10/28/2007 Indianapolis Dojo Visit

Thoughts and learnings from 10/28/2007 Indianapolis Dojo visit. A very big thank you to Sugawara sensei (菅原先生) for taking the time to teach us and to give us this opportunity.

Seme (攻め):

• I may be applying my seme (攻め) too strongly. I may need to ease from "as much as possible" to "strong" from time to time, almost like a feint so my opponent feels like he has an opportunity to attack.
• All too often I apply seme (攻め) trying to make my opponent think I'm targeting a specific target and then hit another one. In retrospect that's stupid and what people would expect. I should consider applying seme (攻め) such that my opponent can not tell what target I will attack.
• The times that I attack and fall short, it's probably because I had shifted my balance backwards while reacting to my opponent's seme (攻め) , which slows down/shortens my attack. Also, my opponent is ready to shift back after applying seme (攻め).

Tsubazeriai (鍔ぜり合い):

• I am not approaching tsubazeriai (鍔ぜり合い) as an opportunity for ippon (一本). I am looking to back out, reset, then get ippon (一本). This is not good. I should make my efforts from tsubazeriai (鍔ぜり合い) towards scoring ippon (一本).
• I need to practice more hiki waza (引き技). Think about how many times I have practiced kihon Men (基本面), just to get to this stage.
• Backing up a step from tsubazeriai (鍔ぜり合い) is like stepping in from issoku ittou no maai (一足一刀の間合い). It is stepping in to the maai (間合い) or distance from which an attack can be made instantaneously. I need to be extra careful then.
  
• Observe your opponent practicing hiki waza (引き技) in order to better know when an opponent is about to attack/retreat. Then practice either evading/hiki waza (引き技) at the same time or counter and chase.
• New practice for hiki waza (引き技) 1: Motodachi (元立ち) does hiki Men (引き面) while shidachi (仕立ち) attempts to hit hiki Dou (引き胴) at the same time. This should help teach when your opponent is going to attempt hiki waza (引き技).
• New practice for hiki waza (引き技) 2: Motodachi (元立ち) attempts hiki Dou (引き胴). Shidachi (仕立ち) blocks and counter with hiki Men (引き面). Another variation could have motodachi (元立ち) attack other targets instead, I think.
  

Waza usage

前幾個禮拜我跟庭軒（劍道六段）在網上講話，他說在他的映像裡，我用的技（わざ）不夠。或者是我都只有用到出ばな技（でばなわざ）。說實在，我有點驚訝他會這麼說，因為我覺得我用太多応じ技（おうじわざ）。可是仔細想想，他說得有道理。我的毛病（之一）是我對不同對手用不同技（わざ）。雖然這是應該的，可是我是往不好，不平均的方向應用。跟映像比我強的對手對打的時候，我不太用応じ技（おうじわざ）。跟映像比我弱的對手的時候，我用太多応じ技（おうじわざ）。在 Champaign 這裡大部分的對手都比我弱，所以我才會覺得我用太多応じ技（おうじわざ）吧。。。

我想我會有這種形象是因為攻め（せめ）和劍道訓練的關係。強的對手的攻め（せめ）比較強。感受到他的攻め（せめ），我會經不起，而採用先攻的打法。我會先攻是因為劍道重視攻擊；攻擊比撤退安全。換句話說，我對我的応じ技（おうじわざ）信心不夠，於是我不敢讓強對手採先機。對我弱的對手我有信心我可以交架他的攻擊，於是我常用応じ技（おうじわざ）。另一個原因可能是懶吧。:-p 仔細想想，這可能是我這次在 MWKF Tournament 輸的兩場的重要原因之一。

我還不清楚我要如何克服這個現象。前一陣子我打了一下上段（じょうだん）來克服對後輩（こうはい）怕輸，太多応じ技（おうじわざ）的現象。對後輩（こうはい）我得繼續採用不同的打法，包掛攻め（攻め）、仕掛け技(しかけわざ）、応じ技（おうじわざ）。我猜對先輩（せんぱい）我得對我自己多一點信心。應用我的攻め（せめ）和応じ技（おうじわざ）、並且注意我的平常心（へいじょうしん）。

I was talking to Kenji, my cousin in Taiwan who is a rokudan (六段）in kendo, a couple of weeks ago. He said that part of his impression from our last spar back in the summer was that I didn't use many wazas (技). He felt that the only waza （技）I did were debana waza（出ばな技). I was surprised to hear him say this, since I feel that I use too much ouji waza (応じ技）. After more reflection, I think I know why he said that. One of my problems, I think, is that the types of waza （技）I use depends on my opponent. However, instead of adjusting based on openings and what would work, I am adjusting based on my opponent's strength. That is not a good sign, in my opinion. Against opponents I perceive as stronger than me, I tend to not use ouji waza （応じ技）as much, while I over-rely upon them against opponents weaker than me. Since most of the people here at UIUC are weaker than me, I tend to think I use too much ouji waza （応じ技).

