This old thing? My first cut. Tools of the Trade 2

During a recent trip home, I picked up an old hakama that was in my storage building. I've had this thing since about 1995 and it feels good to finally be using it. There was a guy named Seok-Bom in my dorm. One Christmas, (Sock-Boom) went back to Korea and I asked him to bring me a hakama. He brought back a top that was about a child's medium and this hakama that was for a 6'5" adult. It is folded in this picture, but it's pretty messy. It was a rush job and I promise to redo it. The problem with it, is that for the last ten years, it's been balled up in a box. That is certain death for the pleats in a cotton hakama.

Last Friday, my battojutsu class practiced tameshigiri (practice cutting). It was my first time and I was a little nervous. The other guys in class all have their own katana with a real blade. Myself and another guy were allowed to use Sensei's wakizashi (the short sword that usually accompanies the longer one). While Sensei demanded various cuts from them, he only wanted kesa giri from myself and another guy. During my first cut, I was a little far away. For my next four, I was right on. It's certainly different to actually hit a target, as opposed to just striking air or an invisible enemy. The picture above is my souvenir. It's the top of the target that I first cut. In the "good" ol' days, they practiced cutting on corpses and on criminals (and on criminals' corpses). Now, we practice on rolled up tatami mats that have been soaked in water. At later stages, mats and bamboo trunks are used. In some schools, the practitioner throws up an apple, draws, cuts, and returns the blade to its scabbard.

All my stuff happened to be scattered about, so I decided to take a picture.

After my last aikido class, we were all sitting around and talking about this and that (they were sitting around talking. I just do my best to listen for the odd word I know). Finally, Sensei mentioned my name and I think he said that I'll be testing again in October. There's nothing like not knowing if an important exam is coming up or not. I'll keep you posted.