower leg blocks (performed by putting the blade tip to the ground – I have some reservations about these and will have to inquire further).
• In the deflections, the 7th and 8th are a jodan flat slap (rather than edge on sweep I had been doing). pointed out a few things for me.
• I need to work on my cutting pattern 4 to cement the pattern and be able to teach it to others.
• The Tradition is now taught with an included clearing sweep/cut when rotating to face opponent at the end (which I had been aware of, and he recommended modifying my older technique to add it).
• I need to improve Kata Ni to be more crisp and concise.
• The opening Akira for Kata San uses two cross steps rather than a shuffle-and-cross-step, and then is followed by simply rotating on the lead (right) foot instead of having to do the stance shift I've been doing.

It was a good session and there were many more things that we discussed in general. I also got a chance to meet his student Patrick last night.