A journal of my martial arts training
Class with Bryce and Miriam. Stretch and requirements. Worked on Miriam’s two handed technique, reviewed Bryce’s practiced moves including his 13th move. We did a study on Jumping Tiger 1 and then took a break.
In the second half we started with 100 full circle cuts (me 2H steel). We then had a few rounds of Refined Strikes. We finished with a combo gambit of Balance 1 & 2 with refined strikes pels intermixed along the course.
Class with Jesse and Bryce. Stretch and requirements (I paired them, jesse doing second style white rope reqs, and I soloed). We did some additional drilling on Mantis to keep working on the updated leg cut.
During the break Bryce and I geared up and in the second half we started with sparring (Jesse marshaling). We only got in 5 matches and then Bryce pulled his shoulder. We wrapped up class with Balance 1 & 2 (myself and Bryce still in armor).
Class with Jesse and Bryce. Had them go through requirements (Jesse chose to go through his second style 1-handed white rope reqs) while I went through mine solo. We then did a study of Double Chop, including discussing outside vs inside leg targets, merits and drawbacks when performed by a 1-hander, and some factors when bringing an off-hand dagger or shield into it.
After the break we did 100 full circle cuts with our steel, a few rounds of Refined Strikes, several rounds of Advanced Response Training, and spent a while on a relatively short course of Balance 1 & 2.
I wrapped up by introducing sword drawing techniques as taught by Myo Sim Kendo, with discussion on how they can be adapted to the blades Jesse and Bryce are using.
Class with Bryce. Our respective requirements full through. Skills & drills in the second half including 100 full circle cuts with steel and Balance 1 & 2.
Class with Bryce. Stretch and our respective requirements. Drilled a bit more on Kata Ni. After the break, 50 continuous full circle cuts with steel (myself 2H), several rounds of advanced response training (boffer), some Balance 1 one-attack Parry with six square cabers in an asterisk pattern (and boffers), and several rounds of Add-On starting with Bryce’s sword+shield and my sword+dagger and ending with Bryce 1H vs my 2H.
Class with Bryce and Chris. I worked with Chris on Cutting Pattern 2 initially, then he and Bryce paired for requirements while I worked solo and observed. We worked on Defense Cut, a new move for Chris. After a break, we did 100 full circle cuts (myself 2H steel), a few rounds of Refined Strikes, and some pel gauntlet. We finished with Balance 1 and 2.
Final class of 2024, with Jesse, Bryce, Rakta Nadi, Aaliyah, Miriam, and Ben. Stretch and requirements, than we worked on The Tradition (a new move for Aaliyah). After the break, we did 100 continuous full circle cuts (jesse and I with 2H steel), a few rounds of Refined Strikes, and then a round of Blind Man’s Boffer. We finished out with and extended Balance 1 & 2 course.
After class I turned out the lights and Ben, Miriam, and I did a bit more of the Balance course in the near dark.
Conditions: intermittent rain, pretty muddy and mucky
Class with Aaliyah, Miriam, and Ben. Stretch and requirements. I reviewed each of them individually, meaning they each went through their requirements 3 times total. We then reviewed Sword Salute, followed by the original Dragon’s Tail, focusing on using the opening movement to rapidly and unexpectedly close with the opponent.
After the break, we did 100 full circle cuts (myself 2H steel), a few rounds of Refined Strikes, and finished with Balance 1 and 2.
Class with Jesse, Rakta Nadi, Miriam, Ben, Aliyah, and Shamay. Stretch and requirements. I reviewed Aliyah, and then Shamay, adding thrust and head block for Shamay. As a class we worked on Jumping Tiger 2, a new move for Aliyah. After the break, we did combat movement, 100 full circle cuts (me steel 2H), advanced response training, Balance 1 & 2, and finished with more balance 1 while practicing our basics (cuts and blocks).
Class with Jesse, Rakta Nadi, Miriam, Ben, Aalilah, and Shamay. Stretch and requirements. Introduced Shamay to Defensive Stance and head and neck cuts. Added decap and leg blocks for Aalilah. The whole class worked on Jumping Tiger 1, a new move for Shamay. After the break, we worked on combat movement, continuous full circle cuts (100 2handed steel for me), and a few pel gauntlet patterns (classic zig-zag, single file, and two groups of 3). We finished with Balance 1.
Class with Rakta Nadi, Chris, Ben, and Aaliyah. Shamay observed his second night and plans to join next week. Stretch and requirements. I paired Rakta Nadi with Ben and then started with Aaliyah, reviewing where she was at and added Head Blocks. I then reviewed Cutting Pattern 2 and Kata Ich with Chris. As a class, we continued to drill on Jumping Tiger 1, including working on the difference between facing a right or left hand dominant opponent.
After the break, we worked on combat movement, then 100 continuous full circle cuts (myself two handed steel), and then a few rounds of Refined Strikes. We finished with Balance 1 & 2.
Class with Chris and Aliyah. Stretch and requirements. Instructed Aliyah on stance and head & neck cuts, plus some of the traditions. Instructed Chris on Basic Strikes and Kata Ich. As a class, we did a study on Jumping Tiger 1, a new move for Aliyah.
After the break, Chris and I did 100 continuous full circle cuts (myself 2 handed steel), and Aliyah 50 cuts. We had a few sets of Advanced Response Training, then finished with Balance 1 & 2.