I think this has a lot to do with seme (攻め）and the training we receive through kendo. An opponent stronger than me usually has strong seme（攻め), and I respond by attacking earlier and more often to try to seize the initiative. Most people would respond this way because in kendo, attacking is better/safer than defending. In other words, against a strong opponent, I tend to give up on applying my own seme (攻め), break down my opponent, and utilize ouji waza (応じ技). I am more confident when facing a weaker opponent, and then give my seme (攻め）and ouji waza (応じ技) a chance to come through. Now that I think about it, this rushing, not wanting to yield the initiative to a stronger opponent, and reluctance to utilize ouji waza (応じ技）is a pretty big part of my losses at the last MWKF tournament...

I'm not entirely sure how I can go about fixing/improving this. I did joudan (上段）for a while to make myself attack more against my kohai (後輩) instead of waiting and relying upon my ouji waza (応じ技). I need to continue to bring my full arsenal, including seme, shikaki waza, and ouji waza (攻め、仕掛け技、応じ技). I guess I need to have more confidence when facing a senpai (先輩), and try to utilize my seme and ouji waza more (攻めと応じ技). I think this is part of/indication of lack of heijyoushin (平常心).

2007 Morton Punkin Chunkin'

Last weekend we went out to the Morton Punkin Chunkin' competition with our trebuchet. I have pictures of our trebuchet, as seen in the backyard of Bob's house, and pictures of us at the competition.

Unfortunately, we didn't launch any pumpkins. :-( The wooden part of our arm broke when we tried to crank it down for a test throw. I think we didn't put in enough engineering into cranking down the arm. We just tried to brute force it. :-p

We tried to launch some pumpkins w/ just the stump of the arm, but it was no good. It was still an entertaining trip, especially watching the air cannons nail the van that was out on the range. Bob is now debating if he should go for distance or accuracy, since pelting the van w/ pumpkins is much more enjoyable. ^_~

Afterwards we visited the Hofbrau house in Peoria for some German food. I can't say authoritatively if it was better than Byern Stube at Gibson City, but it was cheaper. I had a ham shank and it was goooood...

2007 MWKF Championship Notes

October 6 was the 2007 MWKF Championship tournament. I lost in the first round of 3dan and up to Hotta sensei (yondan 四段) from Choyokan. The match lasted until enchyou (延長) but it actually wasn't that close. Hotta sensei had many men (面) strikes that might have scored. I think I am still too aggressive, attacking with insufficient seme (攻め), which allows experienced kendoka (剣道家) to perform ouji-waza (応じ技) and counter my attacks.

In team match we first faced Choyoukan E (朝陽館). I was taisho (大将). By the time it got to me we were up 3-1 in matches, so the result of my match wouldn't matter. After losing a kote (小手), I was able to score a dou (胴) going forward, then score a hiki gyaku dou (引き逆胴). I was pretty happy about being able to turn the match around. I found out later that my opponent is a nidan (二段).

In the 2nd round, we were up against Minnehaha from Minneapolis, MN. They had 2 mudansha (無段者), a nidan (二段), and two yondans (四段), who were Cochran and Narumoto (鳴本) sensei. Narumoto sensei had won the 3dan and up division for the second year in a row. I was going to enjoy the opportunity to spar against him.

By the time it got to me, both teams had won 2 matches but Minnehaha was up by one point. Therefore, I had to win my match for us to advance. I lost on 2 men (面). :-p I find it difficult to identify what happened or how I lost. The only thing I can come up with is I need to be even better at controlling the match against quick fighters.

And now, my Dennis Green impression... "They were who we thought they were!" But we didn't exactly let them off the hook. More like we couldn't capitalize and then got nuked. ^_^;;

Illini hockey

On September 28, 2007, I went to see the Illini Hockey Club Team take on the Michigan State Club Team with Bob, Aqeel, and Melvin. It was my first live hockey game. It was quite an interesting experience. I felt that the game was much easier to follow live than on TV.

I was told that we are known for taunting the visitors in a rather organized fashion, and boy did the crowd come through. The crowd was organized from the get-go, starting with the introduction of the visiting team. After each player is introduced the crowd yells "You suck!" And the coach is followed by "You suck too!" After each Illini goal, the crowd points at the goalie and yells "It's all your fault!" There were others, but those were what stuck with me.

We also decided to do the run to the Illini Inn during the break between periods. That actually worked really well. We were able to down a beer on each trip, even though the Inn was rather crowded that night. That was also when I find out that the Inn had gotten rid of their old wooden tables and replaced them with tall ceramic ones. It just doesn't quite feel the same...