Lessons

1.  Spencer Sensei:  Tsuki

There are 2 ways to hit Tsuki.

One is to go directly forward from Kamae.  Here, if you miss it, the shinai will get stuck on the opponent's neck or something.

Second is to go forward but raise your shinai a little, then come down.

The second method helps because when you miss that Tsuki, you can still hit the top of the opponent's Do (the front part) and then still attack.

2.  Yuji Sensei:  Going forward

After hitting Men, charge forward as if you're gonna kill the opponent.

(In other words, don't be timid)

3.  Yamaguchi Sensei:  Do not take your eyes off the opponent

After hitting Men, don't just keep going forward.  Once the opponent disappears from your hindsight, you came too far.  Don't take your eyes off the opponent.

4.  Yamaguchi Sensei:  Kakari-Geiko

Good Motodachis don't just open up the openings.  They pressure the Kenshi with Seme, so that the Kenshi reacts to it or they react to the Kenshi's Seme, so the Kenshi can find the openings and hit it.  Don't just open up obviously.

5.  Kinno Sensei:  Always attack

When facing the opponent and you see the opponent coming in, don't just stick out your shinai trying to block the opponent.  It is not a wrong method, but rather, try to find the openings and attack.  There's always openings.

6.  Spencer Sensei:  Step combinations

I said that many beginners and intermediates (like myself) try to attack from the one-step distance.  But, he said it's predictable and easy to block.  Try to use little steps to create Seme and then attack.  You can adjust the speed and tempo of your steps to change the timings (so to become unpredictable).  Thus, you gotta work on your Suri-ashi.