Typhoons, pros and cons:
      Cons
    • rain

    • rain

    • rain

    • wind

    • rain


      Pros
    • hardly anyone comes to practice



Last night there were only three of us -- two 3dans and me -- and Ando-sensei, so we got basically one-to-one instruction. First he reviewed torei, the seated bow to the sword. He asked if I knew that I was a bit of topic of discussion because I won my division but Gosoke wasn't thrilled since during torei I held the sword with my right hand from below when tying the sageo (cord attached to the scabbard.) I felt like an idiot, but then Ando-sensei sort of implied that various instructors haven't been as strict in teaching torei as they should. To be honest I remember Kanai-san teaching us to hold the sword with our right hand as I did, but then after the tournament she apologized and taught us to hold the sword with the right hand from above, thumb keeping the tsuba (hand guard) in place. So I get the feeling that Gosoke was more upset with the instructors for not teaching strictly than he was with me for doing it that way. Anyway I'll be more careful at the national tournament in November!
Then Ando-sensei started with one of the more advanced sitting kata, inchuyo, really focusing on the parry and counter-attack movements. Halfway through the class he saw me struggling to keep up and finally asked me what my rank was, and he seemed surprised when I told him 2kyu. "2kyu?! Oh, well in that case you're doing fine." After class Kiyokawa-san told me Ando-sensei probably thought I was at least shodan or 2dan, but since I'd only joined a couple of months ago he couldn't be sure.
Today, the day after Typhoon #6 ripped across Japan, the sky is blue and clear, the sun is bright, and it is hot Hot HOT. Like 35C and 90% humidity hot.
Phil Moore is the bomb. He's Perl Guru and all around genius at Morgan Stanley, and he's one hella-wacky dude, too. My hero.
Bookmark this page; best English news about Japan.
Those crazy students are at it again. Everyone's putting their profile online (left navigation, 3rd link from the top).
Last night's practice was just sweaty. It was a good 30 degrees C with about 90% humidity. My hands were so sweaty I could barely hold onto my sword. Not fun, and it's only getting hotter. Yeah global warming.
Too much BBQ at Jeff and Ericka's. We seem to do that on a regular basis.
Iai tonight; wonder if Kanai-san's ok. She's been out for a week. Probably over-doing it.