Odds and ends
I am still horrified by what happened in Connecticut. How does someone do something like that? I have no words.
Well, it looks like the competition for the command will be fierce. I do have the recommendation of the outgoing CO, but I am not as experienced as one of the other contenders, either in flight time or leadership skills. I am certainly mixed over this and want whatever outcome that happens to be fair. I have no problems remaining where I am for a while more. Regardless, I can likely make "half bird," Lt Col within a couple years or so.
We had an excellent Iaido practice. We performed over 80 distinct waza for an informal taikai. My one flaw was that the tip of my blade would pop up slightly with Yoko Chiburi. I got really good marks with Ukigumo, one of the most difficult waza. I also got top marks with the Ikitzure set. My draw was said to be very smooth and seemless. By the time it was over I could barely lift my arms. And then, it was time for Kendo. I was having a bit of an issue with Ki Ken Tai Ichi or having my foot stomp the same time as my cut lands. So, I shortened my swing just a bit.
I am working a lot more on strategy and tactics, maneuvering my opponents into bad positions or attacking when they let their guard down. I faced off against Lisa, who is my sempai and I was able to continually change angles on her to spoil her attack. I also know she has a fixation on attacks on the blade - she has to perform a beat or bind on your blade prior to taking any offensive action. So, I dangled my sword out as bait. When she moved to beat or bind, I would disengage and attack while she was swinging at empty space. Or, if she tries a bind, I just go with it and move into an Ukenagashi parry, using her own force to power my counterattack. I was also able to initiate attacks when her foot was still in the air during a step or at some points when she took a breath and caught her flatfooted.
I had one bout with sensei in which we seesawed back and forth four or five times in attack and parry without losing contact between blades. It was all changes in pressure and maneuver. He brought his A game and it was a 5-3 bout. I can tell that he is being much more exacting with me and focuses in on more minute details, which is good.
Clip of Katori Shinto Ryu - notice the segments in which there is a back and forth between opponents without loss of contact between blades.
One of my favorite techniques, Kaeshi Do. We do ours with the blade more vertical rather than angled with the block. A vertical orientation allows you to attack, head, flank or wrist. If you angle, you're commited to attack the flank.
And, of course, the tsuki or thrust to the throat. This will stop anyone in their tracks.
Holiday party madness. We had the dojo party, the breast cancer rally party, the office party. I got to talk to the President of the Iaido society here and we may have a big exhibition soon. She was also one of the judges at my san dan exam. The breast cancer rally was for our friend. They did some amazing artwork for the rally. The officer party...eh.
Sprite and I shot 300 rounds for pistol team practice. She shot a 286 to my 287 bullseye. Evan actually asked me to teach him how to shoot. I'm going to loan him my Sig. I have six students now and it's good side money and only 4% GE tax. I've been working on my magazine exchanges. Joe, we have to talk more about your range experience!
Ran 4x last week. More MI40, NOS sets.
I have one last flight before the holidays. Night currency. Well, I'm good until February, but Snoopy needs his.
I had a great game with Supra today. We ran a few silver matches in ME with some PUGs (pick up games with people we don't know). It was mostly babysitting. The two partners we had were dying left and right and I was running hither and yon to revive them. We made it though. Each level, bronze, silver, gold, platinum, requires its own strategy. On bronze, you run around like a madman and smash every bad guy in sight. On silver, you play judiciously and not be overly aggressive. On gold, you hunker down and foray out in a group. On platinum, you scream like a little girl and pray. So, I think we get bronze players who rush into the midst of the enemy and are surprised when they get wiped out and Supra and I run to their aid. I played a Batarian who just liked to punch everything in the face and then a Quarian who flitted around and threw firebombs at things. One of the waves, another Marauder jumps up on the deck and Supra and I punch in him the face at the same time. POW! Wubba wubba splat.
Halo is kind of losing it's appeal, but I did have one good capture the flag run. I got into the big Mantis AT-ST walker thing and just dominated the field. I trashed every attack on our base. One bad guy zapped my with a laser and I had to run to the enemy base and steal their Mantis and then I just tore up their base. One tactic to defeat a Mantis is to try and jet pack up on top and throw a grenade in. But, everyone who jet packed into the air was like a skeet range for me.
I'm Skyrimming again too.
Oh, Cy, I have a pic of my chameleon, but I have to download it. I took one of the babies for a walk today too. I have a tiny collar for him and he sits on my palm as we water the grass. I think he likes the warmth and just snoozes.
