Training Journal

A journal of my martial arts training

Tag: steel

  • WCoS

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    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

    2024 Class Photo of Aaliyah, Jesse, Umbra, Bryce, Rakta Nadi, Miriam, and Ben (not pictured, Chris and Shamay)

  • WCoS

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    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.

  • WCoS

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    Class with Jesse, Bryce, Miriam, and Ben. Stretch and requirements. As a class we reviewed The Mantis. After the break, we had a number of 1-on-1 matches, focusing on trying to get Miriam and Ben more sparring matches, though Jesse and I did a few steel matches as well.

    Conditions were intermittent rain, around 40 degrees.

  • WCoS

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    Class with Jesse, Bryce, Miriam, Ben, Aaliyah, and Shamay. Stretch and requirements. I worked with Shamay, adding Cutting Pattern 1, and reviewed some of Ben’s techniques. As a class we did a study session on The I Move, a new move for both Aaliyah and Shamay. After the break, we started with 100 continuous full circle cuts (Jesse and I with 2h steel). We then moved pumpkin cutting, first doing several rounds of stationary cutting, and then a couple rounds of tossed targets.

  • WCoS

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    Class with Jesse, Miriam, Ben, and Aaliyah. Stretch and requirements. I reviewed Aaliyah and Miriam. As a class we worked on The Mantis, as new move for Aaliyah. After the break, we did a lot of light armored parry. I gave the students a variety of opponent types; hand-and-a-half, single handed, long sword, double hand axe, and for Jesse two sword. We wrapped up with 100 full circle cuts (myself and jesse with 2h steel).

  • WCoS

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    Class with Jesse, Miriam, Ben, Aliyah, and Shamay. Stretch and requirements. I worked with Shamay, going over the Neck, Decap, and Leg blocks, and I worked with Aliyah on Cutting Pattern 1. As a class we did a study session on Thorn, a new move for Aliyah and Shamay.

    After the break, we had 100 full circle cuts (myself steel 2H), and then moved into Machinegun Drill. I started us off with just head attacks/blocks, then did a set of any upper attack, and then finished with a set of neck or leg attacks.

    I wrapped up the formal class and then held an abbreviated bokken care workshop, going over sanding grits and procedures to clean up their bokken, and reapplying a non-lacquer such as the linseed oil I use, particularly trying to do it a couple days before a class when we’re expecting rain.

  • WCoS

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    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).

  • WCOS

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    Class with Risa and Chris. Stretch and requirements. I reviewed part of mine while Chris and Risa went through theirs. I reviewed The Tradition, Dragons Tail, and Akira with Risa, discussing her two sword style. I reviewed Kata Ich and Cutting Pattern 2 with Chris, and then instructed him on The Illusion. As a class, we all continued to practice The Illusion together. After the break, we did 100 continuous full circle cuts (me 2H steel), refined strikes, and finished with Move Builder.

  • WCoS

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    Class with Chris, Miriam, Ben, and Shamay. Stretch and requirements. I worked with each student individually: discussed the 6 traditions with Shamay and added decap and leg cuts; reviewed basic cuts and blocks with Ben; then same with Miriam; and reviewed kata ichi and cutting pattern 2 with Chris. As a class we drilled on Jumping Tiger 2, a new move for Shamay.

    During the break I scattered obstructions throughout the dojo and we started the second half with altered terrain combat movement, then 100 full circle cuts (mine 2H steel) in the altered terrain. I shifted everything closer and we then did The Ground is Lava balance 1, and we finished with more continuous full circle cuts with the obstructions as an obstacle course (i.e. no touching them at all) (I got in another 50 cuts with steel for the final round).

  • WCoS

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    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.

  • WCOS

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    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.

  • WCoS

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    Class with Jesse, Risa, & Ben. Stretch and requirements. I reviewed Risa in two sword, which she is switching back to. As a class we reviewed The Mantis. After the break, we did combat movement, 100 continuous full circle cuts (Jesse and I with two handed steel), and a few rounds of Refined Strikes. We then went through a few configurations of Pel Gauntlet to continue drilling combat movement and multi-opponent.

  • WCoS

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    Class with Jesse, Rakta Nadi, Chris, Ben, and Aaliyah. Stretch and requirements. I worked primarily with Aaliyah, adding decap and leg cuts and thrust. As a class we again did a focus session on Jumping Tiger 1. After the break we worked on combat movement followed by 100 continuous full circle cuts (Jesse and I with steel, myself 2 handed). We had a few rounds of Refined Strikes and finished with a number of pel gauntlet passes, doing a few configurations (zigzag, pairs, and finished with a multi-opponent circle).

  • WCOS

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    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.

  • WCoS

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    Class with Jesse, Chris, Miriam, and Ben. Stretch and requirements. I paired them with each other and quickly reviewed my Silver Chain requirements solo, interjecting as needed. I worked a little extra with Miriam on The Tradition, then as a class we worked on Dragons Tail, a new move for Miriam, Ben, and Jesse. For Jesse in particular, I went over a standing variation.

