small

Just after I got to practice, the skies turned a menacing gray, then black, then thunder and lightening erupted and rain fell in buckets. Then the lights flickered. A nasty storm cloud swept across Tokyo, in and out in less than an hour, but the damage was done: flash flooding. Scores of commuters caught without umbrellas, surface trains delayed.
Took a while for the gym lights to cycle back up to full power, but we started practice anyway. I ran everyone through the basics, then Tanaka-sensei showed up and we did the last 10 kata.
Niina-gosoke also came in about 8pm, worked out in the corner on his own for a bit, then when class was over called us remaining stragglers over for another hour of fun. "Ren, ever since you came back from the states, your cuts are small. Small! Too much cutting whatever's right in front of you. Cut your enemy! A human enemy, with a sword and skills, who retreats and attacks! Not an enemy made of stationary straw, waiting to get cut! Cut big! Chase and cut down your enemy!"
About a week to go to the national tournament, and I've been so worried and focused on the cutting demo that, as expected, my kata is getting small and week. And my shoulder still hurts, because I refuse to rest it until the tournament is over.

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