So today's practice was super-crowded given our celebrity visiting Sensei, which meant a three-nanadan practice, though I ended up deferring to my sempai, not practicing with all that many people outside of the dojo, actually. But it was a good practice, with a solid hour of jigeiko and one practice with a sensei I normally do not see at all. I think what I need to focus on is the difference between how I practice with kohai and with sempai or sensei. The main pointers, being posture upright and hip power, I think I should also continue to keep in mind, as keeping my back straight has made a big difference, I think, in jigeiko as well as kakarigeiko. I do, however, notice that I very rarely effectively use taiatari in jigeiko. I also tend to stop a few steps even after a good strike which I know to be good. The other recurring criticism I get is the tension in my right arm, which is still far too much. A wider tsukagawa helps in this respect, I think, and I think that doing better kiai like I was today, in which it was quite intense and consistent, will help me to eventually actually put my power in the hara where it belongs, which I never really do.

There was one men strike in particular today, where I felt that my power was emanating from the tip of my shinai, straight forward to strike, cleanly and solidly.

I must also strive to hit better immediately from sonkyo, or to get the first strike.