Trigger

So it's another Friday night without Kendo. It was actually the Royal Wedding today, so people are out and about celebrating all over the place I'd imagine. I had a 'patriotic' day with my girlfriend, watching the procession on the telly, eating some sandwiches and Victoria sponge cakes. It was interesting until they replayed it for about the hundredth times, lost the magic a bit methinks. Though it's always nice to be with my girlfriend so that bit I can't complain. Now I'm just waiting the evening out for some Wakaba action tomorrow. Which reminds me that I should put some thoughts into the points raised last week!

5 Nations - Mumeishi

Looking forward to doing some geiko with our continental brethrens, we drove to the venue of the 5 nations. I admit to being the guilty party for making us late, and when we arrived, it was over. Which was just stupid.
The plus side was that I was introduced to Swiss team, met Oscar Kimura the captain, very nice fellow, awesome kendo too from what I hear. Now that I've made contact with them hopefully I'll get a chance to practise with them soon.

We weren't going to waste our planned kendo day and instead came up with the idea of Mumeishi's practise. It was well worth it too. It was a very small practise, very cozy, but the advice we knew was going to be invaluable with the human resources available there. Geoff and Terry were there and so was Hiyama-san. After some sweaty keiko, this is their respective pointers for me:

• Terry Holt sensei: after Men cut, zanshin, pull shinai back with the body rather than arm ... in a spin around sort of action
• Geoff Salmon sensei: Be quicker to bring in back foot, more abdomen push
• Hiyama Yasuyuki-san: Recuring theme of big kendo v small kendo, cut down rather than tap up

All very good advice, and all worth taking on. I'll work hard on it!