Well, it looks like the competition for the command will be fierce. I do have the recommendation of the outgoing CO, but I am not as experienced as one of the other contenders, either in flight time or leadership skills. I am certainly mixed over this and want whatever outcome that happens to be fair. I have no problems remaining where I am for a while more. Regardless, I can likely make "half bird," Lt Col within a couple years or so.
We had an excellent Iaido practice. We performed over 80 distinct waza for an informal taikai. My one flaw was that the tip of my blade would pop up slightly with Yoko Chiburi. I got really good marks with Ukigumo, one of the most difficult waza. I also got top marks with the Ikitzure set. My draw was said to be very smooth and seemless. By the time it was over I could barely lift my arms. And then, it was time for Kendo. I was having a bit of an issue with Ki Ken Tai Ichi or having my foot stomp the same time as my cut lands. So, I shortened my swing just a bit.
I am working a lot more on strategy and tactics, maneuvering my opponents into bad positions or attacking when they let their guard down. I faced off against Lisa, who is my sempai and I was able to continually change angles on her to spoil her attack. I also know she has a fixation on attacks on the blade - she has to perform a beat or bind on your blade prior to taking any offensive action. So, I dangled my sword out as bait. When she moved to beat or bind, I would disengage and attack while she was swinging at empty space. Or, if she tries a bind, I just go with it and move into an Ukenagashi parry, using her own force to power my counterattack. I was also able to initiate attacks when her foot was still in the air during a step or at some points when she took a breath and caught her flatfooted.
I had one bout with sensei in which we seesawed back and forth four or five times in attack and parry without losing contact between blades. It was all changes in pressure and maneuver. He brought his A game and it was a 5-3 bout. I can tell that he is being much more exacting with me and focuses in on more minute details, which is good.
Clip of Katori Shinto Ryu - notice the segments in which there is a back and forth between opponents without loss of contact between blades.
Click to viewOne of my favorite techniques, Kaeshi Do. We do ours with the blade more vertical rather than angled with the block. A vertical orientation allows you to attack, head, flank or wrist. If you angle, you're commited to attack the flank.
And, of course, the tsuki or thrust to the throat. This will stop anyone in their tracks.
Holiday party madness. We had the dojo party, the breast cancer rally party, the office party. I got to talk to the President of the Iaido society here and we may have a big exhibition soon. She was also one of the judges at my san dan exam. The breast cancer rally was for our friend. They did some amazing artwork for the rally. The officer party...eh.
Sprite and I shot 300 rounds for pistol team practice. She shot a 286 to my 287 bullseye. Evan actually asked me to teach him how to shoot. I'm going to loan him my Sig. I have six students now and it's good side money and only 4% GE tax. I've been working on my magazine exchanges. Joe, we have to talk more about your range experience!
Ran 4x last week. More MI40, NOS sets.
I have one last flight before the holidays. Night currency. Well, I'm good until February, but Snoopy needs his.
I had a great game with Supra today. We ran a few silver matches in ME with some PUGs (pick up games with people we don't know). It was mostly babysitting. The two partners we had were dying left and right and I was running hither and yon to revive them. We made it though. Each level, bronze, silver, gold, platinum, requires its own strategy. On bronze, you run around like a madman and smash every bad guy in sight. On silver, you play judiciously and not be overly aggressive. On gold, you hunker down and foray out in a group. On platinum, you scream like a little girl and pray. So, I think we get bronze players who rush into the midst of the enemy and are surprised when they get wiped out and Supra and I run to their aid. I played a Batarian who just liked to punch everything in the face and then a Quarian who flitted around and threw firebombs at things. One of the waves, another Marauder jumps up on the deck and Supra and I punch in him the face at the same time. POW! Wubba wubba splat.
Halo is kind of losing it's appeal, but I did have one good capture the flag run. I got into the big Mantis AT-ST walker thing and just dominated the field. I trashed every attack on our base. One bad guy zapped my with a laser and I had to run to the enemy base and steal their Mantis and then I just tore up their base. One tactic to defeat a Mantis is to try and jet pack up on top and throw a grenade in. But, everyone who jet packed into the air was like a skeet range for me.
I'm Skyrimming again too.
Oh, Cy, I have a pic of my chameleon, but I have to download it. I took one of the babies for a walk today too. I have a tiny collar for him and he sits on my palm as we water the grass. I think he likes the warmth and just snoozes.