Started class today with Hiroko and Darrel and Lynette joined us later on. We reviewed kneeling iai 1 through 7b and standing iai 1 through 6. Kneeling iai 7a and 7b where new for Darrel and Lynette and we spent a bit of time on them. I spoke with Darrel about trying to get him together with our sensei, Tom, so that he may be reviewed and I hope perhaps even test for his first rank, green belt.
-
I led class today for Yana, Garrett and Kelli. We stretched and went through kihon, then focused on Taikyoko Shodan and Heian Shodan as these are new to Kelli and what Garrett needs to know for his testing. Yana and I also performed our favorite and required katas. For the last fifteen minutes, we practiced ippon kumite.
-
Class with Hiroko, Darell and Lynette today. We warmed up with some basic cuts followed by combinations of between three and five attacks. We then worked on Standing Iai 6 for a while and finished with a little bit of shooting star technique.
-
Class lead by Brad. Long warm up followed by kata practice, then kumite drills focused on good ma and counter-response. Ended with some light jyu kumite.
-
I initially worked one-on-one with Lynette, the only other student that could make it today. We reviewed Standing Iai 1, 2 and 3. Tom was then able to join us for a half hour and he took over, continuing the review of Standing Iai 1 through 5, then working with me one-on-one on Standing Iai 6. During Standing Iai 3, I asked about the 180 turn and how high (or low) to jump. Tom stated that he felt a strong articulate jump was in order, rather than a low grounded jump. One application I mentioned in relation to this would be to evade a low sweep from a spear, staff, etc, though he did say that the jump should certainly not be too extreme.
In summary, Standing Iai 6 begins with a crouching temple block with hilt, rise and lift right knee, drawing and deflecting a spear to the right, stepping forward into right kendo stance with a head cut. Shift into right back stance and begin putting away sword, then draw with a pomel strike forward right right front stance, shift 180 to left stance and advance to right front stance with head cut. Place sword in crooked right arm and turn 180 counter-clockwise on right foot into right back stance. Flip and shake and put sword away.
I also asked another question of Hiroko’s regarding etiquette. At the beginning of a formal class, students first do a standing bow to the flag, then kneel and bow to their sensei, then last respect their sword.
-
Class led by Brad. Kihon followed by ippon and sanbon kumite drills.
-
Class with Hiroko, Darrel and Lynette today. Reviewed Standing Iai 1 through 5 in detail.
-
Event at Half Moon Bay dojo. Eighteen fighters present and competeing. Logged battles to follow.
-
Hiroko and Darell and I today. Warmed up with basic cuts, including taking a look at thrusts. Did some cutting pattern 1 pairings, then used padded “boffer” weapons for some free sparring with care taken regarding head attacks. Finished with some three-attack parry drills.
-
Evening class, several kids were invited from the younger class to experience training with the older students. Focus was on kihon and kata.
-
Just Darell and myself today. Reviewed iai and free fighting techniques one through six.
-
Misc
-
I attended the Saturday practice led by Mori Sensei. Primarily basics and kata in preparation for upcoming testing.
-
Last day of training for Kai, he’s moving away. Lynette and Hiroko were also in attendance. We ended with some machine gun drills.
-
No other students showed for Kendo today so I spent my time covering my Red Rope requirements for WCoS, including some focus work on my 13th move, “Splinter”, and some shadow boxing Centered Cuts.
-
I ordered some kote (kendo sparring gloves) and a new shinai from E-BOGU today. I dislike the style of kendo gloves, but I will need them to continue in this art, and I hope to prod some of the other students into getting some as they will improve their wrist and arm positioning in practices. The shinai is a specialized style with the lower section of the tsuka (handle/grip) being oval, providing a more natural and real grip which thereby provides more control. I look forward to recieving it and seeing how it works for me.
Links to specific products:
– “Obaru” Shinai
– Leather and Fabric Kote -
Today’s class was just Lynette, Kai and myself. We warmed up with the kneeling iais one through four, then worked on standing iai one. Kai is picking up the new skills very quickly and doing quite well. For the last part of our session, we did machine gun drills with head cuts, then with either temple cut. It would have been better with even one or two more students to keep the line flowing, but it was a good drill none the less and both Kai and Lynette seemed to appreciate and learn from it.
-
Full class today consisting of Hiroko, Lynette, Kai, Nate and myself. We reviewed basic cuts and blocks quickly, then I paired the other four and we worked on the cutting pattern 1 for a bit. Last we worked on kneeling iai one through four.
-
Today I trained one on one with Gad. He reviewed my Red Rope requirements with me. I need to work a lot on my Refined Strikes and Centered Cuts. We then armored up and fought a number of rounds of single combat. A significant reason for this was to attempt to use my new 13th move, “Splinter”. Unfortunately, it is designed specifically against Defensive Stance, which is not his favored stance, and though he most tried to use that stance, I still found it difficult to work in my move, which has a distinctive begining, in such a way that it would not be anticipated (as much). Despite this, of the three or so moves I have created, it is still probably the best and I will continue to work on it. A critical component to increasing its success will be making it into one motion instead of two.
(battle log to be added)
-
With vacations, alternate training, etc going on, today there was just Kai and myself. We reviewed the cuts and blocks from last week, then practiced with the Cutting Pattern 1 a bit. I then covered Kneeling Iai 1 through 4. His previous martial arts training is serving him well and he is picking up the new skills quickly. Once I feel he is comfortable with the cuts, blocks and first four kneeling iai, we’ll start on standing iai one through three.
-
Today’s students were Nate and Kai. It was Nate’s second class and Kai’s first, however Kai has had training in multiple martial arts. With just the two of them, we were able to cover all the basic cuts and blocks, then put it together with the adapted Cutting Pattern 1.
-
Today’s class was composed of Hiroko and Lynette. We did standing iai one, two and three to warm up, then practiced free fighting techniques one through six.
-
Today was a wood and steel day of combat at the Half Moon Bay dojo. The focus was on one-on-one sparring, though we had several melees, too. I worked on my 13th move some and successfully applied my new one, which I currently call Splinter. Additionally, Gad reviewed my Red Rope requirements with me. There was a correction to my Kata Ni, and the final target on my Jumping Tiger 2 and Mantis was shallow, but otherwise it went fine. He suggested I practice on my own two or three times a week and arrange to meet with him later in January to spar and work more on my 13th move, which I must successfully use three times in combat to meet my requirement. If all goes well, I will test for my Red Rope at the February event. During todays combat, I garnered an additional 40 matches or so, which I will log later.
-
Standing iai and free fighting techniques 1 – 6.