Saturday morning and I was up early to get to the Kenshinkan dojo again. I got there on time but by the time I got changed into my nice new black Iaido uniform I was late. After jumping onto the floor I realised that I had put my Gi on incorrectly (right over left rather then left over right). So on the first break I quickly ducked out and got redressed. Apparently the way I had it is the way dead people are dressed in a funeral…

After this we were split into Kyu and Dan groups and our group spent the day going through kata 1 to 4. My Chiburi has improved heaps from thursday’s lesson. I find now that the blade out that is set up during Chiburi can now carry through right to the end rather than the trouble I was originally having. Still got to be mindful of keeping my elbow out.

The key thing to take away from today was about Metskae (direction that the eyes are facing). It sounds obvious but the eyes most follow the opponent. So when they have been cut you should be looking down from then on till you take your hand off the sword. I’m always looking a good 2 or 3 meters ahead of myself which is wrong, my gaze needs to be a lot closer to me where a body would fall. That being said, it has to the be the eyes that look, not soo much the head. Really it’s a matter of developing good imagination.

After tomorrows session they are making Curry, unfortunately I have heaps of uni work to do before the end of tomorrow and I’m working so I strongly doubt I will go to the session.