Fun stuff...

[jsbowden]

I had sword class for the first time today. I enjoyed it a lot, but oh my, I can already feel the soreness coming on. Serious swordsmen must have had arms that could uproot trees. This should be a regular offering, and I'm looking forward to it. I've been taking Bo classes for the last couple months, and I like them too, but the staff just doesn't work you like the sword. The staff is a more practical weapon, as long mostly straight sticks aren't hard to come by, but there's just something about sword kata that works for me aestheticly.

Comments

[kpmooney.livejournal.com]

Sword work really builds the upper arms, and to a lesser extent, the wrists. The wrists really get a workout if you do the techniques one-handed, and have to stop the motion of the sword without the aid of the other hand.

Bo is fun. Especially some of the more advanced bo kata, but I do prefer the sword.

[jsbowden.livejournal.com]

I must be in better shape than I thought. The soreness never fully developed. Every now and then I get a mild protest, but nothing major. I expect to find out more tomorrow evening in class when it's push up time. I need a bigger house. I want a nice big room with a matted floor and a 9 ft. ceiling that I can practice in.

[silmaril.livejournal.com]

How heavy is the sword you're using, roughly?

[jsbowden.livejournal.com]

It's a bokken, so whatever they tend to run. I haven't weighed it, but it is heavier than an actual katana. You want your practice weapon a bit heavier to build strength and work on control (lopping your own limbs off would SUCK).

[deltabob.livejournal.com]

One good exercise for bokken practice is striking a tire stand. The goal is to get a strong strike without bouncing the bokken on the tire. It's rather challenging, and it is great for learning control.

I've worked some with Bo staff, but I'm pretty short, so I prefer a Jo - same principles, but a smaller staff. There's a really nice 31 Jo kata that's practiced in Aikido that is pretty good for getting the basics and for meditative purposes. There's also a variation that is paired exercise where the moves of the kata are used and countered. It's pretty cool to watch it at full speed (I never got that good *grin*).