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A lot was said about the gaze in earlier times, these days it is taught that the gaze should be directed in general to the face of the opponent. With regard to the gaze during combat, both eyes should be made narrower than in everyday life and the opponent should be calmly observed. Thereby it … Continue reading Sanjugokajo-6 The gaze – Jan 24, 2015, Kim Taylor, Renshi, CI Sei Do Kai Guelph ON, Nanadan

With regard to the gait during combat, irrespective of whether you make big or small, quick or slow steps, the accustomed gait should be adhered to. Such unreliable specific ways of walking as flowing, gliding, stamping, creeping as well as forwards or backwards gait are all to be avoided. However difficult the ground may be, … Continue reading Sanjugokajo-5 – The gait – Jan 23, 2015, Kim Taylor, Renshi, CI Sei Do Kai Guelph ON, Nanadan

The posture should be so that the face is not directed at the floor, but also not too far upwards and both shoulders should be neither stiff nor slouched. At the same time the stomach should be pushed forward instead of the chest, do not bend the hips, do not stiffen the knees and the … Continue reading Sanjugokajo-4 – The posture – Jan 22, 2014, Kim Taylor, Renshi, CI Sei Do Kai Guelph ON, Nanadan

To hold the sword correctly the forefinger and thumb should hold lightly, the middle fnger with medium strength, the ring finger and the little finger firmly. As with the sword there is life and death with the hand. The hand is dead which, when holding, parrying or stopping, forgets the actual aim of cutting the … Continue reading Sanjugokajo-3 – How the sword is held – Jan 21, 2015, Kim Taylor, Renshi, CI Sei Do Kai Guelph ON, Nanadan

These posts concern the following article. 日本体育大学紀要(Bull. of Nippon Sport Sci. Univ.),42 (2),165–179,2013 【研究資料】 The essence of the swordfighting techniques of Miyamoto Musashi —An interpretive translation of his “Heiho Sanjugokajo”— Teruo MACHIDA Translated into English by Vaughn WILLIAMS 1) and Teruo MACHIDA 2) The exact wording of the translation for the first article is: ========= … Continue reading Sanjugokajo-2: How the way of strategy should be understood – January 19, 2015, Kim Taylor, Renshi, CI Sei Do Kai Guelph ON, Nanadan

1: Why I call this way the two swords. (translation of articles from Machida, Terao: Bull Nippon Sport Sci Univ 42(2) 165-179, 2013) === Musashi had his students train by holding two swords, one in each hand. This way the left hand became less important and the students learned how to use a sword in … Continue reading Heiho Sanjugokajo – Jan 15, 2015, Kim Taylor, Renshi, CI Sei Do Kai Guelph ON, Nanadan

Its time to start preparing for the Start up Classes next week!! For Karateka, time to start Cardio and strength training! Kata practice to shake out the mental cobwebs!! Iaidoka need to swing the bokken or Iaito gently to loosen up the shoulders and leg lounges to start the process! Everyone should be doing Abs … Continue reading Start up Classes 13 Jan 2015

Every so often, quite often actually, I hear "budo begins and ends with etiquette". Since we bow in and bow out of every single practice, as well as bowing to the room each way through the door, I have always wondered why we get told this. We spend hours being taught exactly how to bow … Continue reading Take a Bow – Dec 30, 2014, Kim Taylor, Renshi, CI Sei Do Kai Guelph ON, Nanadan