Hesitation.

Hi all. This would probably be the first ever recollection of a kendo practice at the Japan Club of KL of mine.. Its late and im zonked (from working as gamemaster in a CIMB telematch in Bangi, 9am-4pm, getting sunburned, meeting at MAPAAC at Astaka field for paintball, then to 2nd session kendo), so ill make it brief. :-)

This was the FIRST time i actually attended senior class and STAYED till the end. LOL. Now feeling dam bangga ady at myself. (Duno can keep up this track record onot.. haha)

Anyway, it was a nice, and fun learning experience. There were only a bunch of us, so we kinda had ample space to train with -- unlike junior class, where you've got tonnes of noobs, crowding the dojo. :-P

We started with Nurlin's drilling warm ups -- We did a CONTINUOUS cycle of joge suburi, sayu joge suburi, one step men, continous men, and sayu men. And that's like 50> times taw! Whats more, after all that, we did haya suburi like for 100> times, because they were about 10 of us in the circle. =_="

Still, i survived. =) Then the usual practice with kirikaeshi, men uchi, kote men uchi, and men-kote men-men-taaitari-men-men cycle. Whoa best, i tell you! :-P However, it wasnt as best as gi geiko, free practice. I was waiting up for Ishii sensei when Arif got me to partner him. Always tried to hit men, but never run through. A BIG NO NO!! T_T
(Arif often inaccurately misses my right kote, so it landed on my arm, most of the time. and did i mention i had sunburned skin? OMG!!!)
Finally, i got to spar with Chua sensei. In fact, it was he who actually pulled me into it! Like fwah kan! You must know that besides having the utmost respect for him, i am absolutely petrified and intimidated of who he is! haha..

Ji geiko-ing with him taught me NOT TO HESITATE. When there is a open chance to strike a target, you go for it, irregardless of whether or not, the opponent hits you. Nevertheless, i left the ji geiko with him feeling better than before, despite all the hentaming i got from him, because i managed to kote-men Chua sensei and score a point!

Heck, even I was surprised myself! =P

But we must never let our vistories get to our heads -- that the fastest (and bestest) way to loose yourself. Remember that humility defeats all pride.

Lesson Learnt:
#1. Leave no room for hesitation in kendo.
Solution: training your hands and wrists to snap snap snap at open targets, provided by your friend. Repeat on either sides.

#2. Make it a point run through after every cut, successful or not.
Solution: form a mental picture in your mind where ever you train that after every cut, run through, run through, run through!! OR, you could also use more kakari-geiko, like Abul says. :-)

maRCus