The Art of Sword Workshop!

By Tor San

The journey of any martial artist is one that involves a battle, and on Saturday the biggest battle that was fought was by those getting to the Art of Sword workshop, as Cheltenham had the majority of its roads gridlocked because of the literature festival! But despite this we had eleven people fight their way through the hoards of book readers, and the workshop started after only a slight delay.

There was a good mix of people and grades, and as always can be expected with a sword workshop, there were a fair number of black belts, but we had good interest from the excellent lower grades and even a complete new face who came along to try the ‘art of sword’, and who is now really interested in lessons!

Everyone on the day was quickly changed and ready, many with sword tops and hakama’s, plus holding their bokkens (wooden practice sword) in hand, waiting in the very atmospheric room that we used at the Cheltenham Pilates and Yoga Centre.

After a great introduction into what was in store for everybody by Sensei Richard the course began. As it was aimed at complete beginners we started with the feel of the sword in our hands, and the movement and thoughts it lets you create. Then we moved on to a series of simple cuts just to get everyone into the mood. This was helped by the music that was chosen especially for the workshop, and really helped with our focus and flow of movement.

Rather than just concentrate on the more technical aspect of the cuts that may take a sword student years to perfect, this day was about feeling like a swordsman. However with the workshop being run by two 4th Dan’s, both Richard San and Tim San soon had everybody looking as if they had been doing sword for months!

It was great watching everyone being improved both in the way they moved, and as well as having their cuts and focus strengthened.

Our perception of time is clearly influenced by what we choose to do with that time, and despite the two hours vanishing quickly we seemed to cover so much. The movement exercises expanded into having people starting to cut and move without following any set pattern, just by letting the music influence them. Initially with a small group on the training area, but then building and building until people flowed into and out of a mass of spinning, cutting, blocking and moving. Then back in pairs we worked on blocks, parries and warrior focus, using preset patterns to help to build the pace of the cuts. Once “up to speed” the finale was a series of lines of people moving down the training area, as if in a battle, all cutting and defending as one, a great army of warriors!

A great day and time well spent, it was wonderful training with you all in this great event. I hear the sen’s are already planning our next event and will be putting up details soon, stay tuned as they say!