Training Journal

A journal of my martial arts training

Tag: portland dojo

  • WCoS

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    Special one-on-one session with Jesse B to work on his Red Rope requirements. We started with a one hour hand-to-hand session in Shotokan karate, covering stances (front, back, side), punches (lunge, jab), kicks (front snap & thrust), and blocks (down, up). It was a lot of material, but a good foundation, and we discuss a lot of how it could apply to combat situations with respect to the Western Circle.

    We then moved to the sword and did a few rounds of Refined Strikes, focusing primarily on controlled force.

    Donning helmets and mitts, we did a round of Centered Cuts.

    Finally, we finished with some bokken Advanced Response Training while we had the gear on.

  • WCoS

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    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.

  • WCoS

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    Class with Bryce, Risa, and Chris. Stretch and had the students go through requirements once, after which we then did a focus session on The I Move. We got our protective gear on during the break and logged 39 1-on-1 matches (myself all 1-handed). 

  • WCoS

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    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.

  • WCoS

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    Class with Bryce. Stretch and requirements, sparring for 25 matches.

  • WCoS

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    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)

  • WCoS

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    Class with Chris. Stretch and requirements, focus on some of his practiced moves, then sparring 18 matches total.

  • WCoS

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    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.

  • WCoS

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    Class with Chris. Stretch and his Green Braid requirements once through (myself matching him). Did a focus session on Dragons Tail. Took a break and get into protective gear. After the break, had 21 one-on-one matches. I did 9 with my two handed style, 9 with one handed style, and the final 3 with a two-sword style.

  • WCoS

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    Class with Rakta Nadi and Chris. Stretch and had them go through requirements while I soloed mine (with steel), after which we then did a focus session on Jumping Tiger 2. Took a break, then started the second half with a roughly half mile jog, after which we sat in seiza for several minutes to take a moment to take in the evening and let all students regain their breath. We continued with Refined Strikes, then a pel gambit, and finally some Move Builder.

  • WCoS

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    Class with Bryce. Stretch and our respective requirements, him repeating his once. We did a focus session on Thorn, focusing on clean movement using our quads and core, not leaning into it. After a break, we had 24 one-on-one matches. I used two handed for 9, one handed for 9, and two sword for the last 6.

  • WCoS

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    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.

  • WCoS

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    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- ).

  • WCoS

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    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).

  • WCoS

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    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.

  • WCoS

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    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.

  • WCoS

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    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.

  • WCoS

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    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.

  • WCoS

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    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.

  • WCoS

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    Class with Chris. Stretch and one through our respective requirements. Instructed him on Dragons Tail. Got in armor and had 20 of 1-on-1 matches. Spates of medium to heavy rain, muddy unstable footing conditions.

  • WCoS

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    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.

  • WCoS

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    Class with Rakta Nadi and Chris. Stretch and requirements, break, then sparring. Due to armor swapping, just did a full set of matches with myself and Chris, then a full set with myself and Rakta Nadi.

  • WCoS

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    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.

  • WCoS

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    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.

  • WCoS

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    Special 1-on-1 session with Rakta Nadi. Reviewed his requirements in depth, took a short break, then further reviewed Kata Ich, then did a couple rounds of Refined Strikes, followed by some Silent Bokken (aka 1 attack parry), and finished with a bit more review of the extended interactions in Dragons Tail.

    I matched him with one handed for the full session.