Hi Mary! The short answer is "train enough," but I was probably also a little fixated on the tanto. Also, after a few quick stabs I felt like a deer in the headlights. I've never done much randori, let alone with someone that highly ranked and I don't think he was taking it very easily on me like he did in subsequent sessions.

What will you do different next time?

Hi Diana, absolutely it was to help me, and I enjoyed the experience very much! The purpose was essentially to give me a clear idea of what I should be aiming for and to demonstrate where I was. Also, this was at the Himeji Shodokan club and was, I think, a more formal introduction to their randori system.

Probably you don't. Why would a senpai do that unless he thought it would help you improve because you already were at the level and just needed a little "encouragement"