Class with Hiroko and Ivan. We covered standing iai 1 – 8 and one step techniques 1 – 4. We also discussed a new recording of our current training status, and possibilities for a group trip out to the Virginia dojo, or pooling resources to host an instructor.
Category: Uncategorized
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Class with Sal and Chris. Talked about goals for 2010 (dojo improvement, new training stations, dagger throwing bales, etc). Stretch and requirements, then I worked with Sal and Chris individually, going over Whispering Wind with Sal and a few moves with Chris. After a break, we did unarmored altered terrain parry.
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No other students showed, so I worked on my own on cutting form and a few standing iai and one step techniques.
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Class with Sabrina, Sal and Chris. Requirements twice through (Sabrina/me, Sal/Chris; Sabrina/Sal, Chris/me), then a break. After the break, we started with a machinegun drill with head or neck cuts. I then had each of them take up one of my steel and do 30 continuous full circle cuts, followed by once through defending Cutting Pattern 1 with steel. We moved back to wood, having three unarmored light contact multi-opponent melees, then finished with one round (once each) of single-life Blinde Man’s Boffer, then a second round in reverse order with three lives. This concludes classes for 2009. There will be no class next week, resuming on Monday, January 4th.
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Class with Ivan. 50 continuous cuts, standing iai 5 and 6, One Step techniques 1 – 6.
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Class with Sal and Chris. Stretch and requirements. I then worked with Sal on Akira for a bit, then Cutting Pattern 2. Worked with Chris on Kata Ich a little, then reviewed Cutting Pattern 1 and The Mantis. After a break, we armored up and had 30 one-on-one matches and three 3-person matches.
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Class with Hiroko. Continuous Cuts (50). Kneeling Iai 1 – 8, Standing Iai 1 – 5.
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Class with Sal and Chris, Don called out. Began with 50 full circle cuts (myself steel), then requirements, the two of them paired, myself on my own. I then reviewed one of their moves each, and followed with individual break out sessions; with Sal to instruct Cutting Pattern 2, with Chris to review Kata Ich. After a break, we did several drills. I started with a multi-opponent drill with one person in the middle with an opponent on either side. One side attacks once which the center blocks then counter attacks three times, at the end of which the other side attacks once, starting the pattern over, going back and forth between the two opponents. The next drill placed both opponents side by side where they worked as a team to make a total of three attacks, and the defender then countered with three attacks total to either opponent, mix-and-match. The third drill placed all three in defensive stance in a triangle with sword tips an inch from each other. One one person was allowed to attack at a time, and could do so to either of the other opponents. The goal was to use awareness to avoid trying to go when someone else was going, and to block any incoming attacks. The final drill was a line of four 6×6 in a line on the ground which we proceeded down with basic cuts, then one thrust at each of the three decreasing size rings, and back to the beginning.
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Class with Sal and Chris. Stretch and 100 logged full circle cuts (myself with one-handed steel), then requirements: Chris with Sal, myself solo with steel. We then did a focus session on Mantis and Thorn. At the end of the break, Sal took and passed his Green Braid evaluation, then we armored up and had 32 one-on-one matches and three rounds of three-opponent matches.
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Class with Sal, Don, Chris. Stretch and 50 logged full circle cuts (me with steel, them with wood). Requirements twice through, first me/don and chris/sal, then me/sal and don/chris. After the break we did continuous opponent unarmored parry (twice each with an opponent and then they step out and the next steps in immediately attacking, cycling through each of the available opponents). We finished with balance 1 and 2.
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Special Friday evening session with Hiroko and Ivan, plus Jerimiah joined us. Instructed Jerimiah on head and temple strikes, head blocks, kneeling iai 1 and standing iai 1. The rest of us also went through kneeling iai 2 – 8 and standing iai 2 – 8 and finished with parry.
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Class with Sal. 100 logged full circle cuts (me steel, him wood). Requirements. Refined strikes, unarmored parry, and balance 1 and 2.
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Nov 11
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Class with Chris, no call outs. All of both our requirements, a break, then Refined Strikes, thrust ring target practice, elevated cuts and blocks, logged full circle cuts (100 steel for myself), and ending with unarmored parry.
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Class with just Chris tonight, Sal called out sick. We focused on tuning his Green Braid requirements and then had 25 matches of sparring for the second half of class.
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Class with Sal tonight, Chris observed and Don called out both due to personal injury. Reviewed his Green Braid requirements and examined a few specifc moves. After a break in which we discussed his armor, we did Refined Strikes, 3- and 4-attack parry, and semi-armored parry.
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Class with Hiroko and Ivan. We started with kihon cuts, pairing head and wrist (men and kote), and temple and waist. We then went through progressively more complicated combinations, based on one step (OS) techniques. First was OS1 with a followup right temple strike; next was left thrust block with right temple, advance and head, advance and left waist cut; last was OS7 with head strike to the rear as opponent attempts to evade, left 180 to kneeling left waist, advance with right thrust. The last combination we took to bunkai with shinai as it was designed for one defender with two attackers.
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Class with Sal and Chris, Don called out. Stretch and basics. Reviewed kata ich once. During the break they worked on their sword books some, then we armored and had 20 matches total of one-on-one sparring.
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Class with Don, Sal and Chris (Chris observed). Stretch, requirements, review of cutting pattern 1 and a couple practiced moves. After the break, we did Refined Strikes, thrusting rings and unarmored parry.
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Yesterday I ordered two new live steel swords for WCoS combat, both tempered high carbon spring steel Slayer’s. Neither was exactly what I was looking for, but as with the gauntlets, I have not left myself the luxury of time to wait, so I had to go with what was readily in stock. They should arrive by next Friday.
One-handed Sword with Spherical Pommel & Downturn Guard – 36″ total/28″ blade, 3.25lbs
Hand-and-a-Half Sword with Faceted Conical Pommel & Downturn Guard – 43.875″ total/31.875″ blade, 3.5lbs
(image of similar but not exactly the same sword)
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Class with Ivan. Standing Iai 1, 2, 3, 4b; One Steps 1 – 4. Focused on the changes as indicated in the video from Master Shaw.
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Class with just Chris. We went through all of our respective requirements, particularly focusing on his Green Braid requirements for his upcoming evaluation, took a break, then did Refined Strikes and Unarmored Parry.
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Just ordered two pairs of gauntlets from By the Sword.
They only ship one size, which is one reason I ordered two pair as I waited too long and need them for the upcoming October steel fighting coliseum in Half Moon Bay.
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Class with Don, Sal and Chris. Stretch and requirements twice through with separate partners. After a break, we did Refined strikes for a short while, then machine gun drills for head; then head, neck or decap; then neck or leg.
