This event is what has sparked me to want to write again. Since I am writing these a little out of order I will share details that are from previous posts that are not yet published... We'll see how it goes.
I have been studying Iaido, Japanese Swordplay, for just shy of a month. I still struggle with some of the very basic forms and it often takes the greater part of my will power to not get frustrated with myself. With that being said though, I am beginning to feel a greater sense of control with my sword. I still make mistakes that with a Shinken(sharpened sword) would cause me to shed a significant amount of my own blood. I am being to feel like the sword is an extension of me... This is why I am thankful that I am required to use Bokken for the time being. I eagerly await the day when I am encouraged to start looking for Iaito, but all things in thier time. This particular was Monday night after a fairly intense weekend of Aikido and Iaido training, so I was still VERY sore in my muscles... Now reflecting upon it, I think it was a valuable training session BECAUSE of the soreness and complaints of my various joints. Sadly due to some random circumstances at home (moving, overflowing toilets, etc etc etc...) I was late to the dojo so I missed the Aikido class. I think it's no real matter and I get the sense that Enmei sensei is just happy to see I am using my time at the dojo and being somewhat more regular in my appearances. I was greeted with a VERY Cheery from Enmei sensei as well as Jason, Chris, Luke, and some of the other Aikido folks I have met as of late. I have to say, the social aspects are some of my favorite parts about this dojo. Everyone for the most part are just nice people. I hate to make this comparison, but considering the spiritual aspects of the dojo, I think them quite apropos. Dojo life is much like a small church crowd, to a point. We all share a belief and a form of practicing that belief through movement of our bodies. I think due to Moore Sensei's lineage this is very much by design.
Iaido, to extend the metaphor further, is then like a different sect of the church. The first obvious difference being the requested attire. Instead of the Aikido harmonious white, we all wear black. Black Gi, Black Hakama. I have noticed in Iai, we do a tiny bit of partnered exercises apparently at later levels, but for the most part your practice is solo. There is no Uke to take a roll or a fall at the end of a kata or waza or technique, there is only an invisible opponent, a man(or woman) you visualize at the receiving end of your blade. While my typical frustrations of foot placement and body position (which at some point I will write about in GREAT detail because it makes my head want to explode)were in full force and the Iaido and Aikido inside me are somewhat conflicting, I am finding it easier to make the minute adjustments that sempai asks for. Sometimes it is only the difference of 10 or 15 degrees in the angle of the blade or 'adding 20% more power in left hand' to add a hint more action to the blade. Tonight I DID find myself for the first time in my experience as Iaidoka I was given a slight bit of adulation by sempai... granted my joy was short lived, but that is to be expected in such exacting art as Iai. To this point I have been introduced to 4 kata. Two are Kihon which are the basic basic forms. They are not technically considered Kata since they are so basic... I still get constantly corrected on these, much to my dismay. Then I also have learned the basis of Shin (pronounced sheen) which is the first kata, done from seiza and also Mishkei (I have no idea proper spelling translates literaly to thrust to chest.) Sempai said early in the class I could choose what I wanted to work on. I could do Mishkei or Kihon Ichi. I floundered for a second then said, I would rather do Kihon Ichi since it is still the beginning and I want to master the most basic and start at the beginning. So I was given some very basic 'notes' to work on.
During my repetitions of Kihon Ichi, Brian Sempai noted the height of my draw cut should be around the heart. Ideally this draw cut is to get under the arms of an oncoming opponent and slash the lat muscles to take the power out of the opponent's cut. We sometimes get VERY descriptive as to what each cut should do. I think i actually like this aspect. It humbles me to think that someone might try doing the same to me. Brian made mention that one day they will be sticking me in front of the mirrors and it will be easier to see the flaws in my technique...why does that thought scare me? 'First we make you watch someone else, then you have to watch yourself.' Wow... self examination... One step at a time, no sense in letting it weird me out before I actually have to experience it. While correcting the height of my draw-cut ... AGAIN, Sempai then said something to me I will never forget... 'Your opponent is you. He is your height, your weight, has exactly your skills... but he is you yesterday, so you are one day more experienced, one day better.' This thought floored me.
This sparked a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions... To me this idea has far reaching spiritual implications. Think about this for a moment with me, time you do Iaido you are locked in mortal combat with your former self. A ghost from your past, your shadow. The great conflict of not only leaving your former self behind, but destroying him so he no longer exists... Not only that but watching him fall, shaking the blood of your past fro your blade and then moving on.
Why does this thought stick out so much with me? Maybe I feel a need to truly move beyond my past. Maybe I want to make sure I never slip back into old habits... Maybe it's just an interesting thought... I don't know. Things to consider next time I am 'sitting'.