    During a break, we put on our protective gear and then got in a total 31 matches in the second half. (including a single steel match for Jesse and I)

  • WCOS Event – Best of the Best 2024

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    Attended the Best of the Best at our usual Arata Farm location. There were 18 competitors.

  • WCoS

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    Class with Jesse and Rakta Nadi. Iasha observed for her first time. Stretch and requirements. I reviewed Rakta Nadi, and then Jesse in sword+dagger. We did a group session on A…

    After the break, we started with a four rounds of Refined Strikes, followed by 100 continuous full circle cuts (steel jesse and I, myself sword+dagger). We did a couple sets of Advanced Response Training and a few rounds of Add-On.

    It was around 93F when class began and ended around 87F, so I was moderating a bit. I recorded a 1200 calorie burn for the roughly 2 hour class.

  • WCoS

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    Class with Jesse, Rakta Nadi, Chris, Miriam, and Ben. Requirements (I reviewed Ben and Miriam individually), and then a class study session on The Mantis. After the break, we had sparring. There was a shortage of protective gear, so we had to be slightly creative passing it around. I started with reviewing Ben and Miriam in armored parry, finishing with 3 matches of light sparring for each of them. Between sets with them, Jesse and I had steel matches. Rakta Nadi got the gear next and I and Jesse gave him matches, followed by finally Chris getting his set of matches.

    Total of 49 matches logged for the night (34 with me, 16 of which were steel)

    (I was switching between regular 2-handed, * 1-handed, and ** sword+dagger)
    (My chest strap heart monitor logged 1982 calorie burn over the 3 hour class, max 183bpm, avg 145bpm)

  • WCoS

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    Class with Rakta Nadi, Chris, Miriam, Ben, and Derek. Stretch and requirements. I worked with Derek, adding Cutting Pattern 1. As a class, we did a study on The Tradition, a new move for Derek. After the break, we started with our 100 full circle cuts (myself steel sword & dagger). We then did a few rounds of static uke gauntlet (one swordsperson moves through a gantlet of everyone else in static poses), then a few rounds of pel gauntlet. Next was a few rounds of Advanced Response Training, and finished with a few rounds of machinegun drill (any upper attack).

    I used my new Polar H10 chest strap heart monitor tonight and captured the 2 hour class. According to it, average heartrate was 129bpm with a max of 159bpm and calories burn of 1188.

  • WCOS

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    Class with Jesse, Chris, and Miriam. Stretch and then I took us on a jog through the forest park, roughly 3/4 mile, followed by requirements. I matched Miriam on Green Braid requirements, then worked with Jesse on sword+dagger. As a class we did a study on Akira, a new move for both Chris and Miriam. After a break, we did 100 continuous full circle cuts (Jesse and I with steel, myself sword+dagger), then I did 20 iron sword, Jesse did 20, and Chris did 10. We did a couple rounds of Advanced Response Training, followed by a couple rounds of unarmored parry.

  • WCoS

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    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.

  • WCoS

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    Class with Jesse, Chris, Miriam, and Ben. Stretch and requirements. I paired Ben and Miriam, then reviewed Chris while Jesse worked solo. I then worked with Jesse, going through 1-handed basics and 1 handed variations for a couple moves (Thorn, Tradition). I checked in with Miriam and Ben, they were struggling with The Tradition some, so we discussed some, then I called the class together and we all further reviewed The Tradition together. After the break, we did 100 full circle cuts (Jesse and I steel, me 1-handed), then a few rounds of Refined Strikes (used a pel for the one unmatched pairing). We then moved into Add-On, with me pairing with Jesse by way of demonstration, then splitting into two circles so the other three could rotate through facing Jesse or I. Finally, I finished with Solo Sword Dance, first performing with my 2-handed steel to Apoptygma Berzerk – Unicorn, and then Jesse did 2-handed steel to Aviators – Red Water Dreams.

  • WCoS

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    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.

  • WCoS

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    Class with Jesse B, Risa, Ben, and Derek. Stretch and requirements. I worked with Derek, reviewing his progress and adding Cutting Pattern 1, then worked with Risa to review Cutting Patterns 1 & 2 and a couple moves, then with Jesse on Cutting Pattern 3 and a couple moves. As a class we reviewed Jumping Tiger 2 for a bit, then took a break. In the second half we started with 100 continuous full circle cuts (Jesse and I steel, me one handed), followed by a few rounds of refined strikes, and then we ran a refined strikes gauntlet of static/stationary uke’s standing in various stances a few times through. Next up was machinegun drill, any upper full circle attack (head/neck/decap), and we finished with Silent Sword (Jesse and I) and Silent Boffer (Risa, Ben, Derek).

  • WCoS

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    Class with Jesse, Risa, Bryce, Chris, Miriam, Ben, and Derek. Stretch and requirements. I instructed Derek on his remaining blocks and reviewed Ben and Miriam, in particular working on improving their neck and leg blocks. I did a study on Jumping Tiger 2 for whole class, a new move for Derek. After a break, we did 100 continuous full circle cuts (Jesse and I with steel), then several rounds of Refined Strikes (switching partners once), and started in on Machine Gun Drill with head or neck attack/block, but we only got through a few defenders and had to end class early for a personal matter.