Practice seemed at a slightly laid-back pace today, or maybe it ws the light A/C. But either way, the focus was on the smaller but no less sharp waza which can go with shiai--an emphasis on the lightness of some techniques, compared with the determination that might accompany regular practice. Think of the shinai as a paintbrush tipped with red paint--try and daub some on the opponent's forehead. This is debana-men.

I feel as if my kote-men is more competent these days, but still not routline usable. I got overheated rather easily today nonetheless and don't know what to do about it. I guess proper hydration would have helped.

In the last half-hour there was shiai-geiko, and I ended up with one of the scarier nidan sempai. This time, at least, he didn't take my men twice: instead he scored my kote first. Then I managed, somehow, to pull out a hiki-kote (which he thought was his), but lost again to another kote. But this too is progress, as ippon is hard to come by, especially on hikiwaza for which I have too much of a disposition.