A journal of my martial arts training
Class with Risa. Stretch and once through our respective requirements (I used one handed for everything tonight). Took a break, then did continuous full circle cuts (myself 100 steel one handed while holding my steel dagger in off hand). Next we did a couple rounds of Refined Strikes, then a couple rounds of Add-On, and we finished with boffer parry (one attack, three attack, and switch variants).
I had to cancel the last couple classes due to schedule conflicts.
Class with Risa and Chris.
I ruminated on the nature of martial training, and indeed many sports, how we push ourselves outside our comfort zone in order to discover our true limits, whether it be environmental (rain, snow, heat, cold), physical (thousands of strikes, nonstop battles), or other.
Stretch and requirements once through (myself full solo reqs with steel). Focus session on The I Move. Break. 100 continuous full circle cuts (myself steel). Advanced Response training, Refined Strikes, and finished with round robin limited target parry (we stood in a triangle and defended from one direction and then attacked the other direction, started with just head to get the flow, then added neck, and finished with any of head, neck, or decap).
Class with Jesse B. Stretch and requirements for both of us. We reviewed Kata Ni a bit, then reviewed his steel requirements which I matched, including a little extra time on Cutting Pattern 2 and worked a bit on Jumping Tiger 2 in steel.
After a break, we did 100 continuous full circle cuts with steel, a couple rounds of refined strikes, reviewed draw cuts a bit, and finished with a couple rounds of Add-On.
Class with Jesse B, Risa, and Chris. Stretch and requirements (paired Jesse with Chris, I matched Risa on White Rope requirements). Did a study session on Thorn, emphasizing aggressively closing the distance to interrupt the opponent’s technique. After the break, we did 100 continuous full circle cuts (Jesse and I with steel), and a couple rounds of Refined Strikes. Next we had several passes through a gauntlet, first just the wooden pel dummies, then added us in amongst the pels as additional targets. We finished with some multi opponent training, putting one person in the middle with the other three arrayed around them, announcing their attack and then making only head or neck attacks with the person in the center only blocking.
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 Risa. Stretch and our respective requirements full through. We then did a focus session on The Tradition. After a break, we did 50 continuous full circle cuts, Advanced Response Training, and finished with one round of Add-On.
(I was back to two handed tonight. Last week class was cancelled due to no students.)
Class with Risa. Stretch and we both did White Rope requirements (myself one handed). Did some study on Dragons Tail and Double Thrust. Took a break. Did 50 continuous full circle cuts (bokken), advanced response training (boffer), and Refined Strikes.
Class with Bryce. Stretch and then we both did White Rope requirements, myself matching him in one handed. We reviewed Akira and The Tradition then took a break. Afterward, we resumed with 100 continuous full circle cuts (bokken), followed by refined strikes, and then we donned helmets and mitts for Advanced Response training, switch Parry, Centered Cuts, and finished with a round of Add-On.
Class with Bryce and Risa. Stretch, some leap frog and kneeling advance warm up, and requirements once through. Focus session on Akira, then a break. 100 full circle cuts (bokken), Several passes through pel gambit, refined strikes, and finished with Move Builder.
Class with Bryce and Risa. Stretch and had them go through requirements while I solo’d my own (steel). Reviewed one of their practiced moves then took a break. Afterward, did 100 full circle cuts (mine steel), refined strikes, advanced response training, and pel gauntlet.
(missed a few weeks due to back to back travel)
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 had them do requirements while I soloed mine. We then did a focus session on The Tradition. After a break, we did 100 continuous full circle cuts (myself steel), a few rounds of Refined Strikes, and some Pel Gauntlet.
Class with Chris. Stretch and our respective requirements, with him repeating his practiced moves a few times through. Focus work on one of his moves, then a break. After the break, we did just 50 continuous full circle cuts (myself steel), then a couple rounds of Add-On, then we donned helmets, mits, and legs for armored parry ( 1-attack, 3-attack, and switch- ).
Class with Rakta Nadi. Stretch and went through his requirements, then reviewed Dragons Tail a little and did a focus session on The Tradition. After a break, we did some Move Builder, followed by Add-On, and finished with 100 full circle cuts (myself steel).
Class with Bryce and Chris. Stretch and requirements, first reviewing their cuts and blocks individually, then paired them for their full requirements while I soloed mine. We then spent some time studying Jumping Tiger 1, a new move for Chris. After the break, we did 100 full circle cuts (myself steel), refined strikes, and move builder.
Class with Bryce and Chris. Stretch and then had them review requirements while I solo’d my own. We then had a focus session on The I Move and did 100 continuous Full Circle Cuts (bokken). During the break we geared up, then had a total of 36 one on one matches and a final multi-opponent match with all three of us.
Class with Chris. Stretch and requirements. We did 100 full circle cuts (bokken) and a focus session on The Mantis. During the break, got our protective gear on, and in the second half got in 25 one-on-one matches.
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.
Class with Bryce. Stretch and respective requirements. Worked on Mantis with the revised/improved flow from cut to cut. 100 full circle cuts. Did some Move Builder and Add-On. I used one handed all night except steel for the FCC.
Class with Bryce and Chris. Stretch and 50 continuous full circle cuts (FCC) to warm up, followed by requirements. I reviewed both Bryce and Chris individually, then paired them to go through once more together. After a break, we reviewed The Mantis, a new move for Chris. Next was another 100 FCC (myself with steel) and then several rounds of Refined Strikes.
Class with Bryce, Rakta Nadi, and Chris. Final class for 2021. Stretch, 50 continuous full circle cuts to warm up (myself steel), and requirements. Focus study on The I Move. Blind Man’s Boffer. Armored up and had 1-on-1 sparring.
Class with Chris (Bryce called out). Stretch and reviewed his requirements, then did some focus work on The I Move and The Tradition. After a break, we did a couple rounds of Refined Strikes, followed by 100 continuous full circle cuts (myself steel). We then donned helmet and gloves and did light armored one attack parry (akin to silent sword), followed by switch parry. Finished with a couple more times through Cutting Pattern 1.
Class with Jesse B and Chris (Bryce and Rakta Nadi called out). Stretch and requirements, starting with me reviewing Jesse’s most recent five moves, then having Jesse and Chris go through requirements while I soloed some of mine and observed and interjected on theirs. We then took some time to do a focus session on Thorn. After a break, we did 150 continuous full circle cuts (me with steel) in increments of 50 as well as 25 CFCC with iron sword. Followed with one round of Refined Strikes, and finished with pumpkin cutting using blunted steel, first against a standing post, then against chunks tossed at us.
Class with Chris. Stretch and once through his requirements. I then instructed him on The I Move as his first Straight Offense move. After a break, I took some time to go through some hand to hand basics (stance, movement, front punch, and front kick). Chris has a background in some hand to hand already, so it was mostly review, nuance, and discussing application in a sword fight context. We got in some Refined Strikes and 100 Continuous Full Circle cuts (mine steel).
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.