Relates to my thoughts on iaido, which I just reposted (Posted on FB today). Iaido is a partner practice with an invisible opponent, if it’s not, it’s waving a sword around in the air looking, what was that word, Oh yes, elegant in your Japanese tuxedo.
Last night we were doing some Niten after the jodo zoom class and I was yelling yet again at the two folks practising. Both of them were into their own heads, the tachi was simply striding in with the usual strides, the jo was very confidently doing the same and going on with the rest of the kata because the room was there to do it.
I lost it. Well not really but I pretended to lose it. Partner kata are just that, you don’t have an opponent, you have a partner and you’re supposed to be learning how to react to each other as you watch and read the signs. The kata itself is not important.
The kata itself is not important.
It’s what the kata teaches that is important, no matter what kata, jodo or iaido or niten. The kata is there. The various tweaks and adjustments that sensei makes are not to make the kata look better (although they do). They are to make the kata work better, to teach that if you don’t move from “check point” to check point with an understanding of what you’re doing, you will get hurt or killed. If you don’t understand the timing and distance you will get hurt. If you don’t learn to read your partner, “when is he going to cut?” you will get hurt.
Niten has light little swords, easily pulled, you could learn by getting hit. Fukuro shinai could be used, but all you really need is an understanding that you aren’t dancing around looking elegant. Then you can learn without being hit.
Solo kata? Iaido? You either need to understand an opponent by doing some partner art, or you need to stick with a sensei long enough to have that beaten into you. Otherwise you’re just another kosplay kid. Nothing wrong with that, but admit that to yourself. The world has enough high ranking posers who think they are good but would not last a moment fighting in the alleyway behind Woolworths.
Keep it martial if you want to keep my attention.
SEMINARS:
Sei Do Kai Summer Seminars
https://www.thepamurai.com/other-seminars/summer-seminars
Here’s everything we’ve got going on this summer! Please spread the word.
The website includes more information and links to registration for each event in chronological order, here’s a summary by type:
Guelph Studio In Person and with Zoom! One Day Seminars:
Jodo – Saturday, July 29
Niten – Sunday, Aug. 20
Jodo Seminars including Tribe sensei:
Port Credit – Fri/Sat, Aug. 11-12 – with plans to include some iaido, too.
To Shin Kai Monday evening classes – Aug. 14
Tombo Dojo Cabin Weekends – July 21-23 and Sep. 1-4
Calgary Iai and Jo – Sep.15-17
Sei Do Kai dojo Guelph:
Contact pam.sdk@gmail.com or https://www.thepamurai.com/ for details on live and zoom classes, for zoom classes, click the link at:
Zoom classes: [Tuesday Jodo at 7:30pm, Wednesday jodo, and Thursday iaido, Friday Jodo Canada Book Club (ZNKR book, check Jodo Canada events calendar), all at 7pm Eastern time, Sunday Niten Ichiryu at 11am Eastern time]
Live classes: (check with Pam during the summer): [Tuesday 9pm-10:30pm, Thursday 9-10:30pm Sunday 1:30pm-3:30pm]
Events: https://www.jodo-canada.ca/events
Free Books:
Seito Bugei Juku 