Pushing yourself to the limit

[plotty]

Hey guys,

I've been wondering now for some time, how other Kendoka manage to push themselves past their physical limit. For a few weeks now, when I do ji-geiko and kakari-geiko, I've noticed, that when I get REALLY tired :old_man: I start talking to myself in korean (unintentionally) and that my kiai becomes totally different:jaguar: from when I'm not tired. Have any other people experienced this? Is this normal, or is my mind just very week, that it lets me go into such a state?:confused2
Any advice or personal experiences would be very appreciated.

[El Gringo]

I find that after doing a lot of suburi (still a newb so no bogu yet) my arms get tired.
But after a tiny rest i come bac to me shinai and it feels soo much lighter. So i think that pushing yourself to the limit helps quite a lot.

I think its quite common for your mindset to change when youve been pushing yourself too. Kind of a survival mode that your body goes into

[Hisham]

It s only natural to feel like that,it s when you re at the limit of your endurance where the real kendo training starts as my teacher used to say.The point is muscles get the backsit ,the spirit comes fully at the front the kiai is genuine everything about u is real at the same time u have to watch your overall posture.If u can get close to that state of mind in a shiai situation then my friend your kendo will be at its best.Pushing yourself to the limit makes you learn about yourself,the benefits from that are major ones.
My teacher would always push us to our limits when we did jigeiko against him or kakarigeiko, a good way of self-exploration.
Hope my oppinion helped a little, good luck:)

[tyler]

i think i know what you mean as well. There are some times (not every practice by any means) when I get really tired and pretty much hit a wall. I've noticed that if I have to keep going without break, its pretty much downhill from there. But if i can hit the wall, get like a 1 minute break, then start again, I get a remarkable second wind. My kiai changes and i feel stronger, more relaxed, more effecient than i was before, and thats when i do my best kendo.

Sometimes that gear change seems to effortless, and its a wonderful feeling. But most times i'm left frustrated, trying really hard to bring about that change, working really hard, but nothing happens, I just get worse and worse until its not really kendo any more. I'm still sort of experimenting and trying to figure out how best to 'turn my kendo on', and i totally relate to your experience. i think. i wasn't sure if you meant that your kiai and kendo changed for the better or worse.

tyler

[Anime12478]

That happens to me as well. Now if only I could do the stuff I do when I am pushed all the time...

[plotty]

Thanks for the responses guys. It's good to know, that I'm not turning into some kind of a head case, when I get tired. It seems, that the more tired I get, the better my Kendo gets. My cuts are much more effortless. I think, the more exhausted I get the more I understand the meaning of "totally committing" to a cut. When I'm tired I have to, quite literally give it my all to cut. Some how, thinking about it, I'd like to have that kind of state of mind all the time for Kendo.

[Paburo]

c'mon guys, some super force and hidden strenght when you're totally DEAD TIRED? this sounds like science fiction to me... :D

admittedly, i always keep an emergency 'stamina boost' somewhere on my body and mind to be released when i'm almost dead or as a last 'life or death' resource in shiai or jigeiko.... but that's far from what i would call 'my best kendo'.

my best kendo shows after i'm warmed up but still fresh and relaxed and with stamina 100%... but maybe that's just me...

when i'm pushed off limits i try not to step away and take my men off like some do in my class. even if i have to do things a bit slower, or block a bit in jigeiko until i build some energy back, i try not to stop. i feel dizzy, slow, and feel like i'm about to faint walking in all weird directions :D i thought these were kinda normal reactions, but i still need to experience one of those magical 'now i see the light and my kendo is superb' kind of experiences at this heavy tiring point it seems :D

[Charlie]

When I've attended big seminars with visiting senseis, they often give us a warm-up from hell that leaves us dripping with sweat and then comment, "Good, now that you're relaxed, your best kendo will come through!"

