Back in the swing of things
Whew! I'm not as terrible as I thought. Even when judged by the national champion.
This is going to be more a rough things-I-need-to-work-on post, than anything philosophical.
Chudan needs to relax, with forward hand just about two fists from hip, and hips turned 90 degrees. Not almost 90 degrees. And relaxed. And lower.
And for men strike from chudan, I'm turning my foot too soon. Let it turn with the strike and let the rear foot float forward with the strike.
Swing through with sune.
Choke up more when receiving men.
. . .
Wow, that can totally be read the wrong way.
Eh hum. And receiving sune, elbow out.
We worked shikake-oji #1, both attacking and receiving. So that was new for me, except one or two run-throughs way back in May that didn't stick.
I need to make my receiving movements crisp -- I was having timing issues, and just learned/realized that I shouldn't anticipate attacker's movement, so I'd start . . . then remember and pause and wait for something more like the correct timing . . . then receive. Bleh. Wait, until the attacker is committed.
So my big take-homes were relax (I'm finding a new level of this with iai, too, so that's good), and attack!
ETA Looking back on it this morning, I think what was really, really neat was working with someone who is skilled enough that I can let go and make an actual attack. I was confident that even if I screwed up and make the wrong strike, she would be able to block with ease. I'm not sure if I'll ever have that confidence with bokken in iai -- there the consequences of a mix-up could be fatal. As a result, last night I was able to really wail on my sune strikes, and when she blocked the sound was tremendous. And affirming.
This is going to be more a rough things-I-need-to-work-on post, than anything philosophical.
Chudan needs to relax, with forward hand just about two fists from hip, and hips turned 90 degrees. Not almost 90 degrees. And relaxed. And lower.
And for men strike from chudan, I'm turning my foot too soon. Let it turn with the strike and let the rear foot float forward with the strike.
Swing through with sune.
Choke up more when receiving men.
. . .
Wow, that can totally be read the wrong way.
Eh hum. And receiving sune, elbow out.
We worked shikake-oji #1, both attacking and receiving. So that was new for me, except one or two run-throughs way back in May that didn't stick.
I need to make my receiving movements crisp -- I was having timing issues, and just learned/realized that I shouldn't anticipate attacker's movement, so I'd start . . . then remember and pause and wait for something more like the correct timing . . . then receive. Bleh. Wait, until the attacker is committed.
So my big take-homes were relax (I'm finding a new level of this with iai, too, so that's good), and attack!
ETA Looking back on it this morning, I think what was really, really neat was working with someone who is skilled enough that I can let go and make an actual attack. I was confident that even if I screwed up and make the wrong strike, she would be able to block with ease. I'm not sure if I'll ever have that confidence with bokken in iai -- there the consequences of a mix-up could be fatal. As a result, last night I was able to really wail on my sune strikes, and when she blocked the sound was tremendous. And affirming.