December 8, 2017

special consideration for non-traditional (older) children

Today was the first practice by Matsumura Shihan-dai in a month.
We all formed a circle and began by swinging.
The final task was for the children to pretend to be the final cutter and blood swing by themselves.
The children had a little trouble but were able to attach each one properly in a short time.
It was wonderful to see their personalities come out.

adult limit

After a month's practice, I was overwhelmed by the many detail points that the shihan-dai kept pouring out, but it was very easy to understand and I was able to see some of the gray areas.
The advice was very important to me because I am a shihan-dai who thinks deeply about each technique on a daily basis.
The comments made by all the participants were so interesting that I thought their personalities could be reflected in the way they walked around the room.
We all have our strengths and weaknesses, but it is a blessing to be able to look at ourselves honestly through "sword, skill, and path" and to be able to engage in friendly competition with others on a daily basis.

Thanks again for your hard work today.

art of swordsmanship

Masumi Ishihama