The rain is really no excuse to not show up to practice. Yet, there were about 10 of us, plus three sensei. I only practiced with Sensei, and probably for the last time before he departs for his semi-annual shinsa. He had several good tips about how to better use tenouchi--I should think of my right hand not as holding the shinai, but rather as attached--as if it is glued--very soft and almost falling down, ready for the next attack--my problem is more about releasing the power afterwards. When playing a drum it should be a sharp PANG!!! Not a sustained and tense BAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMMMNNNNN.

Other than that, it was keiko with a taller sempai and a kohai. Kohai are tough. They lift up too high, and whack you in the tender above-do area. It's hard for me to manage these. Practice against taller sempai felt like I needed to be taller and more relaxed, again especially afterwards, ready to strike again.