Training Journal

A journal of my martial arts training

Tag: sword

  • 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.

  • WCoS

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    Class with Miriam, Ben, and Derek. Stretch and then had Miriam and Ben do requirements while I worked with Derek, adding head, neck, and decap blocks. I reviewed Cutting Pattern 1 with Miriam and Ben, pointing out distancing and footwork. We then all did a focus session on Jumping Tiger 1, a new move for Derek. After the break, we started with 100 continuous full circle cuts (myself two hand steel), then I had us do a short 2×3 Tabata set of Kneeling Advance and regular Burpees. I followed that with a four pass of running the length of the dojo to attack a pel, run to the other side and attack, and then run to the far side again. With finished out with a simple Balance 1 course and wrapped class with several minutes of seiza to just take some time for awareness, both of ourselves and our surroundings.

  • WCoS

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    Class with Miriam and Ben. Stretch and I had them go through requirements together while I supervised and provided feedback. We then took time to work on Thorn and I Move more. After a break, we did continuous full circle cuts (myself with steel, and I added extra weight to the end of their bokkens to add momentum feedback), then a couple rounds of Advanced Response training. Following that was a round of Refined Strikes, and then we finished with a simpler course of Balance 1.

  • WCoS

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    Class with Jesse B, Ben, and Derek. Stretch and requirements. I worked with Derek, adding the rest of his cuts and thrust, then worked with Ben to refine his techniques, particularly his full circles and his neck blocks. I then reviewed The I Move with the class. After a break, we did combat movement followed by 100 continuous full circle cuts (Jesse and I with steel). I then set up 4 pels in a small circle and we rotated around the outside making strikes against “the defenders”, and then I inverted it so the pels were the outer ring and we were rotating on the inside striking them. We finished with Balance 1 & 2.

  • WCoS

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    Class with Jesse B, Bryce, Miriam, Ben, and Derek started tonight. After the stretch, I paired Miriam with Bryce, Ben with Jesse, and I instructed Derek on Defensive Stance, Head Cut, and Neck Cut. I also took time to review Cutting Pattern 1 with each of Miriam and Ben. As a class, we did a study of The I Move again, a new move for Ben and Derek. After the break we had 33 one on one matches.

    Conditions were intermittent rain torrents.

  • WCoS

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    Class with Jesse, Risa, and Miriam. Stretch and requirements. I reviewed and refined Miriam’s green braid requirements while Jesse and Risa worked together, then paired her with Jesse while I worked with Risa some. We then did a study session on The I Move, a new move for Miriam. After the break, I started by reviewing dagger and knife targets and general technique, then did Refined Strikes, first with daggers, then with our regular bokken. We finished with Balance 1 & 2, tonight being “student challenge”, as in I told them to put together the balance course. Once they had finished, I noted the lesson of communication an team work, as they had each each just added to it individually with almost no consultation amongst each other, and drew parallels to team combat.

  • WCoS

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    Class with Jesse B, Risa, and Miriam. Derek observed their second class. Stretch and requirements, and then a focus on Thorn again. After the break, Jesse and I had 5 bokken matches and 10 steel matches, then we left our armor on for the remainder (except helmet and mitts). We discussed some of the lessons observed in the sparring, then the class did 100 continuous full circle cuts (Jesse and I with steel), then a few rounds of Refined Strikes.

  • WCoS

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    Class with Jesse B, Bryce, Risa, Chris, Miriam, and Ben. Derek observed his first class. Stretch and requirements. Paired the other four off while I worked with Miriam and Ben on the requirements format and improving their Cutting Pattern 1. Brought the class back together for a focus session on Thorn. After the break, we worked on stance and combat movement, Advanced Response Training, Pel Gambit, Machine Gun Drill (Head/Decap), and finished with 100 continuous full circle cuts (steel for Jesse and I).

  • WCoS

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    Class with Miriam and Ben. Stretch and then I initially worked individually with Miriam, then Ben, reviewing their basics. I then covered with both of them the thrust block completing all of their basic cuts and blocks, and covered the six traditions at length. After a break, we did some combat movement and just 50 continuous full circle cuts (bokken). We drilled a little more on continuous cutting, doing some three-cut combos of R Head, R Neck, R Decap, and R Neck, R Head, L Neck. I then covered Cutting Pattern 1 with them, review for Ben, new to Miriam. We finished with them facing each other to go through their full requirements once more time together while I observed and guided as needed.

  • WCoS

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    Class with Jesse B, Risa, Chris, Miriam, and Ben. Stretch and requirements. I paired Jesse with Ben to review basics and then teach Cutting Pattern 1 while I worked with Miriam to review her basics and add Decap Block and Leg Block. We all reviewed Jumping Tiger 2 (learned in case of Miriam and Ben). After the break, we did our 100 full circle cuts (Jesse and I with steel), machine gun drill for Neck target, and finished with Balance 1 & 2.

  • WCoS

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    Class with Jesse B, Bryce, Chris, and Ben. Stretch and requirements. Worked with Ben on improving current skills and added Decap and Leg blocks. Reviewed some of Chris’ technique. After requirements did a study session on Jumping Tiger 1. After the break, we did 100 full circle cuts (Jesse and I with steel), followed by several rounds of Refined Strikes (I worked with Ben some, then had him do the rest with a pel). We finished with a round of machine gun drill, doing just head attacks/blocks.

  • WCoS

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    First class back for 2024 with Bryce, Miriam, and Ben. Stretch and requirements. Bryce solo’d for a bit while I reviewed Ben’s cuts and added thrust, plus head block and neck block. I reviewed Miriam’s cuts and thrust, and refreshed her on head block, then had Bryce work on neck block with her. After the break, we worked on stance and combat movement, then continuous full circle cuts (Bryce and I did 50 with bokken), and finished with a study of Jumping Tiger 1.

  • WCoS

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    Class with Jesse B, Risa, Chris, Miriam, and Ben, last of this year. Only Bryce had to call out. Stretch and requirements. I moved about working with nearly all of the students at least a little. I reviewed Ben and added Leg Cuts. I reviewed Miriam and added Neck Blocks. I reviewed Cutting Pattern 3 with Jesse. Worked on a couple moves with Risa. As a class we continued to drill on Jumping Tiger 1, and those that have it, also Jumping Tiger 2. After the break, we each had a turn in Blind Man’s Boffer, then everyone took up steel for pumpkin cutting. I posted sugar pumpkins on a post and we took turns having at them, as well as a couple slightly larger white pumpkins, then the ranked students had a chance at cutting chunks that were lobbed at them.

  • WCoS

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    Class with Jesse B, Bryce, Miriam, and Ben. Stretch and requirements, placed Jesse and Bryce together while I worked with Miriam and Ben. Instructed Miriam on Head Block, and Ben on Decap Cut. After requirements, we all reviewed Jumping Tiger 1 some more. We got gear on during the break and Jesse, Bryce, and I had a total of 24 one on matches amongst us.

  • WCoS

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    Class with Miriam and Ben, all other students called out. Stretch and then trained Ben on Given Steel, Defensive Stance, and Full Circle Head and Neck cuts, reviewing them for Miriam. While Ben practiced those, I reviewed Miriam’s Decap and Leg cuts, then instructed on Thrust. After a break, I covered Sword Salute and Sword Honor, then we practiced combat movement. Wrapped up with working on Jumping Tiger 1, an intro for Ben and review for Miriam.