Class with Sabrina and Sal, Chris called out, no word from Don. Stretch and requirements, once through for everyone, then I reviewed Sabrina and Sal individually. Finished with once through of individual demonstration of kata ich. After the break, we had sparring.

Class with Don, Sal and Chris (Don and Sal were late). Brief stretch and requirements, then a break. After the break, we reviewed Gad’s sword disarming move, then I discussed the differences between knives and daggers, and the primary targets for them. We then partnered and practiced striking with daggers to those zones, trading off a few times. The last 45 minutes I provided an introduction to Shotokan Karate, covering three stances (front, back and side), front punch, front and side kicks, and the four basic blocks (down, inside, outside and up).

Class with Don and Chris, Sal called out sick. After a brief stretch, I went through their requirements with each of them, then Kata Ich a few times. After a break, we had a 3/4 mile jog to an orchard by the river where we did unarmored parry, then jogged back. Before the last tenth mile on the way back, I gave us a 3 – 5 minute rest, then raced to see who could reach the dojo first.

Class with Don and Sal, Chris called out. Stretching and requirements, including a review of Kata Ichi and I went over basic cuts, blocks and cutting pattern 1 individually with each of them. During the break I set up an elevated beam, a caber, and two cinder blocks, which we used after the break as balance stations to practice our basic cuts, blocks and cutting pattern. After we had rotated through all stations, I then had us pair off for best-of-three contests to knock the other off without falling off ourself, first on the beam, then the blocks, then the caber.

Class with Sal and Chris, Don called out. Stretching and requirements twice through for the first half. The second half we focused on Kata Ich. It was very muddy in the dojo with occasion spates of light rain making training treacherous and interesting.

Class with Don, Sal and Chris tonight. Cold weather, medium rain turning to snow later in the class, muddy ground. Stretch and requirements twice through. The second half we had balance 2 and a muddy slalom striding gamut.

Class with Sabrina, Don and Sal. Stretch and sparring.

Class with Don, Sal and Chris. Stretch and requirements. Instructed all three on Akira. After the break, I had the students setup a balance course, which was balance 1 and 2. We finished with some pumpkin toss cutting with the steel swords I have on hand (two 2-handers and a cheap 1-hander).

Class with Don and Sal tonight, no word from Chris. Stretch then requirements twice through for them, once through for myself then I watched theirs commenting and correcting. After a break we had light armored parry, first a couple bouts each between myself and them, then a final bout between the two of them as I marshalled.

First class of 2009 tonight with Sabrina, Don, Sal and Chris. Quick stretch followed by requirements twice through. I then did a focus session on The Mantis, teaching it to Chris and reviewing it for the others. After the break, Sabrina, Don and I had one on one matches totalling 38, myself using one handed boken.

Class tonight with Sabrina and Sal. Don and Chris called out. Went over The Mantis, then went through requirements. After a break, we did unarmored parry.

Conditions tonight were extremely cold, temperature starting around 34 degrees and dropping to perhaps 30 by end of class.

There will be a two week break and classes will resume in January.

Class with Sabrina, Don, Chris and Sal. After seiza, went over The Tradition, then paired off for requirements (I did mine on my own, then walked around observing and correcting). First paired Sabrina with Chris, Don with Sal, then switched for Sabrina with Sal, Don with Chris for a second bout of Cutting Pattern 1. We took a break, after which we had Balance 1 and 2, then finished with Blind Man’s Boffer.

Class with Sal and Chris. Sabrina and Don called out, Nate spoke with me and will be leaving class indefinately. In seiza I spoke about the long path to become the best swords person, or even more generally, the best martial artist you can be. For one dedicated enough, it is a very long path indeed, one of constant repitition, going over and over the same techniques, the same material, constantly improving and training your body to move and respond in the desired way so that the conscious thought is required to perform the desired action. I then instructed on The I Move, after which I individually reviewed requirements with each of them. After a break, we focused exclusively on stance and movement. I discussed how the movement comes from contracting and expanding with the thighs, creating a smooth controlled movement, the feet gliding to the next position. We started with just linear movement, then added angles, then defensive stance with the sword, and last I added obstacles.

Class with Sabrina, Don, Chris and Sal. Nate called out.
Covered Jumping Tiger 2, then paired off for requirements, Don with Chris, Sabrina with Sal.
After the break, balance 1 and 2 followed by altered terrain sparring for Sabrina, Don and I.

Class with Don, Sal, and Chris. Sabrina and Nate called out. Brief stretch and covered Jumping Tiger 1, then requirements, placing Chris with Don and I worked with Sal, instructing on Cutting Pattern 1 and refreshing him on the formal completion of requirements. After a break, we had Balance 1 (beam rising onto a cinder block, two more cinder blocks, two bricks, a caber, then a thrust ring, then one more caber and a brick. We ended with Don and I sparring while Chris and Sal logged.

Class with Nate, Sabrina, Don, Chris and Sal tonight. After a short stretch, I instructed the full class on The Illusion, then broke the class up, placing the three more advanced students on their own, rotating one in to do all requirements with the other two watching and providing partners as needed. Meanwhile, I worked with Sal and Chris. With Sal I reviewed basic cuts and blocks, adding thrust block. With Chris I reviewed everything he has learned so far. After checking on the other three, I instructed Chris and Sal on the six traditions and three types of moves.
After a break, we had sparring. Chris and Sal were instructed on logging basics and I cycled myself, Don, Nate and Sabrina through various parings. After I had faced each of them, I marshalled while they faced each other so that ultimately everyone had faced everyone.

Class with Chris and Sal, all others called out. In seisa I discussed being prepared for the coming weather. We had a warm up stretch and then reviewed Thorn. I then worked separately with each of them, going through everything Chris knows and providing feedback, then going through everything Sal knows and adding basic thrust plus head, neck, decap and leg blocks.
After the break we work on stance and movement, then drilled on thrust rings and a head and decap target, and last ended with some refined strikes practice.

Class with Sabrina, Don, Chris, and Sal tonight. Nate called out. In seiza, I eloborated on the approach of the Western Circle’s style, The Way of the Ever Adapting Blade. We then had a brief stretch, then I went over Thorn for the whole class. Sabrina and Don paired for requirements and I worked individually with Sal and Chris, refining Chris’ basics and instructing Sal on basic cuts (head, neck, decap, leg). I also reviewed Don’s basics and cutting pattern 1.
After a break, we had Balance 1 plus a thrust ring. I also instructed Chris on Cutting Pattern 1, then paired him with Sabrina to practice it a bit more.

Class with Sabrina, Chris and Nate tonight. Don called out and Sal observed for a second consecutive time. After seiza, we had a brief stretch, then I covered Jumping Tiger 1 for all three students present. After discussing it, I paired Nate with Sabrina and Chris with myself and we practiced it for a while. After a quick review with Sabrina and Nate each, we moved to requirements, again pairing Nate with Sabrina and myself with Chris. I instructed Chris on leg and thrust blocks, completing his basics.
After the break, we returned to requirements where I worked individually with all three students, working on correcting and refining.