Class with Jesse, Rakta Nadi, and Chris. Stretch and requirements. I reviewed Rakta Nadi, then worked with Jesse on one handed practiced moves. As a class we reviewed The Mantis. After the break, we did our 100 full circle cuts (Jesse and I steel, me sword and dagger), refined strikes, advanced response training, and Balance 1 & 2.
Class with Jesse B, Chris, Miriam, and Ben. Stretch and requirements. I reviewed Ben all the way through, then spot checked with Jesse and Miriam. I instructed the class on The Tradition, a new move for Ben and Miriam. After a break, we did 100 full circle cuts (Jesse and I steel, myself one handed + dagger). We then did light armored parry for a while (though for Ben, just parry, I didn’t have a large enough loaner helmet, will obtain one). We wrapped up with Balance 1 & 2, a course the students created tonight.
Class with Miriam, Ben, and Derek. Stretch and then had Miriam and Ben do requirements while I worked with Derek, adding head, neck, and decap blocks. I reviewed Cutting Pattern 1 with Miriam and Ben, pointing out distancing and footwork. We then all did a focus session on Jumping Tiger 1, a new move for Derek. After the break, we started with 100 continuous full circle cuts (myself two hand steel), then I had us do a short 2×3 Tabata set of Kneeling Advance and regular Burpees. I followed that with a four pass of running the length of the dojo to attack a pel, run to the other side and attack, and then run to the far side again. With finished out with a simple Balance 1 course and wrapped class with several minutes of seiza to just take some time for awareness, both of ourselves and our surroundings.
Class with Miriam and Ben. Stretch and I had them go through requirements together while I supervised and provided feedback. We then took time to work on Thorn and I Move more. After a break, we did continuous full circle cuts (myself with steel, and I added extra weight to the end of their bokkens to add momentum feedback), then a couple rounds of Advanced Response training. Following that was a round of Refined Strikes, and then we finished with a simpler course of Balance 1.
Class with Jesse B, Ben, and Derek. Stretch and requirements. I worked with Derek, adding the rest of his cuts and thrust, then worked with Ben to refine his techniques, particularly his full circles and his neck blocks. I then reviewed The I Move with the class. After a break, we did combat movement followed by 100 continuous full circle cuts (Jesse and I with steel). I then set up 4 pels in a small circle and we rotated around the outside making strikes against “the defenders”, and then I inverted it so the pels were the outer ring and we were rotating on the inside striking them. We finished with Balance 1 & 2.
Class with Jesse, Risa, and Miriam. Stretch and requirements. I reviewed and refined Miriam’s green braid requirements while Jesse and Risa worked together, then paired her with Jesse while I worked with Risa some. We then did a study session on The I Move, a new move for Miriam. After the break, I started by reviewing dagger and knife targets and general technique, then did Refined Strikes, first with daggers, then with our regular bokken. We finished with Balance 1 & 2, tonight being “student challenge”, as in I told them to put together the balance course. Once they had finished, I noted the lesson of communication an team work, as they had each each just added to it individually with almost no consultation amongst each other, and drew parallels to team combat.
Class with Jesse B, Risa, Chris, Miriam, and Ben. Stretch and requirements. I paired Jesse with Ben to review basics and then teach Cutting Pattern 1 while I worked with Miriam to review her basics and add Decap Block and Leg Block. We all reviewed Jumping Tiger 2 (learned in case of Miriam and Ben). After the break, we did our 100 full circle cuts (Jesse and I with steel), machine gun drill for Neck target, and finished with Balance 1 & 2.
Class with Risa and Chris. Stretch and requirements. I reviewed Chris first, then paired Risa with Chris to go through their requirements while I soloed mine. We took some time to do a focus session on The Mantis then took a break. We started the second half with 100 continuous full circle cuts, then a few rounds of Refined Strikes. Finished with Balance 1 & 2.
It was a steady rain all class with a good bit of soggy, mushy areas throughout the dojo making for uncertain footing.
Class with Chris. Stretch and requirements, then focused on Thorn. Break and then combat movement, 50 full circle cuts, 1-attack unarmored parry (aka silent sword), and balance 1 & 2.
Class with Bryce and Chris. Stretch first, then I reviewed their respective cuts and blocks individually before putting them together for requirments while I soloed my own requirements. We then took some time to work on The Mantis, including examining variations in application. After a break we did 100 CFCC (myself steel), a few rounds of Refined Strikes, and finished with Balance 1 & 2.
Class with Bryce and Chris. Stretch and requirements (paired them, I went through mine solo). Study on Mantis again, continuing to work to move that muscle memory groove/habit into the smoother, better transition into each follow-up attack. After a break, instructed on Gad’s Sword Disarming Move, then worked on combat movement, did 100 full circle cuts (me with steel), and finished with Balance 1 & 2.
First class of 2022 today. Delayed opening to wait out a pandemic surge. Attended by Rakta Nadi and Chris G. I reviewed requirements individually with Chris and Rakta Nadi, then we did some focus study on The Tradition. After a break, we started with Refined Strikes against the pels, followed by rotating through ukes. We then did a number of passes through pel gauntlet/gambit and finished with Balance 1 & 2.
Class with Chris, both Bryce and Rakta Nadi called out for health reasons. Stretch and once through our respective requirements (Chris repeating his practiced moves as I got through all of mine). After a break, we did 100 full circle cuts (me with steel), refined strikes, bokken sword dance aka one attack parry (quarter speed, no circle), and finished with Balance 1.