Lesson: Go Through

I've been getting this feedback a lot lately.

"Don't go to the side or don't try to attack from the side, but try to go 'through' the opponent."

(I tried to draw what I imagined in my mind.  Hope this helps.)

Lesson: Nothing Fancy But Just The Basics

On Wed., Jae Choi Sensei came to our practice.  He stops by once in awhile (like once a year), so I was very glad to see him.  Too bad that I was not in shape... (I missed practice for a few weeks, yet J. Choi Sensei, who practices like once a year, still kicked my butt...so unfair...)

Anyways...

After the first practice, I went to Yamaguchi Sensei and asked if I could improve anything.  He said, "Watch Jae.  His Kendo is very good.  He has very good timing.  The way he received Kiri-kaeshi was perfect, just the way I explained to you guys in the past.  He kept that.  He does nothing fancy but only the basics, yet his Kendo is very good."

When he explained this to me, Yamaguichi Sensei's usual soft expression and smile was gone but his eyes were unusually serious.  (I've seen this kind of intensity and seriousness from Yamaguchi Sensei only a few times in the past)

What Yamaguchi Sensei said kept coming back to my mind.  "Nothing fancy but just the basics."