Thoughts on practice

[mrind001]

Thoughts on training:
The following are some ideas to try when practicing

1. The Shadowless Kata- Sounds like something from some anime cartoon. This works where you would complete the kata start to finish, then you would do the kata again, but you complete it all the way to noto. You would keep repeating the kata and slowly remove an element from it until you get to a point where you don't move from seiza.

2. Do the kata backwards.

3. Try doing the kata with the opposite hand.

[Jonathan Anderson]

Interesting idea, but I'm a bit confused on a few points:

1. I see what is being said (perform the complete kata, then just to noto, then just to chiburi, then just to kirioroshi, etc.), but in order to do the next part of the process, you'd still have to do noto.

2. Um... how? Nukisuke, by its nature, must be done first, and noto last. After all, you can't re sheathe a blade that hasn't been drawn, and even back wards, you'd have to re sheathe when you're finished anyway. Unless you're talking about attempting to walk through the kata "rewind style." That is to say, as if you're doing all the movements opposite of their normal direction. If so, that would make nukisuke and noto extremely dangerous.

3. This may or may not be useful or helpful - I can see where it might help to reinforce one's understanding of the kata and the techniques by forcing you to go back to basics. However, it goes against the traditional aspect of wearing the sword on the left hip and drawing it with the right hand (there were no left-handed people in feudal Japan, as, to my understanding, left-handedness was viewed with great amounts of suspicion, superstition, fear, etc. Such people were, if I'm not mistaken, merely cast out of all society if they were lucky.) Further, I believe that if such a thing were to be useful, it would only be after many years of study and practice.

[mrind001]

Fair points on all accounts. I have done it with open hand before, chaining each sequence for given techniques that are not as complex.
I also understand your concerns with the second though. Yes I was thinking of doing it rewind style. I would also not do this with a live blade, but use a bokken, and I would also do this at like 1/10 the speed so it is extremely slow. Ive tried it with ippon mae and it was awkward, but I seemed to notice some of the little things that I do.
As I say, they are just thoughts, and I am a teacher and I tend to do things to help teach students to learn a concept in school.

[lane]

left-handedness was viewed with great amounts of suspicion, superstition, fear, etc. Such people were, if I'm not mistaken, merely cast out of all society if they were lucky.)

I'm glad we aren't anymore.

Anyway, these are some interesting and novel ideas that are worth experimentation at least once.But, I too see some problems with 2.

This idea is like a step ladder:One idea I feel may help is to start the kata like usual, stay on one move of the kata until it's correct as humanly possible, then move on to the next move of the kata, repeat it and so on. Do this process until you manage to resheathe the sword and feel that you have the kata down.

Just an idea is all.

[bobplane]

I have no problem with number 2 already.... (doing the kata backwards).... it's doing them in the right order that is my challenge!

:>)