The second kyudo lesson was a little less enlightening than the first: the only additional coordinations were yumi-gamae and kiriokoshi (sp?): the main things here are kake hand, tenouchi, and relaxing the shoulders and arms, using the muscles in the back to open up the bow, which we only pantomimed. Still, next week should be exciting, but the key is to maintain equanimity even when your ya or your yumi breaks. Something helpful for kendo.

Tonight's practice was airconditioned at least, though now I have a second rash-mark: I think it's time to wash the gi. The focus was on men, kote-men, kote-do, and then various waza before it was time for kakarigeiko again. Harai-waza I'm pretty decent at, though it's harder still to score harai kote consistently against beginners--I have more lucky against Sensei. I practiced against two sensei and a bunch of sempai before it was more of a kohai season. Then was shiaigeiko: I fought two matches: in the first I lost very quickly, men, men. The second I won readily, men-men. It's really very often just a rank thing. But also a matter of how into-it I felt.

I just need to practice more--learn how to relax. Act more like shodan and observe more rather than renzoku-ing the opponent into submission. Against the perpetual sempai the key is to wear him out, not grant him an early victory.