March 2012 - I completely pulled my Yondan test out of my ass today. I have no idea where it came from. Even just a week ago I was an off balance, disheveled mess. Clearly I peaked at the right moment. The intensity, focus, balance, everything was there. What helped was standing behind Ray Sensei most of the weekend. That fixed my timing. The other was purchasing tabbi. My feet and legs were still functional even after a hard weekend of training. I will never train on that gym floor again without them.
April 2012 – Over
the past few weeks Sensei is tossing much more information my way. The corrections range from very fine to “geez
o Pete your feet are totally wrong.” I
have been doing it (incorrectly) for 5 years, but now the expectations are much
higher and I have to drill down to the smallest details.
We are doing tata hezia weekly. No break for the knees. So far so good although after a long
practice, I am very aware of both left and right knee caps. It is a strange feeling.
May 2012 – I have
been teaching more while Sensi does more advanced waza with the senior
students; I am taking the junior students through the basics. The teaching is good since it makes me
demonstrate correctly.
Tonight, for the first time I did paired waza, working with
John L. which is good. He is a great
teacher, especially for a stiff old fart like me (and like him). I now see the tactics behind the
techniques. The timing is very
subtle. Life and death is literally
measured in millimeters and micro seconds.
July 2012 – We are
continuing with weekly tata hezia. We
need to keep the training up, otherwise the core muscles get weak and our knees
forget out to bend in that God awful sitting position. Still fighting the timing. Still fighting my balance on #4 and #5.
August 2012 –
VACATION and idiot brother in for heart surgery. I am training once a week rather than 3X. Boy
I miss it. Since it was Ray Sensei, John
L and I, we spent one Monday night class talking teaching points. Very interesting and I was honored to be
included.
September 2012 –
Since my vacation break, Sensei has me focusing on training more. The weekly tata hezia continues. My knees are holding up fine. Back into the 3X classes a week. Iaido is a fantastic stress reliever as I
have to concentrate on the details of waza and forget about work. This is the perfect practice for me. Tata hezia #4 & 5 are starting to feel
better. At least I am falling over less
frequently.
October 2012 – 3
X a week training continues. I get to
teach here and there. The dojo has been
full on Saturdays, which is great for Charles Sensei. Helps to have more than 5 people there to pay
the rent. I always check behind me to
make sure I trust the person not to whack me in the head, accidently of
course. So far so good, touch wood.
I did e-waza tonight!
Yippee I get to be sore in new places tomorrow. How Tanita Sensei scoots across the floor
like a 3 year old, rather than a 63 yr old amazes me even more. I am too fat and too stiff for this. Must drop the spare tire. Eating Terri’s chocolate cake today isn’t
helping the program any.
November 2012 – I
did the Japanese gardens demo again. It
went well except for me completely forgetting one advanced waza. I defaulted to a lower lever version which
totally pissed me off. Nobody could tell but me and anyone who watched the
tape. Terri and I were able to walk
around the gardens and look at the exhibits this year. It was very cool. My work friend Denise came to see the demo.
My blade tasted blood tonight! Sadly it was mine, again. Charles Sensei is correct, the iaito is not
very sharp but it sure is pointy! I am
clearly not ready for a shinken.
December 2012 –
Ray Sensei has me back concentrating on training. Since it was just he and I tonight, we spent
the entire time going over my many faults.
My feet pronate which makes for some strange looking waza. Also my upper body is way off. At my level, they are really picking at the
nits. The cuts are improved but still
need work, especially the 1 handed kasa.
I worked with Charles Sensei tonight. He too commented on my feet with the first
question being “do you pronate when you walk?”
Jack Sensei is still working on my upper body posture. I feel like a discombobulated mess. Neither upper nor lower body is correct.
We have LOTS of new students, earlier than usual. We always get a rush after the New Year. When they get into training and find out how
difficult/boring it is; most don’t last past Ground Hog’s day.
January 2013 – I
was informed I am testing for Godan. I
thought there was a 2 year mandatory break between 4th and 5th,
however Sensei said the decision is his and I am good to test. There is a written test this year. I have to
identify all of the sword parts, including some obscure ones that even the
teachers had to look up. Last year’s
Yondan techniques were nearly identical to the Godan, so hopefully I won’t have
to learn too much new, just do better at what I already know.
Started teaching the new students again. They all complimented me on my
technique. Apparently practice is paying
off. I have a host of seniors to make
sure this does not go to my head.
Seniors are good that way.
In preparation for Tanita Sensei's visit and the test, I started
cross training again. I am far too
flabby to go through another weekend in this bad of shape. Even if I don’t hit the weight goal, I have
to increase my endurance. Even with tabbi, a weekend on the hard gym
floor is hell on the knees, lower back & feet.
February 2013 –
Ray Sensei gave me a sword to use for my training and test. It belonged to a former member who passed
away. It is like Yoda saying “This is
the best light saber in the Jedi Temple, use it for a while.” The balance is perfect, making
my sword feel like a 36”
pry bar. I am humbled he trusts my
techniques enough to loan me a sword knowing I won’t break it.
March 2013 - I am
still too flabby, but given up on the cross training (except for cycling on
nice days). I am now training 4 days a
week concentrating only on the test material.
My lovely wife even gave me the evening of our anniversary off to get an
extra session. We are celebrating the
next night. Quite the woman is she.
Corrections are now based on timing and attitude. The mechanics are good; I have to smooth the
rough edges. Sensei made a ton of tweaks
last night. Miles to go before I am
ready. Godan test is in 1 week.