[Banza Joe]

Hmmm....i'm a bit dubious as to the "when i'm totally exhausted my best kendo comes through" quote as well. Unless i'm completely misinterpreting the point. When an athlete has run his b*ll*cks off and is exhausted, he cannot then get up and run better and faster than just before. Neither can a powerlifter who has just maxed out on bench press. He can't then lift any more. If you perform 500 suburi (or so) to help the muscles retain a memory of the cutting action, take 1 mins rest then try cutting again, i very much doubt the cut will be efficient and effective, it takes time. Surely in jigeiko or shiai, when you are totally knackered, your reactions slow, your strength and speed dwindles. Ok, with positive thinking, will power, determination, intestinal fortitude etc etc, you can conquer your fatigue and carry on, but does it really make your kendo better (mentally possibly, physically? hmmm). This is more of a question, than a statement or opinion i suppose.
Could it be that its only muscular fatigue and when the muscles relax the mind 'really' does take over and helps perform better? I'm still dubious, but am interested to find out for myself. I said to my sensei, "my stamina isn't the problem.....it's my kendo thats the problem". As a noob i probably have no economy of movement, so i expend more energy during practice than a lot of the seniors, but i havent yet been to the point of sheer exhaustion, even after 30 mins jigeiko with a bunch of sandans last night. Maybe what i need is more mind involvement.....hmmm......meditate on this, i shall!

[asian_knight]

Its always good when give best effort to practice, until you get exhausted. It gives you a lot of satisfaction knowing you did your best. Its hard when you have to give your all to one sensei then go up against another right after it. It feels your just going to drop dead right after it.:dead: But big kiai always help. It gets your energy going.

[plotty]

I think the point of the "when i'm totally exhausted my best kendo comes through" quote is, that you maybe stop using all the energy in your body, since you don't have any. You have to start doing the things right, that you are supposed to, like keeping good posture/ head up (helps breathing), big cuts (helps breathing), actually thinking about your breathing? Beathing is quite important, isn't it? Does this make any sense at all? Haven't been doing Jigeiko and Kakarigeiko for too long now, so please correct me if I'm not making any sense at all.

[origami2002]

Hi,
I've been reading this thread, and I'd like to introduce myself at the same time. My name is Javier, I'm from Mexico (Queretaro City), 28 and training kendo for 3 years now.

I'd like to share some experiencies I personally had had.

For tournaments and competitions, a medium warm-up works best for me, muscles at top condition, agility and good overall awareness.

BUT, in normal training getting exhausted in the warm-up is normal practice, not only it pushes your limit further, but also "free your mind". Sensation is hard to explain, but in general is like you weren't so concentrated "thinking" but "doing". Things happen more through your spirit, and less through your reasoning.

Again, this is what I had felt. Your mileage may vary, as well as the main reason you train Kendo ;)

[Paburo]

I think the point of the "when i'm totally exhausted my best kendo comes through" quote is, that you maybe stop using all the energy in your body, since you don't have any. You have to start doing the things right, that you are supposed to, like keeping good posture/ head up (helps breathing), big cuts (helps breathing), actually thinking about your breathing? Beathing is quite important, isn't it? Does this make any sense at all? Haven't been doing Jigeiko and Kakarigeiko for too long now, so please correct me if I'm not making any sense at all.

thats what im talking about plotty. when im completely exhausted my kendo is crap. not my best kendo at all. and i think this applies to most kendoka i know...

when i'm REALLY tired i start breathing heavily, i can't keep my body straight for long, im dizzy and my reactions and my movements are slooooooow. at this state, i dont do big cuts! thats like suicide. big cuts require more stamina and posture. if you pull a big cut while being very sloppy/tired expect some devastating debana waza beating the hell out of you. when im exhausted all i do is try to keep a chudan in center, block a lot and seek the opportunity to strike with little cuts that require the least amount of energy out of me. this is not my best kendo...

now, some people like kondek-san mentioned that once your body is warm-ed up, and 'un-stiffed' and relaxed, kendo comes much better, armonious and relaxed/straight. i completely agree to that. but imho, i think you DONT have to be mad exhausted or 'pushed to the limit' and about to faint to get at that point. a good and complete warm up is more than enough.

