There is a danger that when students train regularly with weapons that they become blasé, when the danger should be the weapons training itself. There can be no lasting benefit, physically, mentally, or spiritually, in martial arts training, if it … Continue reading
I finished making two bokuto for myself out of spotted gum. The larger one is only intended for suburi. I wanted it to resemble an oar, but still have the curve and balance of a sword. I have used other … Continue reading
Recently, we did suburi in class with a slight change and I was able to observe the power in our techniques from a different perspective. Ji Cho once challenged me after a class to think about the nature of power. … Continue reading
Ofuda have been exchanged. New year tameshigiri, delightful and therapeutic, as always. Dojo bookings confirmed. First lockdown. Kotodama in the Jo suburi. A good start to the year. Kai Cho www.warriorway.net
It is the end of the year and we would not be a real blog if we did not leave some retrospective remarks on the past twelve months. A year when, more than any other in recent recollection, terms such … Continue reading
It is an annoying convention for any sword depicted on television or movies to make a metallic schwing sound as it is drawn. Particularly irritating when it is meant to be a katana, given they have a wooden scabbard, so … Continue reading
Perhaps I should have made the title, ‘Return to the USQ Dojo’, as for the past seven months we have still had a dojo, just one without walls or ceiling. So, we are now permitted indoor training again, and have … Continue reading
Recently we performed our first public Aiki demonstrations since the current plague began. It was an interesting exercise, since, for the past five months we have not been permitted any open hand training. That is the longest period that either … Continue reading
With the latest easing of restrictions, we have returned to open hand training. We have not, however, returned to our old indoor dojo, and, indeed, may never do so, as the university is unlikely to reopen this year and in … Continue reading
I noticed in a recent class that even after I corrected a student’s error, they continued to perform the technique just as they had before. Hmmmm. Kai Cho www.warriorway.net