A journal of my martial arts training
I travelled to the Hayward dojo for a special event to give both Kaiden Ravenstar and Requiem their 60 Minute Non-stop Battle, and there was boken melees (10) and steel melees (10) and some more one-on-one matches, too.
I also used the opportunity to get some clarification on draw cut targets (in particular, the vertical draw cuts are envisioned to be to something like the collarbone in application).
I additionally provided reviews and feedback to Requiem, Jesse B, and Christy.
Jog/walk (w/dog) 1.02 miles @ 12m 27s (1778 steps).
Class with Bryce. Once through our respective requirements. Focus session on Kill the Tiger. Break. Continuous Full Circle Cuts (100 him, 150 me). Three target Gambit (25 pass for me). Then we took 3 turns each making four passes, at the two groupings at opposing sides of the dojo, running between them on each pass (i.e. group A, run to group B, run to group A, run to group B). Finished with Balance 1 & 2.
4×3 Tabata set: leaping lunge, roller crunch, pop squat (10lbs), dead bug
150 continuous full circle cuts (steel), then spent some time reviewing my Shotokan hand to hand techniques and kata
4×3 Tabata set: Bulgarian squat (10lbs), roller crunch, divider hop, alternating oblique crunch
Jog/walk (w/ dog), one mile @ 11m 50s (1703 steps). Much better on this one, partly because the last I had eaten too recently and cramped, whereas this time I was able to keep up a consistent pace for much longer.
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).
150 continuous full circle cuts and then a long slow review of my requirements, pausing to examine and take notes on certain techniques that I want to ask Kaiden Gad about when I see him in a couple weeks.
35 gambit passes (four targets, close bunching), 150 continuous full circle cuts, focus session on several practiced moves: The Samurai, Blood Fountain, The Mantis, and finally Defense Cut including variations.
4×3 Tabata set: pop squat (10lbs kettle), bicycle crunches, high knees, plank extenders (6lbs medicine ball)
4×3 Tabata set: Lunge with torque and medicine ball, plank extenders with medicine ball, jumping jacks, roller crunches
1 mile run/walk through our forest park (with the dog), total time 14m42s, average pace 14m25s.
35 passes at a close packed four target gambit, plus a sword dance in the rain to The HU’s, “Wolf Totem”.
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.
35 passes on a three target gambit. Extended focus session on flow and my new move, Blood Fountain.
Also, two sword dances:
— Amaranthe, “Strong”
— SKÁLD, “Rún”
150 full circle cuts, then spent time on precision targeting against one of my targets. Ended up constructing a sequence I’m currently dubbing “Blood Fountain”. It is a three cut flow sequence, opening with a feint high (face-ish) to draw the guard (either starting in left stance or stepping into left with the feint), then swings into a rising femoral (right stance), rising brachial on the return (left stance), and finishes with a carotid (right stance). Each cut is accompanied with a cross step stance shift to engage and incorporate lateral movement. It should work really well for a one hander, especially with a small shield, but should be good as a two hander, too. These should be fast, slashing cuts against these soft targets, there is no need to cleave.
35 Gambit passes (three target grouping), 150 continuous full circle cuts. Continued working on movement and speed with moves such as The Samurai and Phantom. Small bit of flow work, chaining a succession of Practiced Moves together non-stop. All with my newest steel.
The recent new sword is very nice but has a point of balance (POB) about 3.75″ from the guard. My old sword has a POB at 1.5″. The relative difference in handling is sufficient that I decided to see what was available and there happened to be one sword left with a 1.5″ POB and all the other same dimensions, so I picked it up. This means I now have a “battle blade” with a nimble disposition and I will sharpen the other. All are BKS Slayers of the same dimensions, just varied guards and pommels.
3×3 Tabata: pop squat (10lbs kettle), lateral lunge (10lbs), roller crunches
35 passes on a three target (multi-strike) Gambit
3×3 Tabata: Leaping Lunges, Wall sit w/ medicine ball serve, bicycle crunches
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.
3×3 Tabata set: Lunges w/ medicine ball, high knees, crunches