Thursday, October 25, 2012

Turning Points

Well, the big day is only 9 days away.  Big day being the Jodo Yondan grading for Aden and Les at which I'll be helping out.  The whole preparation for this has been a turning point for me.  Technically I'm as ready as I can be (considering my grade) and physically I'm in better shape than I've been since completing the London Marathon in 2000.  In short, Nagayama Sensei's request has been a veritable godsend. 

Nagayama Sensei, the Australian Kendo Renmei's technical advisor for Jodo, has been to Australia to hold seminars four times this year:  Sydney, Tasmania then Canberra (same trip), Perth and finally Sydney again.  We've attended all of these and it's made an immense difference to our levels of improvement and retention.  The tiny, slightest perceptible changes needed (and the all-important reasons for them) are now easier to incorporate.  Similarly, when we see slight flaws in others they are easier to identify and help fix.

That being said, I know Les and Aden have invested in return flights to Japan and know the nerves are beginning to show.  The three of us all meet in Nagayama Sensei's Dojo in Sendai for a week of intensive training starting Monday 29th.  From my limited perspective they are just about there already and Australia will have two new Jodo 4th Dans before Christmas.

My reward out of this?  My Turning Point.  Everything else is just icing on the cake.