One on one with Sal today as I had made my way down to Redding. We discussed how the Redding Dojo was progressing and then went through our Silver Chain requirements using steel. Key points for myself were:
* remember the final two carotid draw cuts,
* make certain the sword and foot are in sync for Lightning,
* adjust my range accordingly to my uke retreat in Whispering Wind,
* use the new ending on kata ichi (after the two neck blocks, make an advanced thrust block before turning with right leg block and the final head block),
* use the adjusted ending to kata ni (after dragons tail, use the Illusion for the 180, i.e. the sword comes up and over the head/shoulder before thrusting, not around the side as I have done in the past),
* and recite the six traditions, three types of moves, and three rules of swordsmanship in that specific order.