I think i didn't post properly. I apologize if this shows up twice. First question is about breathing. I know people say breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth but I find it more natural to breathe in and out through the nose. Is there a benefit of breathing one way over the other? I would love to hear from people in addition to Sensei, especially if your background is tai chi, yoga ect where breathing is a key component of training. Second question. What is literal translation of shi tachi and uchi tachi? I think of uchi tachi as attacker and shi tachi as receiver doing the technique. The literal interpretation might give me a different mindset when training. Third question regarding bowing in seiza. My understanding is we do not touch our head to our hands or floor because we need to keep our peripheral vision. Then I started to think that would that be disrespectful to my classmates because it would be like saying I don't trust them. So is how you bow in seiza situational?

New year, new chapter 🎉 Grateful to be stepping into this year surrounded by people who actually want to grow, learn, and build something real. Last year taught me a lot about consistency, patience, and showing up even when motivation isn’t perfect. This year is about leveling up those lessons and turning them into action. I’m coming into this year focused on progress over perfection, learning faster, helping others where I can, and staying disciplined even on the quiet days. Excited to keep sharing wins, struggles, and insights inside this community and to learn from everyone else doing the same. Wishing everyone here clarity on their goals, momentum in their work, and the discipline to stick with it when it counts. Let’s make this a year we look back on and say, Yeah, that’s when things really changed.

Welcome to Nami ryu Kenjutsu online. I'm excited to have you here, and to share your passion for learning Japanese swordsmanship. ⚔️ Please take a minute to introduce yourself and share what motivates you to learn kenjutsu. Maybe you're into Kurosawa movies, the samurai, or Japanese swords, or maybe you've wanted to learn Japanese swordsmanship but don't have a place to train or a community to support you. We'd like to know what brought you here!