In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.


Tsubazeriai.

Another kendo post.

Last night was the first official training where we beginners had jigeiko (free practice/sparring). Many, many things pointed out to me and many I found out for myself.

Things I managed okay on my level of kendo:
* Posture, dignity, confidence, composed - kigurai.
* Relatively cooperative.
* Fair maintenance of kamae.

Things I need to do better:
* Cut with accuracy!
* Cutting is one action, not two. For example in tobikobi men, there should be no pause between raising up the shinai and cutting downwards. It should be executed as one movement.
* Pay attention to maai! Either go into tsubazeriai/taiatari position or back to at least chudan no kamae.
* No matter what, attacking is better than retreating.
* For keiko, pull shinai higher when swinging upwards before cutting down. Use big waza. Do proper kihon cuts.
* Faster ashi, needed more so for nuki-do.
* When doing ni-dan waza, remember to fumi-komi for each cut.
* Faster recognition of opponent's suki.
* Stop thinking about doing a debana men all the time.
* Pay attention to the our kote - don't let it open unintentionally.

Last night, when facing off with Caleb in jigeiko, every time he does gedan no kamae, I have no idea of knowing what to do. So by default I did men cuts, and he always ends up doing a tsuki on me.

How would I attack an opponent when he/she is in gedan no kamae? I was pondering on this question the whole night through. The only answer I can find is to go for his/her kote, but I can't be sure. Or should I respond to his tsuki with uchiotoshi waza?

Ad Majorem dei Gloriam

In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen


On the way home.

I think every thing in life is a journey. Yes, even a train ride. It's just matter of how we want to ride the journey. Suppose that I'm on a train ride, somehow, even if it is a journey to nowhere, it's still a journey. In any case, there is starting point in all journeys, whether we remember it or not.

Just came back from a somewhat disappointing night at Zouk even though I was hanging out with Wessa Tong. Several factors: Stacey Pullen's style is quite different from 2 years ago; only Wessa and I were there - no one else joined us; I get tired easily in a club; I got a little emo regarding the old days.

When will I get off this train ride? someone did ask me before. I don't know. But it has to be very soon. I can't stay on this ride for much longer. You can say that reality/circumstances leave me no choice.

That doesn't mean I can allow myself to get into a relationship, for that matter. I cannot afford any such thing right now. As in my last relationship, I simply cannot commit. I simply cannot hurt someone else just because of my non-chalance (can't remember the correct spelling right now). When I look at myself, I tend to be selfish and cold-hearted in my relationships. It's a consistent pattern. How come I haven't learnt my lesson? Maybe I haven't loved someone deeply enough. For now, I guess I'm just satisfied with friends. That is my current comfort zone. Romance is another matter.

You know, when I was a teen, I told myself I would get married at twenty-five. When I reached eighteen, however, I thought it was too close - just seven years away. So I decided, I'd get married when I'm twenty-eight. When I reached 21, I realised, again, that twenty-eight was just seven years away. So I thought maybe I'll get married at thirty. I'm twenty-three now and I can't see myself being married by then.

I was just discussing with a friend that nowadays, I somehow feel it's more important to have a kid than to have a romantic relationship. Of course, truth to be said, I'm definitely not responsible enough to have a kid yet. Maybe not even at thirty. After all, if I can't take care of a wife, how can I take care of a kid?

I'm sure some of you might think that this is a strange thing to think about. Yet, I find myself thinking about this almost on a daily basis.

I fantasize about living on a tropical island somewhere far, far away. I'd live in a villa and chillout next to the beach everyday. I'd have young daughter who cheers me up from time to time. Nearby, there would be a little village where everyone knows everyone and I would be a regular at the one and only pub there. For my career, I'd be something of a restauranteur or landowner. Otherwise, I'm just a rich retiree living off my savings. Everything on the island would be peaceful and tranquil. Life is relaxed...

But a close friend once told me that I'm above that. I'd never be satisfied with that kind of life. I have too much ambition to be satisfied with that. In fact, ambition is in my blood. I can't help it. I'm supposed to be the person who would never be satisfied until I become the best in whatever I do. I'm like Oda Nobunaga. Only I don't always have as much determination and unpredictability as he does.

Sorry, I'm rambling on from one thing to another here. It's time for me to catch some shuteye. I'm Melbourne bound.

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam

In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.



Somewhere between two flights: eating live lobsters, electro-static treatment, Sonic Edge Tour, applying for film school, shopping for new clothes, nights at Chomp Chomp & Adam Road food court, the search for Matsutoya Yuming, watching a film shoot, reading Japanese, re-reading Yoshikawa Eiji, the Singapore Kendo Club, playing Beach Life, a Swiss lunch, and dancing to Stacey Pullen...

The paragraph above summarises my 2-week break. This is quite interesting. Probably one of my most productive holidays in a while (when not compared to my last one). Find it incredible because I did all of that and more in less than 2 weeks.

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam

In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sanctus. Amen.


Excuse the composition.

I'm back in Singapore, for those who don't know. Actually, I haven't lost weight. I've gained 4kg since the beginning of the year (by the same weighing scale). And I've put on one more inch round the waist.

This is good news. Gaining weight is goot.

Went to Stella Artois' Starlight Cinema at Fort Canning with Wessa Tong and met up with Debbie and Adrian, Kelly and others there. We saw the Yann Samuell's Jeux d'enfants. It's not bad, but no new territory has been explored here. AKA. It was nice to watch, but I don't imagine watching it again.

Didn't stay for Intolerable Cruelty. Don't want to be disappointed after watch Jeux d'enfants. So we left Debbie and friends there. Wessa pointed out something which makes me feel a bit paiseh: Debbie went to the trouble of letting us in for free and providing us with food and we left just like that. Oops. I'll try not to do that again. Hehe. Sorry.

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.