Kendo can be one of those frustrating endeavors that even if you are doing everything correctly, there are still hundreds of things that are going wrong. Combine that with learning it in its native language, a language that I am still myself learning, and the frustration is tenfold.

On Friday I went to practice feeling good, and Nakano sensei and Koyama sensei both helped me with my suburi, as they promised, Nakano sensei in particular was trying to get me to understand that I don't have to use a lot of power from my shoulders to get the shinai swinging. It was, of course, a difficult concept to grasp at first. I'm still not sure I have it down, but what I understand is, if the swing is started from the wrists, not a lot of power needs to be struck downward. The weight of the shinai on its own can provide the power. The snap at the end is made by snapping the the wrists at the last second before the strike. Of course, there's much more to the technique of actually landing a strike than this, but I'm going back to the basics, ask Okusa sensei says, and this is a new way of looking at things. Nakano sensei also suggests pushing the elbows forward, instead of dropping them , or at least keeping that image in mind when striking. They will make the whole strike one, smooth motion, instead of breaking it into two, which is a habit I have picked up.

Today doing mawari-geiko my back started hurting again. So I took Fukao's sensei's advice and, when I could no longer do an entire keiko, I bowed out. I tried to leave the dojo, so as not to take up room, but there were too many people and I was trapped, so eventually I went back to my partner, and crouched on the ground. I'm not sure what Fukao sensei saw, but he got on my case again about quitting in a keiko. It was one of those times when I really wished I could understand what he is trying to tell me completely, and am able to explain myself again. This is why:

Two weeks ago he told me that if I cannot complete a whole keiko, it is OK to sit out, but don't start a fight and then bow out in the middle. I took this advice to heart and, after completing a whole match with Koyama sensei on Friday, I judged that the pain in my back was too great to complete another one, so, I bowed out. Perhaps Fukao sensei thought that I quit in the middle of my match again. Something has been lost in translation here and I'm neither able to understand what it is, nor clarify my own actions. So, I can only nod my head and try again next time. Hopefully my back will allow me to comeplete however many rounds of mawari-geiko Itou sensei has us do tomorrow. I don't want to risk Fukao sensei's lecture again.

On Monday I was still feeling the effects from the weekend's flash cold, although I'm feeling much better, surprisingly quickly (I'm chalking this up to the lifestyle changes that have made me, overall, feel much more genki. Knowing, however, that my lungs are sensitive to bronchitis, and feeling the dizziness that comes from clogged sinuses and imbalanced ear fluid, I went to practice to watch, yesterday. It was a good experience. Since Koyama sensei and Nakanao sensei offered to show me some proper suburi techniques, it would have been a waste not to go to practice when I can still swing a shinai.

Itou sensei also gave me some good hints. It boiled down to a few things: Nakanao sensei suggested that I'm unfolding my arms too slowly, joint by joint. and that I should let the shinai swing down by it's own weight, only adding a final snap by the wrists at the end. This will produce a good patt sound as well as increase the speed of my swing.

 He also helped my with my kamae. He said that the center is key, and that even if the kensen is slightly off center, we can remain in the center if the left fist is remains steady they. Push forward with the left first in the center, and the strike will also be in the center. This left first forward motion will prevent the Right hand from pressing too far left to get center which will open the kote op for a strike. Protect the right wrist with a slightly off center tilt of the kensen, but remain in control of the center line with the strength of the left fist.

Koyama sensei also reminded me that movement should start with the right knee. It should carry forward. The left foot should push against the ground to propel you forward while the right knee should lead. This has always been a difficulty for me though.

These are the basics that I must practice to pass san-dan. With extra instruction at the beginning of keiko, I hope I'll be able to memorize them in time for the July exam.