Sensei’s Blog

The answer to that is "whoever shows up at class", to be honest, but last evening we got onto a somewhat more specific criteria. The students I most appreciate when they show up are the ones who will stick with this stuff for a long time, perhaps the rest of their lives. I've been fortunate … Continue reading The students I look for. – Kim Taylor, Renshi, CI Sei Do Kai Guelph ON, Nanadan Iaido and Roukudan Jodo

That thought occurred to me the other day, as we were going through a set of koryu jo we don't do often enough. Mostly we were just memorizing the dance steps, but occasionally I was teaching, as in "here the sword is attacking so you need to wait before you respond or you will be … Continue reading The Arrogance of Sensei – Kim Taylor, Renshi, CI Sei Do Kai Guelph ON, Nanadan Iaido and Roukudan Jodo

This was the morning Session with the Iaido and Jodo Students!! From 9:00am to 11:00am, Kihon and Kata!! Really appreciated everyone who came out!! Doug Lytle, Rob Sturgeon, and Kristi Zeitoun!! Thank you!!! Big thank you to Michelle Curran and Scott D. Nichols for the use of their great space Peterborough Multi-Sport Club !! If … Continue reading Natsu Geiko 18 Aug 2018

Sanding bokuto, or polishing swords, both are done the same way, you start with higher grit and move down to finer and finer grit. One thing you need to do is to fix a flaw when it shows up. You can't really wait until the next grit down, you have to do it when you … Continue reading Fix it when it shows up – Kim Taylor, Renshi, CI Sei Do Kai Guelph ON, Nanadan Iaido and Roukudan Jodo

One of the hardest things to teach a student is that they are supposed to hit you. When a senior student practices with you, try to take their head off, it's pretty simple. But difficult to do (both the trying and the doing if your partner is truly a senior to you). In my case, … Continue reading Hit me, I’m a sensei – Kim Taylor, Renshi, CI Sei Do Kai Guelph ON, Nanadan Iaido and Roukudan Jodo

Terry Pratchett made an excellent point when he wrote about "lies to children" as in we tell them lies about the tooth fairy so that later they can believe in big lies like truth and justice. Grind the universe down ever so fine and you will see not one speck of justice. To teach we … Continue reading Lies to Beginners – Kim Taylor, Renshi, CI Sei Do Kai Guelph ON, Nanadan Iaido and Roukudan Jodo

I dunno, just because read Terry Pratchett and I'm thinking about doing an unusual martial art in a geography that makes it difficult to join the mainstream. In other words "I seem to be the only one around". My advice to beginners has always been to do what's available. To go to the karate studio … Continue reading Professor of Cruel and Unusual Geography – Kim Taylor, Renshi, CI Sei Do Kai Guelph ON, Nanadan Iaido and Roukudan Jodo

Last iai class I had a couple of 4dans who are working toward 5. Well OK if you just got 4dan you're working toward 5 the next day, in fact you're working toward or you're not working. This is like Mansfield's lovely saying "are you practicing to practice or are you practicing to change". What? … Continue reading Kata will kill ya – Kim Taylor, Renshi, CI Sei Do Kai Guelph ON, Nanadan Iaido and Roukudan Jodo

We quickly fell into a "go for the face" class last evening at jodo. Too much lift into the sky and then down again like a classic sword cut. Doesn't work very well because the jo doesn't cut. We hit the problem in hiki otoshi uchi kihon. This is one of the most troublesome movements … Continue reading Jodo means thrusting – Kim Taylor, Renshi, CI Sei Do Kai Guelph ON, Nanadan Iaido and Roukudan Jodo

Yudansha Shinsa Results! Shodan Passed: Morgan Carl Adeline Murphy Shodan-Ho Passed: Breanna Pawchuk