...actually, i think you can achieve that point of 'relaxed armonious big cuts kendo' without the need to be 'tired' at all. yeah, maybe when youre nanadan :D

[Mikeyprime]

I think the point of the "when i'm totally exhausted my best kendo comes through" quote is, that you maybe stop using all the energy in your body, since you don't have any. You have to start doing the things right, that you are supposed to, like keeping good posture/ head up (helps breathing), big cuts (helps breathing), actually thinking about your breathing? Beathing is quite important, isn't it? Does this make any sense at all? Haven't been doing Jigeiko and Kakarigeiko for too long now, so please correct me if I'm not making any sense at all.
This is true for most kendoka if not all. However, you hav to make sure that when you are tired you are commited to still doing good kendo. If you fall apart because you are tired, of course your kendo is going to be horrible. But if you allow that to happen, then why are you practicing kendo?

The exhasuted state does exactly what you say, it frees your mind from thought, frees your body from energy, and frees you muscles of strength. Ideally from this state, your execution will actualy be easier and your cuts wil become more natural.

Too Paburo's point. This thoery does not hold true in shiai. When you are tired you arent going to try to do big beautiful kendo. You want to become more efficient and get the point by any means necessary before you collapse.

However in ji-geiko, this is ideal.

[Karaken]

This is true for most kendoka if not all. However, you hav to make sure that when you are tired you are commited to still doing good kendo. If you fall apart because you are tired, of course your kendo is going to be horrible. But if you allow that to happen, then why are you practicing kendo?

The exhasuted state does exactly what you say, it frees your mind from thought, frees your body from energy, and frees you muscles of strength. Ideally from this state, your execution will actualy be easier and your cuts wil become more natural.

Too Paburo's point. This thoery does not hold true in shiai. When you are tired you arent going to try to do big beautiful kendo. You want to become more efficient and get the point by any means necessary before you collapse.

However in ji-geiko, this is ideal.
Imagine you're fighting for your life with another one with live sword. You are about same level but the other guys is a lot stronger and you're all but exhausted. What do you do? Wait to be killed? This isn't fiction. Some 3-minute match feels forever if you go at it non-stop. Encho doesn't have time limit. You need training for total exhaustion. Without it, you're nothing when you're exhausted. Granted that total exhaustion eliminates some bad habits like cutting only with hands and arms and/or hitting too hard with right hand without tenouchi etc.. But the whole point is to maintain some level of Kendo even when you're totally exhausted. Someone mentioned that there is no magical power but there is - called second wind - if you haven't tried, you haven't found it. Runners often find hard to run first mile or so but gets easier after that if he gives up before one mile, he doesn't find his second wind. This exhaustion comes as waves. I'm not saying we can go forever but higher ranking senseis ( 7-8th in their 60s and 70s ) sure seems to appear that way when some of us are totally wasted after 3-min geiko with them.

[Mikeyprime]

Imagine you're fighting for your life with another one with live sword. You are about same level but the other guys is a lot stronger and you're all but exhausted. What do you do? Wait to be killed? This isn't fiction. Some 3-minute match feels forever if you go at it non-stop. Encho doesn't have time limit. You need training for total exhaustion. Without it, you're nothing when you're exhausted. Granted that total exhaustion eliminates some bad habits like cutting only with hands and arms and/or hitting too hard with right hand without tenouchi etc.. But the whole point is to maintain some level of Kendo even when you're totally exhausted. Someone mentioned that there is no magical power but there is - called second wind - if you haven't tried, you haven't found it. Runners often find hard to run first mile or so but gets easier after that if he gives up before one mile, he doesn't find his second wind. This exhaustion comes as waves. I'm not saying we can go forever but higher ranking senseis ( 7-8th in their 60s and 70s ) sure seems to appear that way when some of us are totally wasted after 3-min geiko with them.
I agree, I think we are trying to make the same point however yours includes the second wind concept. I was making the fact that in shiai, we are not concerned with big beautiful kendo when we are tired. WE want to win and hopefully get or second wind.

