Jo Beginners
As a rare treat, I taught a couple of sword taking techniques this week using the jo. I had forgotten how amusing it was to watch students deal with this weapon for the first time. It is just a stick … Continue reading
As a rare treat, I taught a couple of sword taking techniques this week using the jo. I had forgotten how amusing it was to watch students deal with this weapon for the first time. It is just a stick … Continue reading
For instructors: Listen For students: Centre lines Kai Cho www.warriorway.net
As an instructor, that seems like an odd thing to say. Well, unless you are one of the more sadistically motivated instructors, which I am not. Arguably, I lack a degree of compassion, but sadistic, I am not. I don’t … Continue reading
Given that we are many months from the next grading and that there is a School trip to Aizu approaching rapidly, I have been teaching some of our older style techniques. These are usually reserved for senior students and have … Continue reading
Our semi-annual gradings were held over the weekend. A small group of mudansha. Something that had to be continually kept in mind. Our last few gradings have involved yudansha, and one must reset one’s expectations accordingly. For some, this was … Continue reading
I find it odd when my students look up at me from the mat with utter disbelief after I have thrown or pinned them, or the eyes of a weapons student bulge in terror as I attack them, or counter … Continue reading
Actually, I am not really cruel. As I once pointed out to a student many years ago, you have to care to be cruel. I can still picture their shocked and crestfallen face. But that is another story. Today I … Continue reading
Last night I taught an adult class a series of escape techniques. I designed these decades ago as a means to help protect my, then, very young, daughter. All the forms can be used effectively by small children against adults. … Continue reading
Circumstances had me teach another beginners’ sword class recently, which seems to inspire one towards ranting in disbelief. My impression of relatively new students is that they lose focus very quickly. After as little as five minutes doing one form … Continue reading
Well, actually, people still think I am rude, though the rumours started by members of my family that much of Bernard Black’s personality was based on mine, are demonstrably false. It is more my behaviour towards new students that tends … Continue reading