Kagami Biraki. I guess I could blog about all 1000 suburi, the keiko, the mitori-geiko, the party I didn't attend.

Instead, what I talk about is the trip. I was deeply unsure as to whether practice began early (noon), normally (noon-thirty), or late (1pm) so I did my best to get on the subway. But the problem was that due to an ongoing investigation at Hunter's Point, all Manhattan-bound 7 trains stop at Qnsboro plaza or 61st St, meaning that at some point we were told to take the Q32. We all left, but since I am still without an unlimited MetroCard, this meant that I had to use another swipe on the bus, also my last. But then and there, we saw the train, and eventually I got on the Q60 to second avenue and 60th, where I trekked two blocks to the 6 train and used my citicard payment tag to get to the train. I ended up at the dojo by 1220, way early as it turns out.

My point? I maintained my composure throughout. That is what kendo is.

It occurred to me as I was walking to work today to think about my mental images of good kendo. It's hard to catalog, because the moment you realize you're in a period it's almost too late, but I mean the one strike I play over and over again in my head when I'm walking around or not in the dojo, otherwise daydreaming about kendo.

For a while, it used to be regular men-uchi--good, straight, right on top of the buton.

Sometimes I combine this mentally with my favorite waza (that I can actually do), kote-nuki-men, which leads to a very satisfying and surprising men... All my best, most spontaneous men in shiai have been like this.

Since Hayashi-Sensei's visit, however, I've been thinking about (and trying in keiko more often) men-kaeshi-do, which is his especiality, not mine. I think my kendo has suffered.