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Post by Otagiri Tatsuzou on Oct 30, 2005 12:01:00 GMT -5
Last week I added a set of lunge steps to my morning walk with the dog. Just lunges, no spear. This morning I added some side steps with the lunge. I must have been doing a good job of projecting ki. In the beginning Shiro attacked the first tree that was in my line but then he came and sat down in front of me facing towards me. But with each thrust, he would look over his shoulder sure that something must be happening out there. ;D
Among other things, I am working on controlling the 9' spear with just one hand on the butt. I want to be able to hold the spear at extension not only as I thrust and retrieve, but to have the strength to hold it fully extended at rest.
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Post by Otagiri Tatsuzou on Oct 31, 2005 17:43:23 GMT -5
Take notes and make sketches. Compile a notebook of techniques. Study the notebook and keep adding to it. Talk to people about what they do. Find out what they think, what their philosophy is. Keep it in your notebook. Ogami Busho! Is there anything more you can say on this notebook? Where did you get the idea? Is this common practise in the East or AEthelmarc?
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Saionji Shonagon
New Member
One dreamed of becoming somebody. Another remained awake and became. (Found in a fortune cookie.)
Posts: 7,240
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Post by Saionji Shonagon on Oct 31, 2005 23:12:07 GMT -5
Regarding Ogami-dono's notebook recommendation, I seem to recall that Tanaka used to bring a day planner with him to practice. He kept notes not only on his own training, but on the various other people he was teaching. He used to use me as a "human video camera" and debrief me after practice, because I'd see different things than he did and think outside the usual fighter box because I wasn't one. (This, by the way, is how I learned to throw a perfectly targeted wrap just by watching him teach someone else who just wasn't gettting it.)
But what do I know? ;->
S.
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Post by Kitemitsu Takeda on Nov 2, 2005 16:32:53 GMT -5
My training regiment is so simple yet elegantly complicated. If I had to break it down it comes in three main parts. The Mental aspect, and the Physical Aspect. and the Technical aspect. Each very important.
Mental aspect of training: The mind is the most powerful part of any warrior. Some hone their mind to be constantly prepared, objective and sharp. Some work to hone their mind to stay loose, perceptive and open. I urge my fighters to do what works best for them. However, in my opinion, the most important thing is that you are enjoying yourself while doing it. Each sword strike should bring you pleasure in seeing that you are improving, and working to better yourself. Some people train themselves into a depression and see little progress. It is a proven element of psychology that the mind relates more closely to those things that it enjoys. So for the mental aspect, try harder than anything to stay happy. You will have much more potent training so long as you enjoy it. "Fun" is the key to unlocking the potenitial of the training mind.
Physical Aspect of training: Some people take on a strict diet and physical training routine. These things can sometimes damage the mental aspect of training. You have to choose a regiment that you are happy doing, and obviously that has eventual health benefits, regardless of pace. Stay focussed, and stay happy while working to physically improve your body. Sometimes a walk can do alot to both help you realx and be happy while also improving your health. Some people find this same satisfaction in running or lifting. So long as they have somethign that will help improve their fitness levels and keep them happy.
The Technical aspect of training: This can be the end all, or the seeds of a great warrior. It is the developement of technique which allows one fighter to best another in a certain situation. A strong or sharp fighter can easily be bested by technique alone. But technique also cannot be properly polished without such mental and physical conditioning. A fighter must learn the simple and complex techniques, and tricks that allow them to use their condition to its fullest. Thus, if two fighters have the exact same technique, it is the more mentally sound and physically fit fighter who will win. It is important that each of these aspects of training be developed together.
My training is simple, stay happy, stay fit, and refine technique. But one can not be done as effectively without the others.
It has been common when discussing training with my colleagues for them to reference a hill. This hill gradually rises as the fighter slowly gets better. It moves along steadily with time and practice. However, after a while the hill levels off and the fighter stays around the same skill level for a while. They don't feel as if they are truly progressing at the rate they once were. Then something happens, some level of inspiration, some trick, or some workout, that helps them immediately feel as if their skill has moved leaps and bounds in a short period of time. I think this is that period of time when a fighter has only 2 out of 3 of the aspects of training, and the last one finally comes, making the fighter appear to be greatly improving rapidly.
Anyhow, this is my take on training. Train the mind, body, and learn the technique. Each specific regiment is up to the fighter so long as they embrace all three aspects of training.
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Post by Otagiri Tatsuzou on Nov 2, 2005 22:01:45 GMT -5
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Post by Otagiri Tatsuzou on Nov 7, 2005 18:06:46 GMT -5
Last week I carried a sword with me on a walk. Did left and right hand cuts and figure eights and some different blocks while I walked. Felt interesting in a good sort of way so on another day I took two swords with me. Just moving your arms for 40 minutes is workout.
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Saionji Shonagon
New Member
One dreamed of becoming somebody. Another remained awake and became. (Found in a fortune cookie.)
Posts: 7,240
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Post by Saionji Shonagon on Nov 7, 2005 18:44:14 GMT -5
Was Shiro along and what did he think?
Saionji, grinning at the mental image....
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Post by Otagiri Tatsuzou on Nov 8, 2005 7:21:58 GMT -5
He was ... but he had better things to do and sniff while we were walking along. I had been worried that he would mistake my sticks for his toys but it just didn't happen that way and he pretty much ignored my new behaviour.
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Post by solveig on Nov 8, 2005 18:20:24 GMT -5
Noble Cousins!
Greetings from Solveig! I can give no useful advice about military training as I have only won one bout in the list field, and I have always suspected that Master Johann let me win out of purest kindness.
Regardless, in other areas such as the tea, there are basic skills which must be mastered. You need to teach your muscles to repeat them correctly so that you do not need to think about how to do them or even short sequences. This liberates you to concentrate on what you must such as killing your opponent or making a passable bowl of tea.
In the case of tea, you begin by learning how to walk, sit, and stand up and sit down. In kendou, one of the first things that you learn to do is how to stand and how to walk. Basic movement should come first.
Your Humble Servant Solveig Throndardottir Amateur Scholar
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Post by Matsuura Suetsune on Nov 10, 2005 6:32:18 GMT -5
Its fall, I'm an arborist, and I have a wood stove. Splitting hickory and oak while trying to use my lower back, pelvic and abdominal muscles instead of my shoulders. Real bubba meditation. Training while doing other things helps.
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