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Today I was late again. I hate that and I know sensei does not like that. But it's too hard to wake at 5:30 when you went to sleep at midnight... Every day for last 4 month... Anyway, I'm moving forward.
First practice was jo kata with a partner. I missed completely the most interesting part - they were doing first 5 or 6 moves of 31 jo kata. Then we practiced the blocking so that your jo stays in front of you. Left (front) hand does not move, only right hand does kind of circular move in forn of your knot. Mike was my partner and he was doing that very effectively, my jo was flying to a side every time. I was able to reproduce that couple of times, but in most cases that was not powerful enough.
After that we did several confusing techniques. Neither of them were amongst basic ones. THe first starts from ushiro riote dori, you move back bringing your hands in front of you knot, then step to a side and turn 90 degrees to face your partner and change the front foot. Here you should not step too far, your front foot should be close to your partner's front foot. At the same time you are bringing hands up (raising the sword) and down (cut). Continuation is ikkyo. You grab as in ikkyo, turn using your hips and pin.
Next attack was grabbing you gi at the chest level (don't remember the name of attack), you move to a side (outside, almost as ikkyo beginningm but without front foot change), grab the wrist with both hands naturally (as jo in 31 jo kata, move 22, but both hands at the wrist) place your head on your partner's wrist from outside and sneak under his hand keeping head connected to his hand. That brings you into position to do shihonage. Step a little far from your partner so that he can't hit you and you can extend his hand.
Third one the same attack, but attacker twist your gi (as in a bar when somebody grabs you and tries to pull you up). If he holds with right hand, you grab his gi at the elbow with your right and at his neck from the back. If you stand in opposint hanmis, you slide in front of the partner (continuing his twisting move), pivoting facing him and bringing your left hand down. Optimally the last move is to step with your back foot and turn completely, but I was just pivoting since my balance is not established enough. It was enaugh to throw Mike down. Mike obviously enjoyed that one and I gave him more time to feel it. There was one more unusual technique, but I can't explain that.
Class is over. Sensei reminds us that tomorrow is the last day to vote (the only political thing I heard in dojo during these polls). Andy and Jim were present today (the second consequitive day) and I hope they will do it regularly.
Funny, I noticed sensei reading a newspaper in his car when we were leaving, and that reminded me that he is a human being
11-01-2004 12:22 PM 
