kumitachi gasshuku

Headed down to Ajiro (just after Atami, south of Tokyo) for a weekend of beatings.
We did a weekend of kumitachi; paired sword work. This time everyone used kiritampo: basically a PVC tube covered in foam so that you can smack the hell out of each other and do little damage.
Most people took this as an okay to flail all-out at each other, which didn't end up being much of a practice session but was probably lots of fun.
First day I taught the beginners so we went through the basics nice and slow. Didn't bother trying to explain distance and timing, just tried to get them to remember the kata; left foot, right hand, high, low, etc. Seemed to go well enough and a couple of them even have potential if they keep properly focused on their training.
Second day Salty and I took the advanced group whilst Gosoke took the beginners. Salty and I spent most of the time shaking our heads and sighing...everyone knows the moves so they they would just flail out at each other as fast as they could, dancing around in a pre-arranged manner.
A few of them got the idea, slowed down, and tried to react to each other, changing up the tempo and targeting, moving a little more smoothly and economically. But generally there was much flailing...
Using "safe" weapons is a good way to learn the basics without getting hurt, but at some point the realistic possibility of pain and possibly serious injury is what clicks your brain and body into the right mood to really deflact, evade, and counter. Then again not many of them are ready for that, so perhaps it's best to stay safe.