also really push back with the sageo before you sheath - means you not stuck out with your right arm. Watch left foot doesn't turn out - better, but still an issue.

Tough lesson today. My OCD is raging, feels like brain inflamed. Found it hard to concentrate but everyone very kind. Learning to tie sageo better and great tip from James about keeping biceps on chest when cutting. Helps to keep the left hand in. Also point tip to ceiling while cutting.

Here is the better quality colour version of the Seitei Kata from YouTube

http://youtu.be/TJ5_JaRaOtQ

I am so lucky to have found my school. Whatever life throws at me, this is great training for it and I hope I one day deserve to be called an Iaido ka.

In memory of my late wife, who was not here to celebrate our daughter's 21st birthday. I miss her more than words can say and although she only studied budo for a few years, she personified its brave, dauntless spirit. We used to love going to Kamakura when we lived in Tokyo.

Today we learned about breaking the kata down into sections - nukutsuke, kiriotoshi, chiburi and noto. Also practiced ushiro kata. A good tip was to aim to your left as you start to draw and turn but dont draw too early. Still problem with scraping saya.

Noto tips included try to keep the blade straight as you sheathe it (ie dont let it come up high), push back further with left hand so sageo is behind you parallel, this left hand point is key. Also keep pommel pointing towards adversary and keep little finger glued to hip.

Then practiced tsuka ate
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGr3C7m_FkQ

points:
1) Pommel strike is to solar plexus, not eyes (check)
2) Draw back saya with left hand to release blade.
3) Blade sits in crook of elbow for strike, then pull in with left helps keep strike straight
4) Then straight cut.
4) Yoko chiburi short movement, parallel to floor.

Welcome to my new blog, where I am going to jot down notes I have learned from my Iaido classes at Hagakure Fudoshin Iaido Club in Somerset, UK. I will also be jotting down my reflections on this noble art. Feel free to share, but I take no responsibility for the accuracy or inaccuracy of the material herein!