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 Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 10:14 pm
Kuyoja had the matts in place though they were placed oddly on the ground. Making a area type setting. He was wearing something a bit different from normal, no long a gi but a more formal sort of outfit for when using swords.
He had the swords sheathed at the moment and he looked at them as if debating to use them. Tyven was an experience fighter, though he had never taught her weapon fighting before. He didn't doubt her intelligence or her skill, but...He went to put the swords back on their display rack.
Wooden ones would be best to start with. Until she got use to the movement and he could judge her ability in handling a sword. he tucked his hands into his sleeves as he waited.
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Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 10:56 am
Tyven was, of course, on time, bowing to her instructor before stepping onto the mats. Clothed in her usual pair of tailored pants, the only difference in her attire from her other courses with the man was the addition of a longsleeve dark knit, obviously to protect her forearms.
While she was extremely experienced [for an adult, let alone someone her age] in kickboxing and other forms of unarmed combat, her only real skill with a weapon so far was a gun and a short knife.
This was different. The blade had history, one she'd been reading about before deciding to speak to Kuyoja about taking this course.
To be honest, she was excited. Sword fighting took incredible control. Tyven loved control.
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Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2009 11:32 pm
Kuyoja returned the bow though his was more of an acknowledgment of the girls arrival. Tyven was one of his favorite students, due to her dedication and focus.
"You have chosen an interesting skill to learn." He commented with a nod of his head. He remained sitting as he looked Tyven approving of her attire as it was suitable for the class.
"Do you know of the history of Kenjutsu?" He inquired.
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Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 12:27 pm
"Only in the most basic way, Master. Kenjutsu, the art of the sword." Although her face was as expressionless as usual, her gaze betrayed her eagerness to learn. She had read the basics, but wouldn't pretend to actually know anything about the subject that she didn't know from practicing other fighting techniques.
"To become one with the blade." She smiled, just slightly. "I recognize the bokuto, as well." The wooden sword she would be using for practice.
"I hope that this will help with the meditative practices of my former courses, as I have read that the solo drills of Kenjustu can be.... Enthralling."
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Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 9:27 am
There was a small tweek in the corner of his mouth, it betrayed how pleased he was. Though the rest of his features were still resigned as always. He nodded his head as he looked down at the wooden blade, the bokuto that he had laying on the ground.
"Yes you will be practicing kihon, single combat training and perhaps later on, once you have gotten use to the way of the blade we can move onto kata and be partnered with myself." He explained before ever so slightly shifted his weight so his legs would not fall asleep.
"They say it was in the Heian period when the curved Japanese sword was developed, and when swords became an important weapon, as well as a symbolic item. This art is often mistaken with iaidō or iaijutsu." He continued as he then looked Tyven in the face with a nod of his head.
"Though they share similar traits kenjutsu is unique as it historically incorporated sparring under a variety of conditions. Using solid wooden bokutō as well the use of shinai the bamboo sword and bogu or armor." He took a pause as he blinked and took a breath,
"We won't be donning armor today, as we won't be using the nakid blade, but the bokuto."
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Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 9:47 pm
Tyven's nod was short, showing that she understood what he was saying, though her gaze met his but briefly. Instead it lingered on the bokuto before traveling over his body, gauging him as he shifted on the mats.
She liked Kuyoja.
As for the lack of armor, well... Tyven stretched experimentally, enjoying the feeling of muscle being pulled tight. "I would prefer to remain without armor throughout all of our sessions, unless it is absolutely necessary. I do not plan to fight with protection, so I should not expect to practice with it, either."
After all, her strength was partially based in speed.
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Posted: Wed Nov 25, 2009 9:39 am
Kuyoja gauged his student and nodded his head at her request.
"Like most styles of fighting there are advantages and disadvantages to using armor. For most of our beggining lessons we won't require the use of it, but if we switch to an actual blade I may request you wear at least the chest peice and some leather gloves as protection." He offered the trade. They could go back to no armor...but only once he felt his student had acheived a level of skill that he didn't need to worry about loosing a finger or a limb. The blades were sharp..he made sure of that.
Though Kihon was generally a technique that didn't require a blade single combat training he felt would be more useful for the time being.
"A lot of kenjutsu is mostly repititive work, doing the same steps over and over until completely mastered," He warned though he didn't really worry that Tyven couldn't handle the monotonous movements she was a very well focused student.
Picking up the blade he handed it to Tyven,
"Now we shall start."
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Posted: Wed Nov 25, 2009 8:06 pm
The barest hint of a smile touched full lips as Tyven noted Kuyoja's compromised and she nodded, agreeing with a simple "Master," as she accepted the blade, palms up.
