You are like the best den mother to us! Thank you!

I too am really enjoying these solo classes and feel like I’m learning on a number of different levels.. It’s a lot of fun and I look forward to them!

Thank you Joanne! As the solo practitioners have been working on the 3rd Iaijutsu kata and moving (ukimi?) without “moving”, something happened yesterday. I’ve been struggling to grasp this idea of generating a great deal of power without using the usual muscle groups- to let go of moving while still moving, relaxing the muscles that would normally be brought to bear on the lifting or striking but still lift or strike. I’ve gone through the first 3 kata many, many times and I’ve tried to move using the whole body- at times movement and the sword sort of disappear but the moments were too brief to really ground the experience. Yesterday, I had to move something very heavy on a dolly- it had to be done in spite of rather severe lumbar and neck injuries. It was very painful and getting to the point where I thought I might actually throw up.. the thought then came to me.. “What would Sensei do?”.. Well probably not put himself in the position of doing a two person job on his own (?), but if he had to… So mid-stride I told myself to drop trying completely, use no muscle, but keep moving…and, I thought maybe this was a placebo effect and all in my head, but I began to move in what felt like an effortless manner.. there was no sense of weight and speed actually picked up- the pain dropped away… So, back to your point, “keep going” and it is possible that whatever you are learning will come… maybe in fits and starts or all at once.. (probably true for many things- not all, but a good attitude and if you don’t keep at it, you definitely won’t learn). The value in practice is not necessarily that one will master or succeed (but it’s really nice to have a taste of that), but cultivating this attitude as a personality quality- knowing you are this kind of person has great value. Sometimes you might even make space for the “Magic”…

Just a Canadian Tire offering for the shovel. We also carry one Princess Elsa tiara, a small horse drawn carriage, at least one Barbie, a large hand sanitizer., a pull on diaper (not for me… yet!), large umbrella, two folding chairs and a large folding knife.

If I wanted metal, I would probably go Army surplus

Actively working on connection, trusting that I don’t need a white knuckle grip.