on yer own

Today at practice Kanai-san said "Beginners with Tanaka-sensei, upper-ranks with me...ren, go practice on your own; I can't teach you. I'll be calling YOU sensei soon." Damn, I don't think so. She's SO much better than I am; she has much more control of her sword, and she really gets her hips into her cuts, like she's not even trying. So anyway I stuck myself in the corner and practiced inchuyo and migi-no-teki on my own. Near the end of class Tanaka-sensei said "Ren, you're so stiff. You're trying too hard; all strength and tension. Relax. Cut more...sawayakani" Hmm, same thing Sanno-sensei told me, so I really do need to relax and flow more; less brute force, more relaxed flow.