The weight felt good in her hands, natural, and her smile grew before she regained her focus, hungry eyes running over the weapon as she examined it, getting to know it in her hands.
A moment longer and she glanced back at him. "I'm ready."
Repetition was something Tyven loved. It made the muscles memorize movement until it was second-nature.
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Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 9:28 am
Kuyoja nodded his head, and instructed her on how to tie the weapon to her waist since they were not using traditional garb for the lesson. He then moved to sit on the floor his legs tucked under his body his back straight his hands on his knees lightly.
"Kenjitsu is very traditional, often when sparring with a partner or any lesson solo or other wise it is required that the student sit in this manner and then offer respect to the skill or advisary. " He stated as he then leaned for ward allowing his hands to lightly touch the floor before him as he bowed over his forhead nearly touching the floor. After pasuing for a moment he went to stand back up. He waited for his studen to repeat the gesture before he setteled into a stance of his own.
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Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 10:13 am
Tyven's actions, mimicking his, were only a second behind her master's, her forehead barely skimming the mat as she bowed respectfully, restraining the urge to flick out her tongue and scent the air. Shifting until she was seated properly, she nodded to him.
This was a discipline she would enjoy. The straining of her muscles, the strict movements, the respect built from tradition... A true warrior's art. If he ran through the movements for her, she would memorize them, and spend hours at home repeating his strikes and gestures.
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Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 10:12 am
He gave her a nod to show he approved before his hand went to the hilt of the weapon and drew the wooden blade out of the belt that was holsteiring it. In a fluid movement and twist of his wrist he had setteled the weapon in a ready position holding the blade at a angle away from him. He then reversed the movement and slipped it easily through the waiste band again.
"We will first practice drawing the weapon, you want to angle your wrist so you don't draw straight out, the blade is too long for that, but at an angle so that you merly twist your wrist to bring the tip of the blade up and over. " He explained as he then repeated the motion more slowly so she could see the small flexes and twists of his arm and wrist before having the weapon free.
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Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 10:58 am
While sitting, Tyven began repeatitions of his movements, sans weapon, her wrist rotating again, and again, until she had a feel for the smooth, quick movement. Years of training and a natural apititude had given her a fast muscle memory, something she practiced every day, rather than relying on, and soon she was on her feet.
"I see. It is difficult..."
Waiting for his go-ahead, she reverently stroked the smooth wood before drawing it from the sheath, the weight caused her to recalculate and adjust her movements, and it took her several more minutes of repeatition before she had what she considered to be a passable unsheathing of the weapon.
Tyven would spend hours of her life practicing this movement, she knew. It felt good, natural, and the perfect unsheathing was the start to a perfect battle.
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Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2009 9:23 am
Kuyoja watched her in silence before giving her a nod of his head showing his approval before moving onto the next move.
"To hold the weapon first we need to adjust our footing. It is a similar pose as most of the others I have shown you how to do. It helps with keeping your balance while weilding the weapon as well advancing with it," He started as he then slipped into the easy ready position before holding the weapon out before him.
He adjusted his grip to show Tyven, knowing she didn't need a lot of repetead instruction as she tended to watch carefully as it was he then moved into lifting the weapon above his head. He brought it down as if to strike but stopped the movement about half way before bringing it back into the first position.
"The over head strike is used not as often in battle as it tends to leave you exposed, but it cerimonies it is one of the first moves you learn." He explained as he waited for her to give it a try.
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Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 8:23 pm
Tyven understood the importance of tradition and ceremony, although it may not apply in battle, it still taught foundation to build off of. It showed the art in a discipline, and she appreciated the simple beauty in the smooth, strong movements.
The stance was easy enough for her, and she followed through the movements of raising the sword slowly and carefully, feeling the way her muscles tensed and shifted in each position.
Looking to Kuyoja, she raised her brows, "May I keep the bokuto during the duration of our training? I would like to be able to practice daily."
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Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 9:08 am
Kuyoja had hoped she would ask for the wood weapon to borrow to use for practice, and he wasn't dissapointed.
"Of course, I can lend you the the chest armor as well if you wish to get accustomed to the weight. I will require we use it once we switch to the blades." He explained, and having her accustomed to wearing it would be an advantage.
The blade still over his head he went through the movements of bringing it down, though it stopped abruptly in the air, approximately where a figures head would be. Repeating the gesture, he knew he didn't need to explain what he was doing. Traditionally if facing an opponent the move would stop just above the figures head to slide down until the tip was in the middle of their eyes before backing off.
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