Hi Marleen
I'm emailing you from work with my homework that you gave us on Saturday.
It was very good to get back to training although I started to feel quite sick again with all the running around, so I guess my cold is still lingering. However, I feel that it is time to just get on with things and it will pass.
When I read about the shiai on the training notice I thought "oh no, I haven't been training for a few weeks so I won't have improved".
The shiai for me is a real mental process where I am building up a feeling of intending to defeat my opponent and I tell myself that I am the champion, before we even start.
During the shiai I was not aware really about my technique and really didn't bother worrying about it - this is what the kihon if for to me and my technique and skill level will be a reflection of my training level. Rather, my focus was on finding opportunities to 'cut' my opponent. Actually, it seemed to me that my opponent was very open and if I hadn't missed any training then I should have been able to win a lot quicker.
Again, shiai is really a mental process to me and I wonder if the victor is decided before the fight. In myself I have found that if I come up against some-one less experienced than me then I expect myself to win. However, if they are more experienced then I have different thinking and think more about convincing myself that I can win.
I think that covers it and I better get back to work.
See you tonight.
Thanks
Darrin
Comments
While regular training is important (in the more physical perspective), haveing the ability of transforming the life experience into keiko or even shiai is also very important. This is more in the mental perspective.
Also, when you can see there is no differences between senpai and less experienced people, your Kendo will be in another level. :)