One Half Ninja Turtle

Not quite six months ago, Cliff and I started practicing bo. I still remember the excitement of being told by Taira-sensei that if we bought our own, he would teach us. And so for the past few months we have been practicing, smoothing our movements and thickening our calluses. While far from proficient, we feel capable. We have also memorized our first kata, 徳嶺のこん, Tokumine no kon.

Some weeks ago, sensei informed us that he'd be willing to expand our abilities in 古武道, kobudo, or Okinawan weapons fighting. Taira-sensei told us that if we brought these to practice, he would teach us.

Sai. Not at all like I imagined, these are used much more for deflecting attacks than actually penetrating an opponent, though that possibility still exists.

I was practicing a very basic move at home last week, when one of the sai slipped out of my hands and fell to the floor. It left a very noticable wound in the tatami, one that I'm going to do my best not to show off when it's time for me to leave Higashi.