7 & 8- Saturday

7- Deena's class:

big class- the opening was aihanmi shomen uchi. Started with ikyo, but quickly changed to an opening that you use for sumi otoshi. However, it turns out that you can turn this opening into all sorts of wicked thigns. Which we did. I'm terrible at the hand placement and footwork of the opening.

Big issue: need to concentrate much more on the footwork. That's the foundation of everything, anyway. If you do the footwork correctly, then the handwork follows.

I asked Misa to practice sankyo with me. I'm still not good at that, but I'm starting to get a little of it. Thinking about testing, of course. I also asked Cindy to work with me after class to get the entry down. I become very confused with complicated handwork. I have the worst propioception. It is probably my worst sense.

8- Weapons class: taught by Deena

also a big class. I practiced with Musato. We practiced all of sansho #1, part 1, and well into part 2. I need to go back over the jyo basics I have learned so far. They're fading already. Also, I need to do a much better job of raising both my jyo and my bokken to above my forehead. I have this horrible habit of raising them above a shoulder and swinging from there. Not only stupid, but will eventually get my ass kicked.

Need to breathe. Need to calm down. Even when I don't get scared, I get excited. Need to tighten my center. Alan told me to slap louder. Sensei told me to relax and learn where my jyo is.

I also could feel that I need to round myself even more and to extend further. Also, my posture needs to become my full time job. So does lowering my shoulders.