kumitachi

Been busting hard at work, and finally got a lull, so managed to get to the dojo for kumitachi practice. Haven't done kumitachi in a while, but felt good to shake off the cobwebs and crack some wood. Gosoke showed everyone the basics of taking the centerline; watch your opponent's right fist, move after he's committed, slide up, over, and down the centerline. Once you get it, keep it, and don't slop alot of muscle into it. We demonstrated a couple of times, and then he left me to teach a couple of the kata. There were six so we made three pairs and ran through the first three kumitachi: hokuto, taihaku, and inazuma.
Toughest part for everyone, besides clashing swords like a bad samurai movie, is getting the distance right. You have to cut your opponent where he is (or will be as he moves towards you), and knowing that, you have to lead your opponent in to cut you, say by giving him your forehead so that he comes in high, and sliding out and through it and taking his side. Distance is critical; it's hard enough to hit something that isn't moving, but when you're faced off with a partner...they were all having a time of it. At least they get the idea, even if they can't do it. I showed a couple more times how to take the centerline by moving in late, and the difference in sound from clashing (BANG!) to deflecting (ZIP!) They got it, even though they don't get it. Now all they have to do is work on it, but everyone just wants to hurry up and play samurai, smacking sticks together, instead of slowing down, watching distance, timing, taking and guarding the centerline, moving with intent, and paying attention to your opponent.