TACHI DORI (Forms 1 and 2)

I have been presenting sword-takes away from the paired sword form san-no-tachi. The reason to show the disarms from a paired sword exercise is to train the visual system to recognize how the moment in time looks and to teach sensitivity in weapon engagements. Form 1 is done on after the first kirikaeshi. Shidachi executesContinue reading “TACHI DORI (Forms 1 and 2)”

8 1/2 COUNT KUMIJO

This is a refinement of the kihon 8 count kumijō by Takumi Suzuki. The purpose of the refinements are pedagogical as well as practical. Contrast the explication of the kihon version (linked above) and the refinements are evident. The traditional sequence (and its bunkai) is as follows: Reset to start the sequence again. Takumi addsContinue reading “8 1/2 COUNT KUMIJO”

Buphonia

Raising children is an amazing and humbling experience. During her pregnancy, my wife found a mom’s group where other similarly concerned mothers would gather to share insights, anxieties, and valuable learned lessons to help support one another throughout their pregnancy. The social composition was predictable: upper-middle class, and well-meaning progressive. Discussions started in the earlyContinue reading “Buphonia”