Blessings in disguise

At last Saturday’s training, my right heel felt tender still but it was getting better. Catherine estimated that I was 75% to 80% (how did she get those numbers I wonder). In any case, due to the injury to my right heel, fumikomi-ashi was out of the question. I had no other choice but to focus on executing cuts with suri-ashi.

Incredibly, I found that I was able to reach further with suri-ashi, and I was definitely more relaxed as well. Perhaps I was lifting my right foot too much before, thereby compromising distance and wasting energy. I did mostly men cuts as I practised it more. Interestingly, if my heel hadn’t been injured, I wouldn’t have discovered that! The Kendo Gods are definitely looking out for me.

Other thing I want to work on is the snap at the end of the cut. Sano sensei been making fun of my soft cuts (or cuts that don’t land because I applied too much “brake”). He means well though, so I have to work hard on this as well.

So many things to work on, but hey, I’ve got a lifetime don’t I? ;)

I’m in my last 3 months of my PhD thesis, so I may not be able to practise more than twice per week. It pains me to think that I have to restrain myself from kendo practices, but I have to get my priorities right. For now, I have to concentrate on the doctoral thesis. I want to graduate!