Class with Hiroko, Lynette and Ivan today. Began as usual with high repetition kihon, then had each of us create a 3 – 5 technique sequence which we repeated a number of times. We then took up shinai and paired for Cutting Pattern 1 repeated many times. To end the session, we performed Standing Iai 1 several times.
During the Cutting Pattern and Iai, I stressed that now that they are comfortable with the patterns, the attacks need to be more alive. When the blade is brought back and then the cut made, it should be like snapping a rubber band, rather than a “1,2” count.

Class with just Hiroko and I today. We went through Kneeling Iai 1 through 6 and Standing Iai 1 through 7, then finished with some two-attack parry.

Class with Hiroko and Ivan today. We started with the usual four lengths of the court per target (head, temple, wrist, waist), then switched to shinai and did several rounds of Cutting Pattern 1 with each partner. I then switched us back to boken and we did attack patterns down and back the length of the court. The first was an adaptation of the WCoS Mantis: L. Temple, R. Temple, L. Temple, R. Waist. The next was an adaptation of the WCoS Tradition: R. Head Block, step in with L. Waist Cut, Head Cut. I then asked Hiroko to design one, which was R. Wrist, Head, L. Temple. After our two lengths, I added footwork, moving left off the line of attack on the wrist attack and right for the temple cut. We practiced this last combination for a few passes and then I paired off with Hiroko and Ivan individually with shinai to try the combo with a partner a few times each so they could get a better feel for going around the opponents guard and seeking out openings.

Class with just Ivan today. Warmed up with kihon cuts and blocks across the gym, then worked on One Steps 1 through 4.

Class with Lynette and Ivan today. We started with high-repetion kihon, then I devised a new drill.

We stood in a triangle and person 1 would attack 2, 2 defends and counter attacks 1, the pattern is then repeated as 2 then attacks 3 and 3 defends and counters, etc. For today, I limited the initial attack to men (head) or temple cuts only though the counter could be any target. The goal was to work on combining blocking with an immediate counter, and to improve combat fluidity, being able to directly from one opponent to the next without pause.

I ended with a little more high-repetition drilling, first with some block-attack-attack patterns, then with some faster 2 – 4 attack patterns.

Class with Hiroko and Ivan. Primary focus today was One-Step techniques. We covered 1 through 3 in detail and introduced Ivan to the 4th before time was up.

Class today with Hiroko, Lynette and Ivan. Started with high repetition kihon followed by several rounds of Cutting Pattern 1, then did some machine gun drills, starting with just “men” (head) cut, then a choice of head or temple cuts with the defender making the block and then dropping and making a “do” (waist) counter attack.

Class with just Ivan. Warmed up with Cutting Pattern 1, then focused on Standing Iai 2.

Class with Hiroko and Ivan. Warmed up with high-repitition cutting, then worked on combat movement and closing the distance to an opponent.

Class with Hiroko and Lynette. Primary focus today was One Step techniques 1 – 4.

Class with Hiroko and Lynette. We did high repetition basics for a bit, including block-counter-counter patterns and the Cutting Pattern 1 sequence, then I had us do a drill where one would stand in the middle (wearing kote in this case) and the other two would stand at opposite sides and alternate attacking. It was a pretty good drill, though I think it would be better with four people so the attackers could form a triangle and either the hind right or left could attack as the center completes their defense against the currently forward opponent, thereby training awareness and response.
I found that turning was best accomplished with either an aggressive jodan stance with the sword over the head, or a defensive chudan with the blade held vertical in front of the body.

Class with just Hiroko again. We worked on standing iai, warming up with standing iai 1 through 5, then focusing on 6 and 7. I brought notes on the iai to class this time so we could refer to them with questions. For the last part of class, we worked on One Step techniques 1 through 4.

Class with just Hiroko today. We warmed up with any cut down and back, then any block followed by two cuts down and back, and we finished warming up with Cutting Pattern 1 a few times through.
Hiroko was interested in some Parry, so we did a couple long bouts of 1-attack Parry, followed by some 3-attack Parry.
We finished with standing iai 1 through 6 but were unsure on the ending of #6 so I’ll have to look it up and we’ll go over it on Friday.

Class with just Lynette today. We initially used the Cutting Pattern 1 to warm up and take a closer look at good technique, shadowboxing first, then facing off. We then went through standing iai 1 through 4b, working on some of the more subtle details of good technique and application.

Class with Lynette and Ivan today. Warmed up with some kihon, random cuts down and back, then the cuts from the cutting pattern down and back, then each cutting pattern block followed by two of the associated cuts, and last random block with two counter attacks.
We then moved on to iai, practicing Standing Iai 1 and 2. Lynette also asked about Standing Iai 4a/b at the end of class which I provided a quick refresher on.

Both Hiroko and Lynette called out and it ended up being just Ivan and myself today. I started with some warm up, doing random cuts down the room and back, then down and back doing a block followed by two counter attacks. We then did down and back per cut (i.e. down and back with men, down and back with alternating or random temple, etc). Ivan had brought his bogu as requested, so we strapped on men and kote and did one-attack and two-attack parry for the remainder of the time.

Full class today with Hiroko, Lynette, Sammy and Ivan. Warmed up with kihon, randomly making a block and following with the corresponding cut on our own. I then created a few attack patterns of 3 – 4 cuts, then had each other person create their own pattern. We switched to shinai and practiced the Cutting Pattern 1 a bit and ended with a machinegun attack drill, first with just head (men) attack, next with just temple (either side) attack.

Class with just Ivan again. We again reviewed all cuts and blocks and the cutting pattern, then worked on Standing Iai 1 for the remaining time.

Class with just Ivan and myself today. We reviewed all the basic cuts and blocks and applied them with the Cutting Pattern 1.