KIHON and KATA

Iaido in the backyard dojo. A hummingbird friend was visiting the feeder (and watching me), so whenever he came down to drink I froze in place until he went back up onto a nearby tree branch. My calves were cramping by the end of training.

Working on kihon (basics) and kata (forms).



Bonk! Learning the movements of uchi chiburi, the "strike blood flick."



Letting gravity do its work and swing the sword into position, while switching hands.



Resheathing the sword.



Practicing kirioroshi, the downward strike. I'm working on keeping it straight. The left hand is power; the right hand is control.



Tōrei, bowing to the sword.