Training Journal

A journal of my martial arts training

Tag: portland dojo

  • WCoS

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    Class with Rakta Nadi and Bryce tonight, shifted from Thurs to Monday due to conflicts. Stretch and had them pair for requirements while I observed. We then worked on Cutting Pattern 2 a bit more, myself pairing with each of them, and then did some focus on Mantis. After a break, we had one on one sparring matches, myself 15 with each of them, and a total of 43 for the night.

    I challenged both Rakta Nadi and Bryce to 10 matches, but I did not achieve my 8 cathan goal with either. I need to continue working on retraining my defensive retreat into lateral offensive evasion, as well as improving my ability to strike between/around the defense.

    Turns out Mondays work for Bryce now, and they are good for Rakta Nadi, so we’ll be shifting to Mondays as of the 28th.

  • WCoS

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    Class with Jesse B. Stretch and our respective requirements once through. Focus session on Double Chop. Break. Combat movement, continuous full circle cuts (100 for him, 150 for me), and then Sequence Builder (four ad hoc technique sequences).

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    Class with Bryce. Stretch and once through our respective full requirements. Spent some time on movement, really focusing on length of stance and maintaining as we moved about. After the break, did our full circle cuts (150 for me, 100 for him), then did some sequence building, and finished with a flow drill where we had to continuously chain practiced moves with no pause.

  • WCoS

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    Class with Bryce. Stretch and requirements for both of us full through. Focus sessions on Dragons Tail and Jumping Tiger 2. After the break, we worked out a couple ad hoc sequences each, followed by continuous full circle cutting (me 150, him 100), and finished with three more times through Kata Ich. 

    All steel for me, and I joined him on one handed for the dragons tail and sequence building.

    My two sequences were:

    Right defensive stance, cross step left neck cut, right advanced neck block, drop blade horizontal and torso draw, cross stepping through to the left.

    Right defensive stance, I Move, cross step torso thrust, cross step low thrust (between legs / beside opponents forward right leg, with an opportunity top drop your right shoulder into opponent at same time to unbalance them), shuffle back with draw up and right across femoral, cross stepping back with a descending left-to-right clearing slash to disengage.

  • WCoS

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    Class with Bryce. Stretch and once through his requirements. Focus sessions on Kata Ich and on The Illusion. After a break, gambit against a grouping of three targets (I did 35 passes), followed by Balance 1 & 2 in the form of; walking forward and backward on the flattened and full round cabers with no sword, then standing on two edgewise bricks will cutting against a target, then standing on two endwise bricks cutting against the target, and finally advancing on the cabers into range and standing on the full round while cutting against a target. We wrapped up with continuous full circle cutting, 100 for him and 150 for myself. As usual, all steel for me.

  • WCoS

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    Class with Bryce and Jesse B (guesting). Stretch and then paired them for requirements while I went through mine solo and observed them. Focus session on The Illusion. After a break, I had three stations of two targets each, and we went through a number of rounds of Gambit (3 sets of 10, myself, as we rotated). I then reorganized the six targets into a Gauntlet Gambit where we did several or more passes through it (definitely more than 5, though I forgot to count exactly how many). We finished with Balance 1 & 2. All steel for me.

  • WCoS

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    Solo training because Bryce called out ill. Stretch, my Silver Chain requirements, some focus on Cutting Pattern 3, 100 Full Circle Cuts, and some Refined Strikes against one of the targets. All steel.

  • WCoS

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    Solo training (Bryce called out). Stretch, my requirements, focus on cutting patterns 3 & 4, 100 Full Circle Cuts. Focused on slower movement to examine quality and precision. All steel.

  • WCoS

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    Class with Bryce. Stretch and once through Bryce’s requirements. Focus sessions on The Illusion and Jumping Tiger 1 & 2. After a break, we worked on multi-opponent gambit passes for a bit with two targets at 30 — 45 degrees, then going through the middle of four staggered targets. Finished with 100 Full Circle Cuts. Used my steel throughout.

    Rakta Nadi has let me know he will be unable to attend for a while due to work.

  • WCoS

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    Class with Bryce, callout from Rakta Nadi. Stretch and we both did White Rope requirements, after which we did some focus work on The I Move and on The Tradition. A key focus was speed and movement, getting in and out of ma/measure effectively. After a break, we started with two-target gambit at 90 degrees, then a left-hand line of four-target gambit, and last a left-right staggered gauntlet-style four-target gambit. Next we did cuts and blocks while balancing first on end-wise retainer blocks, then on end-wise bricks. We finished with 100 Full Circle Cuts. As per usual, I used my new steel for everything.

  • WCoS

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    Class night but no students. Rakta Nadi no-show, call-outs from Bryce and Risa. I stretched and reviewed my Silver Chain requirements, after which I set up three targets in a triangle and spent some time on multi-opponent gambit/Refined Strikes. I finished with 100 Full Circle Cuts. Everything performed with my new steel.

  • WCoS

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    Open Dojo by myself. 30 minutes to stretch, review all of my requirements, do a little focus on Whispering Wind and Phantom, do 100 Full Circle Cuts, and set up a couple targets for a multi-opponent gambit/Refined Strikes. I used my new BKS Slayer for everything tonight. The balance point is a couple inches or so from the guard, compared to my old BKS Slayer where the balance point is within a half inch of the guard. I miss the agility and ease of use, but the new sword is straight and has a good clean feel to it, and I’m already starting to get used to the difference.

  • WCoS

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    Class with Bryce. Both Rakta Nadi and Risa called out. Stretch and once through Bryce’s requirements. After which, we did a focus on Akira again. After a break, we did some Move Builder, each constructing a couple sequences, followed by 100 Full Circle Cuts, and finished with a few rounds of Refined Strikes (with the 6′ targets). As usual, I wielded steel, including the Refined Strikes.

