Kendo seminar and promotional exam
Yesterday (Saturday), 9am till 7pm, Kendo seminar. Lots of swinging, listening to very high ranking senseis, and lots of sparing practice. Later on a friendly tournament (not regional competition, but just a for-the-heck-of-it tourney). I lost both matches 0 to 2 for three reasons. First, the referees were brutal. They judged everyone as if they're black belt. One of the high ranking senseis even came by and said, "hey, these are lower level fighters. Cut them some slack on their form. If they hit a target, regardless of whether it was executed perfectly, give it to them." Second, my opponent was apparently about to test of black belt. I was testing for any rank at all, so I was very severely outclassed. And third, I think my kendo really sucked. I did realize that the opponent was very sloppily leaving his wrist open very often, but after going for it three times, not having the judges give me the point, and consecutively getting smacked in the head with his sword in retaliation (I attack, and leave myself kinda open), I gave up, and was just going for his head. Crap strategy, since I got frustrated and threw my strategic thinking out the window. In the end, there was just open sparring with whomever, including the visiting senseis. One of the senseis I fought, Maida sensei, was 7th dan, which is just about the highest rank you could get. He was WAAAAY fast. I would see the sword in his hands, pointing at my throat, then I would barely see a streak of orange (bamboo swords) about at his chest level, and then my head would hurt from the *THONK*. In that one instant he's able to bring it way up above his head, and arc it back down in a full 180 swing, right on the center of my forehead. He was really nice about the whole killing me over and over deal, giving me pointers along the way, and letting me practice whacking him on he head unopposed at the end, correcting my attacks as I went. After fighting him, though, I now understand why my sensei aid that later on in the ranks, the fights are much more about mental gymnastics, trying to predict your opponent, rather than physically trying to parry and outmaneuver them with speed and strength: at their level, they move so fast you can't see them anymore, so reading their intentions is the only way to compete.
At 7pm we had our promotional exams (promotional as in not promoting Kendo, but testing for promotions). It wasn't point-based competition. We just went at each other until the judges (the high level visiting senseis) felt like they have seen enough. I thought I failed, case on my second bow out from the competition, where I'm supposed to squat down, put away my sword, and stand up, I fell over backwards, twice! (had to catch myself with my free hand to keep from landing on my ass). I guess the judges were lenient, and figured the rest of my fighting was good enough, because I did end up being promoted to san-kyu level (3rd kyu). Ranks are 5 through 1 kyu, then 1 trough 7 dan (dan being similar to black belt). I was fully expecting 4th kyu, so yay me!
Now I just have to rest and home and deal with the consequences on my body. I got some blisters on both of my feet from last Wednesday's competition, but really didn't want to miss all this, so bandaged up my feet and hopped up on some pain meds (aspirin). It helped throughout the day, but in the end, both blistered got torn, and one of the deep ones even got another one inside it. I.E. I'll be out of commission probably for at least two weeks. Hurts, sucks, but was definitely worth it, since college starts up again in September, and I doubt I'll have a chance to go to a promotional exam any time soon.
At 7pm we had our promotional exams (promotional as in not promoting Kendo, but testing for promotions). It wasn't point-based competition. We just went at each other until the judges (the high level visiting senseis) felt like they have seen enough. I thought I failed, case on my second bow out from the competition, where I'm supposed to squat down, put away my sword, and stand up, I fell over backwards, twice! (had to catch myself with my free hand to keep from landing on my ass). I guess the judges were lenient, and figured the rest of my fighting was good enough, because I did end up being promoted to san-kyu level (3rd kyu). Ranks are 5 through 1 kyu, then 1 trough 7 dan (dan being similar to black belt). I was fully expecting 4th kyu, so yay me!
Now I just have to rest and home and deal with the consequences on my body. I got some blisters on both of my feet from last Wednesday's competition, but really didn't want to miss all this, so bandaged up my feet and hopped up on some pain meds (aspirin). It helped throughout the day, but in the end, both blistered got torn, and one of the deep ones even got another one inside it. I.E. I'll be out of commission probably for at least two weeks. Hurts, sucks, but was definitely worth it, since college starts up again in September, and I doubt I'll have a chance to go to a promotional exam any time soon.