[Washington]

I concentrate on relaxing the muscles that are feeling the strain and think of the ones that aren't hurting yet.

[Togashi Yokuni]

There is a study by some scientists (I can't remember if it was in Nature) that says that the tired feeling one gets is mostly mental. Basically, they say that in theory the muscles in your body can keep on going and doing their thing as long as you supply them with energy. The only problem with that is they will get damaged if this is maintained over some time...due to heat and toxic by-product build-up. So what the body (brain) does, once it detects excessive amounts of heat and toxins, is to give a signal to the muscles that they're working too much and they have to stop. Which translates to the exhausted feeling we experience. Anyway they conducted the study using athletes (marathon runners) as their experimental basis.

So in a sense, I maybe that's what explains the phenomenon of second wind? And maybe that's why some people can still do good kendo, even though they've pushed themselves to their physical limit, because their mental conditioning allows them to go past the point where their brain tells them to stop? Just an idea I thought might be interesting...

[louisvandalen]

And maybe that's why some people can still do good kendo, even though they've pushed themselves to their physical limit, because their mental conditioning allows them to go past the point where their brain tells them to stop? Just an idea I thought might be interesting...
This is how they do marine/commando selections. They push them beyond normal physical limits before they are allowed in. Only the most determent will make it. Ofcourse physical fitness plays an important part to but this is tested in an earlier state of the selection phase and gets improved during basic training. At the end of basic training all of them are supposed to have reached a certain level of fitness (they use fitness grades in the army. e.g. fitness level 1 is the highest and 5 the lowest, special forces have to be classified as 1, infantry - engineers as 2, cavalery - comms - medics as 3 and so on). If you are in 1 you are fit as (pick a word) without a doubt. Finally they go for the exhaust-exercises. You are actually pushed over your own limits and only a lot of spirit will save you here (or a screwed mind seems to help also). It's really overcomming your own physical limitations as you mentioned. Then again, you probably need 2 attempts to jump over a gardenfence at the end of an exercise.

In kendo every match lasts (horrible long) minutes (the above goes on for days, weeks at a time). So state of mind does make a lot of difference, to bad its only for the few to master :) And that's a fact, ask Jerry Springer.

Best Regards,

Louis

[grasshopper_r2]

I have often heard that when you reach exhaustion your true technique is all that is left. Your body will react in the way in which it was trained. Muscle memory, and efficency of movement is all that is left. Therefore, your technique improves provided you have trained correctly. A lesson to learn is to remember what your body teaches you at that time: where do I need to improve my efforts, what techniques must be learned and/or committed to muscle memory, what techniques are ready to be refined. To borrow an old phrase,

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step"

[Karaken]

I have often heard that when you reach exhaustion your true technique is all that is left. Your body will react in the way in which it was trained. Muscle memory, and efficency of movement is all that is left. Therefore, your technique improves provided you have trained correctly. A lesson to learn is to remember what your body teaches you at that time: where do I need to improve my efforts, what techniques must be learned and/or committed to muscle memory, what techniques are ready to be refined. To borrow an old phrase,

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step"
If you have proper technique, yes, then you CAN expect your body still function with your dertermination. Remember, small muscles get tired first and Kendo is about using BIG muscles.


I agree, I think we are trying to make the same point however yours includes the second wind concept. I was making the fact that in shiai, we are not concerned with big beautiful kendo when we are tired. WE want to win and hopefully get or second wind. The point is though that you need to be there ( Total exhaustion and beyond ) during the training and know that you have that ability to overcome total exhaustion. Shiai is not the place to find out whether you have it or not even though it's entirely possible that you discover it for the first time during the shiai :-)

[Tholon]

Isn't this similar to "second breathing" while running? After running for a while, evertyhing goes much easier.
It's all about that the muscles work different after a while. Uses other sources of energy. They first use the "fast energy" and then the "slow". And the "slow energy" is more efficent and will keep you running for long.
I don't know the correct english for the different source of energy, but it's not any hokus-pokus (Does that translate?)

