Sensei’s Blog

The two feet are the teaching that in a sword stroke you should make two footsteps. When you push down the opponent’s sword with your own or evade it, or when you step forwards towards the opponent or back away from him, you should always make two steps with both feet. If you make only … Continue reading Sanjugokajo-16 The two feet – Feb. 3, 2015, Kim Taylor, Renshi, CI Sei Do Kai Guelph ON, Nanadan

腹式呼吸          Fukushiki Kokyu         Abdominal breathing 踏み込み足       Fumikomi Ashi            Stamping front or adjusting rear foot 目付                   Metsuke                     Point of observation, correct use of the eye 寝技                   Ne Waza                     Pinning techniques in wrestling or judo, grappling 絞り                     Shibori                       Wringing movement of the hands on tsuka while cutting 膝行                    Shikkō                        Walking on the knees

The body as representative of the sword describes the basic principle that when attacking you should not apply the sword and the body simultaneously against the opponent. To strike, the already prepared body usually advances as representative of the sword and after this the actual stroke of the sword follows. This strike should be carried … Continue reading Sanjugokajo-15 The body as representative of the sword – Feb 1, 2015, Kim Taylor, Renshi, CI Sei Do Kai Guelph ON, Nanadan

If you are at a distance in which the swords of both sides can strike at any time and you try to strike your opponent with your sword and see that this gives your opponent an advantage, that is to say that your opponent will be able to survive the critical moment (“To”) before you, … Continue reading Sanjugokajo-14 Surviving the critical moment – Feb 1, 2015, Kim Taylor, Renshi, CI Sei Do Kai Guelph ON, Nanadan

There are three initiatives (“Sen”). The first concerns the situation, when you attack the opponent from your own side, the second concerns the situation when you are attacked by the opponent and the third when you and your opponent attack each other simultaneously. These are the three initiatives. When you attack, you should carry it … Continue reading Sanjugokajo-13 The three initiatives – January 31, 2015, Kim Taylor, Renshi, CI Sei Do Kai Guelph ON, Nanadan

I don't know if it's the humidity here on the east coast but the first evening of the seminar here in Antigonish featured two diatribes on spirituality in iaido. I honestly can't remember the first, we've been out for beer. The second was all about kasso teki. He's the guy who is the opponent in … Continue reading Kasso Teki – Jan 30, 2015 Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Kim Taylor, Renshi, CI Sei Do Kai Guelph ON, Nanadan

Martial arts that display various sword positions with specific postures and thereby appear strong and fast are to be regarded as lowly. Such martial arts that while concentrating on the smallest details bring various techniques in accord with special rhythms and thereby appear magnificent and exceptional are to be regarded as middling. The martial arts … Continue reading Sanjugokajo-9 The perception of the lower, middle and higher levels of the martial arts – Jan 28, 2015, Kim Taylor, Renshi, CI Sei Do Kai Guelph ON, Nanadan

There are various teachings to the choice of distance to the opponent in other schools. Because people are inclined to be entangled by one strategic teaching or the other and thereby become immovable in their spirits, I prefer to say nothing in particular about this now. Such things become easily understandable by themselves in various … Continue reading Sanjugokajo-7 Closing the distance – Jan 25, 2015, Kim Taylor, Renshi, CI Sei Do Kai Guelph ON, Nanadan

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