Yamada-sensei came up for a couple of days to practice with Niina-gosoke. Kiyokawa and I were on one side while they were on the other. Yamada-sensei has some...interesting theories about sword use, that don't always jibe with the way I've been taught. But I'm young and stupid and he's old and wisened, so I gave his way a try. On the kumitachi kata uchikaeshi, instead of flowing the first parry and counter, he said it's a full on block stop. I tried it once and the shock went straight into my right thumb. Figuring I must have done something wrong, I tried it again, and Yamada-sensei nodded in approval as I took the full force of Kiyokawa's cut and channelled all the energy along my blade and straight into the base of my right thumb. Transformed into a purple stub of pain, I decided I had done enough practice for a day. Kiyokawa and I went to Starbucks for some beverage and smack talk before going to teach at Shibuya.
15 students at Shibuya and growing! If we don't get a new place soon we'll be out of room.
And goddamn my thumb hurts.
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