So a good strong warm-up to get you in a "second breathin" will absolutely improve your Kendo.

[Future Head]

Isn't this similar to "second breathing" while running? After running for a while, evertyhing goes much easier.
It's all about that the muscles work different after a while. Uses other sources of energy. They first use the "fast energy" and then the "slow". And the "slow energy" is more efficent and will keep you running for long.
I don't know the correct english for the different source of energy, but it's not any hokus-pokus (Does that translate?)

So a good strong warm-up to get you in a "second breathin" will absolutely improve your Kendo.

That's what I was thinking. In english, the term is "second wind." You learn to reach and use that a lot in swimming, especially with the much longer distance events and training. When I push through the threshold during a long set in the pool and reach my second wind, generally I find that while I'm working as hard, I can relax a good deal more -- my muscles stay stretched, and it's easier to find technique. Though I'm not sure you can reach this in shiai, it's got to be great in practice.

[asian_knight]

kakari-keiko then straight to ji-keiko. Thats always fun.
:ko: :laugh: :laugh:

[Andoru]

I watched the very tough Australian national squad training on Sunday. I hope that some of the participants (Catherine, deathbykendo, Nanbanjin etc) could explain what "second wind" means.....

[Lloromannic]

After a particularily hard practice on Saturday I can say that for myself pushing yourself to the limit will make your limit increase. On Saturday there is a more relaxed children oriented practice and afterwards a harder practice. However on that particular Saturday only 5 persons could stay for the second practice: My marathon-runner-for-fun sensei, his wife, a japanese uni student, my football team captain brother and me. We spent an hour and a half doing the drills from basket to basket in a proffesional sized court. I had never been that tired after three kirikaeshi. Now on Monday the practice was hard, I was feeling very tired but my limit was now much farther away.

[Wifenmummy]

i thought a second wind was a burst of energy that comes from nowhere... it just happens and u keep going..

[Nanbanjin]

I watched the very tough Australian national squad training on Sunday. I hope that some of the participants (Catherine, deathbykendo, Nanbanjin etc) could explain what "second wind" means.....
Judging from Shigeoka Sensei I reckon your second wind kicks in at around sixty.

[Andoru]

Judging from Shigeoka Sensei I reckon your second wind kicks in at around sixty.
Ahahahaha! :D

[nalogg]

Last night I had the most tiring practice i've ever had.....
we started off doing zenshin kotai from one end of the dojo to the other and then backwards, then zenshin kotai with a big men in the middle of the room then backwards, then 2 men and backwards, then 3 men and backwards, then kote men-men and backwards, then haisuburi jumping to the end of the room, and then backwards, then doing it sideways..

AND THEN we started doing lunge-men trying to step as far as we can in one stride.... then we did that only faster, then we did continuous men with as big strides and as fast as possible.

I got tired really fast, but i would just buckle down and do it... you just have to say "it's not so bad and i can do it" but...
I've never felt like barfing/passing out so badly in kendo before.. i had to go drink some water and calm myself down after those backwards haisuburi, and then i was back on track.

[Erikku]

About going to the max, all I can say is that last two practices, I came home pretty much dead, and threw up for half an hour... Not that I think training was harder or anything... May be I'm just physically weaker than usual for some reason... And I really don't think my best kendo was really showing up while I was very tired. Come to think of it, I don't feel I have seen my best kendo for a while...

[Tholon]

"Judging from Shigeoka Sensei I reckon your second wind kicks in at around sixty."


