Kempo, Kendo and Tendo
Apr. 22nd, 2006 12:15 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
leynosKendo went well tonight, despite the dojo doing its best impersonation of a greenhouse.
After a rather energetic warm-up, the lesson once again took us through the nine kihon keiko-ho exercises with bokuto and then with shinai. Repetition breeds familiarity, and I am now beginning to see these drills not as a bewildering series of attacks and parries, but as the building blocks of combat, that will one day be put to use in sparring. The order of the drills is starting to ingrain itself into my mind, and next time, I hope that I won't have to think about which follows which and will instead be able to focus on the opportunities for study that they afford. I will devote some time this week to learning their correct names and ordering.
It came as something of a surprise to me that we were actually asked to strike our motodachis' tsuki (a guard covering the throat, attacked with a thrust). It all seemed quite dangerous to me. But I guess it shows that the sempais have a reasonable amount of confidence in us beginners if they're letting us do this.
The lesson also included a session of Uchikomi geiko, an exerciese where the motodachi makes a target available, which the kakarite attacks. Several openings can be offered in sequence and this exercise provides excellent opportunity to practice both recognizing attack openings, and the fundamental cut attacks that make up kendo. I did my best to let these attacks flow as intuitively as possible, whilst focusing my attention on footwork, posture and vocalization. (Kiai, the calling of attacks, is an important aspect of kendo, as it influences focus and control of breathing.)
I came away from class tonight feeling that I had learned a lot in the space of two hours. If I am to capitalize upon this fully, I must find time this week to study the kihon-waza ordering and to at least practice sword strokes and footwork in some way.
It's nearly ten years since I first read Ranma 1/2. Finally getting around to reading the second volume this week brought a lot back. I'd forgotten how bloody hilarious it is. My workmates thought I'd taken leave of my senses whilst I read it on my lunch break. Never mind love triangles. Ms Takahashi writes love tetrahedrons, and I'm sure it will only get far more complex as the series progresses. Each new character seems to have an infatuation with someone, who invariably hates them or isn't aware of their true identity. Or both. I can't wait to find out what happens next. A trip to Forbidden Planet may be in order.
Wuddaya mean you don't know what Ranma 1/2 is? Okay. Ranma Saotome and his father travelled to China to train in kung fu at the Training Ground of the Accursed Springs. Whilst there, they fell into a couple of said springs. Now, whenever Ranma is doused in cold water, he changes sex. Hot water changes him back again. Likewise for his father, except he changes into a panda. Upon returning to Japan, Ranma's father meets with his old friend Tendo of the School of Indiscriminate Grappling, who agrees that his daughter, Akane should marry Ranma. Akane isn't interested in boys, but gets on well with Ranma in his female form. Meanwhile, the upperclassman, Kuno, at Ranma's new school, who already has a thing for Akane, is smitten with the female Ranma form at first sight. Of course, Ranma and Kuno can't stand each other. Extrapolate from there.
After a rather energetic warm-up, the lesson once again took us through the nine kihon keiko-ho exercises with bokuto and then with shinai. Repetition breeds familiarity, and I am now beginning to see these drills not as a bewildering series of attacks and parries, but as the building blocks of combat, that will one day be put to use in sparring. The order of the drills is starting to ingrain itself into my mind, and next time, I hope that I won't have to think about which follows which and will instead be able to focus on the opportunities for study that they afford. I will devote some time this week to learning their correct names and ordering.
It came as something of a surprise to me that we were actually asked to strike our motodachis' tsuki (a guard covering the throat, attacked with a thrust). It all seemed quite dangerous to me. But I guess it shows that the sempais have a reasonable amount of confidence in us beginners if they're letting us do this.
The lesson also included a session of Uchikomi geiko, an exerciese where the motodachi makes a target available, which the kakarite attacks. Several openings can be offered in sequence and this exercise provides excellent opportunity to practice both recognizing attack openings, and the fundamental cut attacks that make up kendo. I did my best to let these attacks flow as intuitively as possible, whilst focusing my attention on footwork, posture and vocalization. (Kiai, the calling of attacks, is an important aspect of kendo, as it influences focus and control of breathing.)
I came away from class tonight feeling that I had learned a lot in the space of two hours. If I am to capitalize upon this fully, I must find time this week to study the kihon-waza ordering and to at least practice sword strokes and footwork in some way.
Ranma
It's nearly ten years since I first read Ranma 1/2. Finally getting around to reading the second volume this week brought a lot back. I'd forgotten how bloody hilarious it is. My workmates thought I'd taken leave of my senses whilst I read it on my lunch break. Never mind love triangles. Ms Takahashi writes love tetrahedrons, and I'm sure it will only get far more complex as the series progresses. Each new character seems to have an infatuation with someone, who invariably hates them or isn't aware of their true identity. Or both. I can't wait to find out what happens next. A trip to Forbidden Planet may be in order.
Wuddaya mean you don't know what Ranma 1/2 is? Okay. Ranma Saotome and his father travelled to China to train in kung fu at the Training Ground of the Accursed Springs. Whilst there, they fell into a couple of said springs. Now, whenever Ranma is doused in cold water, he changes sex. Hot water changes him back again. Likewise for his father, except he changes into a panda. Upon returning to Japan, Ranma's father meets with his old friend Tendo of the School of Indiscriminate Grappling, who agrees that his daughter, Akane should marry Ranma. Akane isn't interested in boys, but gets on well with Ranma in his female form. Meanwhile, the upperclassman, Kuno, at Ranma's new school, who already has a thing for Akane, is smitten with the female Ranma form at first sight. Of course, Ranma and Kuno can't stand each other. Extrapolate from there.
