Lesson: Caution in using the big-thick shinai

I bought this big-thick shinai from E-Bogu long time ago.  After doing suburi w/ it, the regular shinai felt so much lighter that I thought it would enhance my strikes.

Early this year, when I brought the shinai to the dojo, Spencer Sensei told me, "I have this one too.  But, you have to watch out b/c this shinai makes you to use more right arm.  So, it might be good idea to practice w/ both your regular shinai and this big shinai."

At the time, I just made a mental note of what he said but didn't really thought about it.

Starting a few weeks ago, I wanted to enhance my swings, but I started practicing suburi at home w/ the big-thick shinai.  I thought, 'If I practice suburi w/ this, my swings and strikes will be so much faster and stronger...'

But, at the practice yesterday, I hyper-extended my right elbow many times.  I've realized that doing suburi w/ that big-thick shinai really did make me to use a lot of my right arm.  (Then I remembered what Spencer Sensei told me long time ago)

From now on, I should use the regular shinai to practice suburi, and reserve the big-thick shinai for an occasional suburi practice.

Lesson: Drill v. Keiko (Part II)

Today, after the practice, Takahashi Sensei told me that my kendo looks fine during the basic drills but I get sloppier (start to raise my back foot up when attacking, etc.) during keiko.

This is the 3rd time I heard this comment.  (the 2 previous times were from Desmond Senpai and Roxie Sensei -- SEE "Lesson: Drill v. Keiko" blog entry below)

I really have to watch out for my kendo and try to do it correctly and properly during keiko.

I remember reading a well-known sensei in Japan once said, "kendo is keiko."

Thought: Reminiscense

After the practice today, I called Sei-chan to the corner of the dojo and corrected his Suri-ashi and Suburi.  During the warm-ups and keiko, I've noticed that certain things about his kendo needed to be corrected.  

(Usually, I would not correct others (lower ranks) b/c I feel that I myself do not even do things correctly.  (Many bad habits I have...)  But, after I got my 3-dan, for some reason, may be b/c I now feel more responsible or confident in certain things, I see myself more active in giving advices to the lower ranks in very basic things that I know for sure.)

While teaching Sei-chan, I remembered myself many many years ago when Jae Choi Sensei taught me how to do things correctly after the practice.  In my memory (back when I was young and was a beginner), he didn't say much but would quietly explain things and let me try it until I got it right.

Today, I thought that, 'Maybe, this is how he must've felt...'

Of course, I said lot more and couldn't explain things very well.  But, I hoped that Sei-chan would become a good kenshi when he grows up.