Great! Only twenty years left :-)

[T.Lee]

ill admit i have a really bad stamina. perhaps due to a heart problem when i was born requiring surgery, but i just blame it on me being a lazy ass. kendo is really the only activity that gets me off my ass since i dont care for much other sports and running is boring. so i do easily get winded. but thats ok, its part of why i like kendo, for the exercise but also for the mental disclepline to challenge myself even when im tired to concentrate and persevere and try to focus on controlling my body. its all obviously a work in progress (i often catch myself half assing kakarigeiko), but when im beat tired after practice, i consider it a good thing.

also, as my sensei has repeatedly tried to teach me, he tells me that im also defeating myself and spending more energy than i need when i practice. so i also try to focus on not being so excited and focus on slow technique and not wasted motions.

[Wifenmummy]

i recommend taking a breather (break) if u feel a bit sick.. it cant be good.
*ive forgotten what i was going to say...*
hmm... when i get tired i love stretching my legs and putting my hands on the floor.. lol! maybe showing off makes me feel better... i have a long way to go to be good at kendo... a loooong way.. i think fumikomi (pretty bad spelling?) is footwork? is that right? trying to put names to things ive learnt! :)

[Matlock]

also, as my sensei has repeatedly tried to teach me, he tells me that im also defeating myself and spending more energy than i need when i practice. so i also try to focus on not being so excited and focus on slow technique and not wasted motions.I have to admit that I am guilty of that as well. I just try to focus and stay loose but try not to move in semete and then explode when striking for men. I have a long way to go too.

Keep up the practice, T.Lee. When you find yourself with a total lack of energy, try to take a short break (1-2 mintues), focus and go back refreshed.

[asian_knight]

I miss kakari-keiko. Its one of my favorites, that and Uchikomi-bo. Well, I love any drills anyways. It would be nice to do a lot of kakari keiko so i could build my stamina. I use to jog or workout alll the time, but my schedule has been tied up lately. I hardly have anytime to jog. I still able to do my suburi at home, but I need to work more on my stamina.

I had a nice keiko last night. Went agaisnt two sensei on the begining of keiko, and you cant really be slacking around agaisnt them. I have to give everything I have do my best when I face them. If they they I dont try my best, they make openings for me and that practice with them ends up a kakari-keiko prctice. Create opening, attack and attack....wheeew...And go through a whole line up.:)

Im still working more on a sudden explosion when I attack. Sometimes I hesitate or Im telegraphing. Last time I had to go agaisnt a tall Kendoka. He was a visitror, and man, I had a hard time getting in there. His reach was just long. Im not tall at all. Im only 5'2" and I think he was close to 7'. And he went to Jodan too. I had a hard time with ma ai agaisnt him. It seems that I was just staring at his do the whole time. :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: I have to work on my speed.

[Future Head]

And I really don't think my best kendo was really showing up while I was very tired.

I feel you on that. As I become winded, my kendo gets rapidly worse.

[nicuma]

im a newb n started wearing bogu only a few weeks now and do join the more advanced doing hayasuburi...started off doing about 60 or so(they want us to keep up) n gradually its increasing...we did 200 one time bcoz it was one of our fellow kendoka's birthday n it was like a tradition to do hundreds... man i tell u i felt my arms were going to fall off...bad enuff i was fasting that day(im a muslim) altho i breaked fast half an hour ago, i didnt get all the energy i'd usually have...so i was pretty much drained...but surprisingly i did manage to get a better grasp of kendo when tired....i started to feel the urge to push myself even more beyond the limits...kinda like a video game where u get a limitbreak and unleash a killer attack combo!!

kiai seemed even more forceful with the whole lot of ruthlessness...

kinda like get possessed in a way and entering another phase which gets unlocked....

hmmmmm.... :devious:

[Hisham]

When the muscles get tired, the spirit takes over,IMHO how your kendo will be at that point will depend on how strong your spirit is.

[dwez]

Necromancy I know but it's beneficial and why would we recommended searching old threads if we weren't about 'corpse-bothering'. Anyway I've noticed I'm getting really knackered when it comes to free practice at the end of the night. I'm thinking it's because I'm putting far more effort into the drills. It's much more fun and I'm practically guaranteed to be successful. So by the time free practice begins I'll get a good couple of fences before I'm wasted and it's alot harder when your opponent is fighting back, damn them, why won't they just stand still and let me hit them, oh, right, that's the drills...

