This post is part of the First Year of Budo series

This week was the special photo session week. Sorry I’ve been watching to much ‘Bleach’ (Shinigami Cup Golden). Anyway on to the story, pay particular attention to when I get to use an Iaito(Blunt replica of a real sword).

Jodo

Again with the hitting the sword troubles! So difficult so difficult. Beyond my incorrect angles, footwork, timing, movement of center and generally everything with my technique the key issue that was pointed out to me was that I was trying to hit the sword.

The pain, I’ve been told this over and over again and even at the time I was trying to focus on my opponent but evidently I was deceiving myself. When I visualise the practice session in my head I can see the split second where my mind changes target. Then offcourse this change of focus leads me to do all sorts of things wrong.

How am I supposed to execute a technique designed to hit the sword without trying to hit the sword? It’s relatively easy to think of an answer but thinking doesn’t change who you are. So when you go to do the technique all the thinking does nothing. Ideally what I need to do is have my head explode so it doesn’t interfere (and consequently enter the state of Ye Olde No Mind).

It’s interesting that in many of the ’samurai’ anime and movies one of the events that occurs to the main character (or that is mentioned of weaker characters) is that their attacks lack any intention or the wrong intention. Surprisingly it is the same in Iaido and Jodo. Last week I was afraid of hitting/hurting the girl I was practicing with (which was enhanced by the fact that she was using a bokken without a hand guard(tsuba)). While in this state I had no chance of executing even half-decent strikes. It was only after confronting myself with the issue and my partners persistence to not be concerned that my technique showed any sign of improving. It is the simple fact that unless you can fuse body and mind your techniques suffer.

For those interested read the last chapter(one-page) ‘Book of the Void’ of Miyamoto Musashi’s Book of Five Rings.

Coming back to my practice, my issues are as much training my mind as training my body. Doing it is very different to reading about it. Living the practice is another entirely different experience.

Iaido

Iaido started off most unusually with sensei telling me to use an Iaito(Blunt replica) for training. I have been trying to figure out why but can only guess. One thought is that it was because the photographer was going to be around but this doesn’t make sense as another junior student who has been there longer than I (but I seem to be leaping ahead of him in technique) wasn’t instructed the same. I can only guess that he wanted me to feel how it is to use a ‘real’ sword, maybe because I’m showing a lot of desire and commitment. The only other comment on the subject was during group noto practice he asked ‘How does it feel to use a real sword?’. At the time I was really trying to focus on my technique for putting the sword back in the sheath as I was concerned I could easily stab it though my left hand so all I could manage was a slow nod. I mentioned that I was afraid that I would stab it through my hand and he replied with something like ‘You don’t have to worry it has a blunt edge, although the end is rather pointy’ which is hardly consoling but made me smile nonetheless.

The reason I was concerned about sticking it through my hand is that when practicing with a bokken at times I’ve tried to put the saya on too early which makes the tip push into your hand between the thumb and palm. The first time trying to put away the Iaito I did it real slow and careful. When the tip was crossing the hand I could feel it scratching the skin, hence the concern if I mucked up. Many times after practicing with a bokken I have had scratch marks on that part of my hand. Yet for some reason after todays practice I didn’t have any. I think it has something with the fact that I was concentrating so hard on doing it right that I changed my technique such that I focused on the feel of the sword across my hand rather than relying on the feel of the tip no longer pressing on my hand as it passes by. Something changed but I can’t remember what. I’ll probably remember when I go to practice noto again during the week.

It was funny, I was practicing the day before and I thought my noto was absolutely terrible. But by the end of todays practice I was heaps happier. Probably to do with my focus shifting from being frustrated, to being concentrated.

Something else I noticed about using a Iaito was that using a sword doesn’t instantly change you into some sort of incredible being capable of incredible samurai feats :). While an obvious point, the subtle point comes from trying to use it. You come to see where the difference is. Ugly technique feels really ugly. But when you get the flow right it is easy to understand the concept of the sword being merely and extension of the body. In these moments you can feel how easy it is to wield a sword and the feeling is so connected that you don’t make the distinction between sword and yourself. Naturally this has a rather mind exploding sensation to it leaving you in an empty space. Currently in Iaido I don’t have as much of an issue with my mind as I do in Jodo.

In Iaido I was more or less left to myself to practice (in terms of personal guidance). Which just means that everything terrible that I did I knew was terrible (And boy did I do the occasional terrible thing :)).

Till next week.