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.
Tag: steel
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Class with Bryce. Stretch and all of our respective requirements (myself wielding steel), then a focus on Dragons Tail. After a break, we did 100 Full Circle Cuts (again, myself with steel), a few rounds of Refined Strikes against the targets, and finished with cutting and blocking while standing on the planed and full round cabers (Balance 1).
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Special session with Risa. Stretch and requirements full through for both of us (her repeating her 12 moves a second time). We then did a focus on Jumping Tiger 2 and then took a break. After the break, we started with some core stance and movement, then added the sword to do 50 Full Circle Cuts. All of my technique up to and including the full circle cuts with with two handed steel. We finished with a few rounds of Refined Strikes against the targets, both with boken.
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Class with Rakta Nadi, and Rayn (sp?) observed. Stretch and requirements. Focus session on Kata Ich and Akira. Break. Focus on stance and movement, then did 100 full circle cuts (myself steel). A few rounds of Refined Strikes with the targets, and finished with Balance 1 & 2.
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Had to cancel a couple classes due to extreme air quality from wild fires.
Class with Bryce. Stretch and requirements. Focus on a Jumping Tiger 1. Break. 100 full circle cuts (myself steel), refined strikes against the targets, student challenge Balance 1 & 2.
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Class with Bryce and Rakta Nadi. Stretch and their requirements (twice for each of them, one with me, one solo). Focus session on Thorn, discussing the elements of evasion, control of measure/ma, and timing. After the break, combat movement in Altered Terrain, followed by 100 Full Circle Cuts in Altered Terrain (myself with steel), and lastly a couple rounds of Refined Strikes (against the targets) in Altered Terrain.
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Class with Bryce. Stretch and his requirements. Focus session on The Illusion. Short break. 100 full circle cuts (myself with steel), five rounds of refined strikes (with the dummy targets), some more focus on stance and combat movement, and finished with some speed gambit (attack each of the three targets as quickly and effectively as possible).
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Class with Bryce. Stretch and requirements full through. Focus session on Akira.
After a break, took a short jog through the park, including Balance 2, then did 100 cuts (myself with steel) and a few rounds of Refined Strikes with the targets. Finished with Balance 1 & 2.
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Class with Rakta Nadi. Stretch and then full through our respective requirements. Spent some time analyzing some of their moves, I’m working on getting a sense of where they are and what has intentionally been taught to the differently vs something they just haven’t been taught or learned to do better.
After a break, did 100 cuts (myself with steel), a few rounds of Refined Strikes with the targets, a short jog through the park including Balance 2.
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Class with Bryce and Rakta Nadi, first back in person with the COVID-19 pandemic. For safety, additional class rules are in effect for the duration of the pandemic, being masks at all times, minimum separation of 10 feet (and thus no sparring or warriors greeting), and only using personal gear and supplies.
Had them each go through their requirements individually while I observed and instructed, then did focused on a couple practiced moves.
After a break, did 100 full circle cuts (myself in steel), a few rounds of Refined Strikes using the head-and-shoulders targets I’ve created, and Balance 1 & 2.
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Virtual class recording sent to Bryce and Kaidens. Discussed the third Rule of Swordsmanship, Awareness, and it’s application in regard to the beginning and ending of tournament matches, then covered differentiators between the Full Circle Cut and Chop Cuts, using Jumping Tiger 2, Double Chop, and The “I” Move to demonstrate, and tossing in The Lightning to include the Short Circle Cut in the mix.
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Virtual class recording sent to Bryce and Kaidens. Discussed angles with regard to basic blocks, maximizing defensive coverage and effectiveness, then reviewed Jumping Tiger 1 & 2.
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Virtual class recording, sent to Bryce and Kaidens. Basic cutting and primary arterial targets.
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Virtual class recording, sent to Bryce and other Kaidens. Discussed movement, altered terrain, and technique flow, and covered applying those principles when performing Double Chop.
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Class with Bryce, closeout class for the year, held at my new place. Stretch and his requirements, then review of a few of the techniques. Break, then several rounds of tossed potato cutting. I had neglected to request he bring his steel, so I loan him my one handed Slayer and I used my two handed Slayer. Followed with a good bit of Balance 1 & 2. Ended with a few rounds of Refined Strikes.
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Class with Bryce. Stretch and once through his requirements. Did some additional repetition on the cutting patterns 1 & 2 and reviewed the nature of a full circle cut that permits controlled targeting, particularly with reference to the head cut. After a break, got in 100 full circle cuts (myself one handed steel), took advantage of the quality shadows cast upon the walls of one corner and did some shadow gambit, did a few rounds of add-on, and finished with three attack light unarmored parry.
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Class with Bryce. Stretch and once through our respective requirements (him repeating his practiced moves as I finished mine). Break, then 100 full circle cuts (me steel, one-handed). Couple rounds of Refined Strikes. A few rounds of Add-On.
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I traveled to Redding, CA to participate in the gladiator style fighting exhibition event for the Shasta Renaissance Faire. I was only able to attend the Saturday portion this year, unfortunately. We fought at 11am and 2pm. I did one handed exclusively, both steel and boken.
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Class with Bryce. Stretch and his White Rope requirements once through, with me doing the same (also in one handed). A bit of a study on Akira, then a break. After the break, I started us with some stand long jump (leap frog) and kneeling-advance decap cuts down and back to get our quads fully engaged, then we did 100 full circle cuts (me one-handed steel). Followed with a bit of blind practice, with one of blind and more or less stationary as the other moved about them, where the blind one must continue to face the moving target. Finished with three attack parry, adding that Bryce had to call and identify all contact, working on his marshalling.
(again, as noted, I went all one-handed this class)
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Class with Bryce. Stretch and once through his requirements. Reviewed his Basic Strikes and Kata Ich a bit more. After a break, did 100 full circle cuts (me with steel), some one-attack and three-attack parry, and finished with some add-on (me using 1-handed). Just before closing, I discussed a little on the evasion technique basics of “opening the door” to rotate out of the way of a linear attack.
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I journeyed to Arata's Farm in Half Moon Bay for the annual Best of the Best tournament. At final count, there were 14 competitors this year,making for a long and somewhat gueling day (about 7 hours for the tournament, which started around noon, an hour late, and I had arrived around 8:30, an hour ahead of the requested arrival time). Head Kaiden Gad won first place with over a 90% win. My final tally is TBD. Generally, I had several very good matches, and I had some disappointing matches, but over all I felt good about the tournament and marshaling. I'd still like to see the Western Circle learn more from other martial schools regarding good martialing techniques for tournaments in particular.
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Special session with Ross (Hayward Dojo). Steel only as we're both steel ranked. Went right into our requirements, he using one handed due to a somewhat recent arm injury, I with my two handed mostly, though I switched to one handed occasionally to aid in demonstrating technique, etc. As we went through requirements, I paused us to analyze and discuss various points, providing him a variety of feedback that he can take back with him to his primary Kaiden.