So when I'm winded I'm being more studied, trying to choose my cuts more selectively. But should I be trying to balance the drills with the free practice? Perhaps not go all out so when it comes to the fencing I have enough energy for everyone. Only you know how it is, with some people you can say to yourself I can just coast through this guy. Of course you can say that and then get caught in the moment and by the time it comes to sonkyo you've nothing left and sensei isn't best pleased with you hunched over coughing like 40 a day smoker. Or you look up the line and see your gonna get pasted by a couple of tough opponents. Is it worth trying to balance your energy or should you just do until you drop?

[Kagerou]

The way my dojo runs is a bit different than yours I think. We do drills with each motodachi and free practice, but even so I know how you feel.
You don't want to burn all your energy before you get to your sensei.

But what is that teaching you?
Are you saving energy by putting less effort into your strikes or by chosing your strikes more wisely?
You can push yourself to the limit mentally as well as physically.

You know the people in your dojo and how they fight. Use their personality to help you work on a particular aspect of your kendo. If the person is very high energy and always striking use that to practice your debana waza and retaliation. If they are more analytical use that to practice seme and controlling the centre. When you get to your sensei go all out and attack continuously (or practice whatever they want you to - mine wants me to attack and counter him until I pass out).

[bobdonny]

Necromancy I know but it's beneficial and why would we recommended searching old threads if we weren't about 'corpse-bothering'. Anyway I've noticed I'm getting really knackered when it comes to free practice at the end of the night. I'm thinking it's because I'm putting far more effort into the drills. It's much more fun and I'm practically guaranteed to be successful. So by the time free practice begins I'll get a good couple of fences before I'm wasted and it's alot harder when your opponent is fighting back, damn them, why won't they just stand still and let me hit them, oh, right, that's the drills...

So when I'm winded I'm being more studied, trying to choose my cuts more selectively. But should I be trying to balance the drills with the free practice? Perhaps not go all out so when it comes to the fencing I have enough energy for everyone. Only you know how it is, with some people you can say to yourself I can just coast through this guy. Of course you can say that and then get caught in the moment and by the time it comes to sonkyo you've nothing left and sensei isn't best pleased with you hunched over coughing like 40 a day smoker. Or you look up the line and see your gonna get pasted by a couple of tough opponents. Is it worth trying to balance your energy or should you just do until you drop?

Dont balance...100% all the time, even if its snails pace, 100%

[ne0r]

I think 100% is always the best. But depending on the exercise, 100% "power" might not be the best.

Like when you're doing exercises to better your kamae, focus on kamae and "give 100%" to improve your kamae, etc.

Just my two cents.

[Kenzan]

I've found that the best thing about going to the brink and beyond, is that you cannot bullshit yourself at that point.
Pride and Ego always falls away, and the stripped layer of who you really are is all that is left, warts and all.
Good stuff.
:)

[Ignatz]

"Gambatte/never give" up is the key.

Next time you think "I CAN'T DO THIS, IT'S TOO HARD."

Look at this.

http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=XxUGEN9kS9o

[Kagerou]

"Gambatte/never give" up is the key.

Next time you think "I CAN'T DO THIS, IT'S TOO HARD."

Look at this.

http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=XxUGEN9kS9o

Yeah I thought for sure that horse was gonna puke after the second spin but it kept on going.
Even suffered through her standing on it's back. Such a good horse.

[Ignatz]

They say dying is easy, comedy is hard. Keep training, you definitely need the work.

[Kagerou]

They say dying is easy, comedy is hard. Keep training, you definitely need the work.

Ouch you wound me with your glib tongue sir!

I agree that I need more time to rival your vast VAST VAST experience. :chinese:

I bow to thine quick wit sir

[Ignatz]

There is a good start.