  • WCoS

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    In addition to regular weekly formal class, I have begun a weekly “Open Dojo” night, with tonight being the first occurrence (though no one came tonight). This serves two primary purposes. First and foremost, I am embarking on the final steps toward my Silver Chain and need to train more at my level. Likewise, each of the current Portland region students are working toward their White Rope. Open Dojo will provide a training space with the usual resources, and an opportunity to train with anyone else that attends. There will be no formal instruction, though attendees must arrive by the 7pm start time for a semi-formal session opening.

    Tonight I stretched, reviewed all of my requirements wielding steel, including some focus on Cutting Pattern 3, Whispering Wind, Musashi, and Kata San. I 100 Full Circle Cuts and a single pass of Refined Strikes against one of the new targets (6′), about 30 minutes or so all told. 

  • WCoS

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    Class with Bryce. Call-outs from Rakta Nadi and Risa. Stretch and full through our respective requirements. Focus session on Akira. After a short break, we used the new free standing targets along with a couple of the previous targets such that we were both surrounded by four “opponents”, allowing for several rounds of Multi-Opponent Refined Strikes. We then did 100 Full Circle Cuts, and finished with Balance 1 & 2.

    In addition to the new targets, this class was the inaugural  night for the new free standing sword rack and an additional light array opposite the current strand of lights to cut out the severe shadows from the previous one-sided lighting.

    I performed everything with steel except the Refined Strikes.

  • WCoS

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    Class with Rakta Nadi. Stretch and a review of his requirements. Focus on Kata Ich and The Lightning. Also worked on how to better incorporate his off-hand dagger. After a break, worked on stance and movement, then incorporated the sword back in for 100 Full Circle Cuts. Finished with Balance 1 & 2.

    As usual, I did everything with steel, mostly two handed, but occasionally switching to one handed to match Rakta Nadi for a particular demonstration (and adding off hand dagger, too).

    This was the belated final class for 2020, regular class will resume maybe late January, probably early February.

  • WCoS

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    Class with Bryce. Stretch and once through his requirements. Focus session on Jumping Tiger 2 and The Mantis, then a bit on Kata Ich. Break, followed by 100 Full Circle Cuts, some Move Builder, and finished with Balance 1 & 2. I used steel for everything (one handed for Move Builder to match with Bryce).

  • WCoS

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    Class with Rissa. Stretch and once through her requirements. Focus on thrust, advanced thrust, and Dragon’s Tail. Discussed how we present, through force of will, training ourselves to not telegraph when we know we’ve made a mistake, so an opponent cannot take advantage of it. After a break, 100 Full Circle Cuts, followed by Move Builder (we took turns creating a 3 — 6 technique sequence, teaching it to the other, and trying it out), and Balance 1 & 2.

    Everything I did was was with steel.

  • WCoS

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    Class with Risa. Stretch and then a couple times through her requirements. Tonight’s theme was “Full Circle Cuts”. Took a break, then started in on a focus session on The Mantis. Next was a few rounds of Refined Strikes with the targets, then 100 Full Circle Cuts. Finished with a focus session on just combat movement, taking it slow and working on awareness of quad and glute activation and weight transfer. Worked in a very brief primer on front punch & front lunge punch. 

    Entire night was steel for me.

  • WCoS

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    Class with Bryce. Stretch and once through his requirements. Focus on stance, sinking into and lengthening it. Applied while training Double Chop and The Illusion. Break. 100 Full Circle Cuts (myself steel), a few rounds of Refined Strikes against the targets, finished with some repetition of offensive defense moves, going through The Tradition, Kill the Tiger, and Akira.

  • WCoS

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    Class with Rakta Nadi. Stretch and White Rope requirements for both of us (myself with steel, all night except where noted). Did some focus work on Kata Ich. Break. Stance and movement drilling, 100 Full Circle Cuts, a few rounds of Refined Strikes against the targets (boken), and finished with some ad-hoc sequence creation.

    Conditions: intermittent light rain

  • WCoS

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    Class with Risa. White Rope Requirements for both of us (myself using steel, for nearly everything the whole class). Focus session on the Full Circle Cut, and then on the basic thrust, revisiting some of the foundations to tune up and refine. Break. Focus session on stance and movement, taking care to move with the hips/quads/glutes and feeling the intentional weight transfer from one leg/foot to the other. 100 full circle cuts (me, steel, as noted). A few rounds of Refined Strikes with the targets (my only boken drill). Finished with further review of Kata Ich.

  • WCoS

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    Class with Bryce. Stretch and once through his requirements, myself matching with White Rope requirements using steel. We then did a study of The I Move and The Mantis, working on deflection angles when we step of the initial line, and on quality and efficient cuts. After the break, we got in our 100 cuts, then did a study of slow motion weight transfer, and we finished with practice move building (technique chaining), exploring combat scenarios.

    I continue to perform all of my training with steel.

  • WCoS

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    Class with Risa. Stretch and a detailed once through of her requirements. Additional review of Cutting Pattern 2 and Kata Ich. Discussed blade and cutting angles, and the angles of blocking to maximize defense. After a break, we did 100 Full Circle cuts, a few rounds of Refined Strikes against the targets, and finished with a study of slow motion weight transition.

  • WCoS

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    Class with Bryce and Rakta Nadi. Stretch and then they went through requirements while I observed and did minor training on the side. We then reviewed Cutting Pattern 2 for a bit, followed by Jumping Tiger 1.

    After a break, we did 100 Full Circle Cuts (myself steel), a few rounds of Refined Strikes against the targets, and then I had everyone use blunted steel for target cutting practice against tossed pumpkins, which started out softball-sized and we took down to a pieces mostly no greater than a couple inches. We finished with Balance 1 & 2.