What does Japanese swordsmanship cover? It is the samurai type arts (kendo or iaido), or using the ninja-to?

ita, when I jab with my lead hand, am I supposed to rotate that hip too?

t looks up class info

Japanese sword arts combine profound spiritual, technical, and strategic content. Three styles of sword arts will be taught: Kokikai Aiki-ken, All Japan Kendo Federation Iaido, and Muso Shinden Ryu Iaido. Instructor is a fifth-degree blackbelt. Discover deep, philosophical truths about the human condition and transform conflict into beauty.

Japanese swordsmanship sounds totally fun! I bet it gives you that "don't mess with me " air, too.

They are real!

And they're spectacular!

(I assume. Having not seen for myself)

I've just discovered that there are easily accessible classes at the DC JCC...so the motivation is high.

Dang, they didn't have krav when I was member. I lived right across the street, too, so I might have actually gone.

when I jab with my lead hand, am I supposed to rotate that hip too

Yes, but not as much as with the cross. Make sure you don't end up actually pulling your back hand further back, and exposing your face.

Susan -- that's a lot of stuff. I'm fascinated by iaido -- it's the art of drawing your sword and killing someone. Not swordfighting, just draw->kill.

Pretty!

I'm fascinated by iaido -- it's the art of drawing your sword and killing someone. Not swordfighting, just draw->kill.

God, that's PERFECT for lazy people like me!

Cass!

Aimee, good for you, with the krav. Yay for MM's new job. Emeline is gorgeous as always, and how did your audition go?

Thanks for the good thoughts for Chris. Now we just have to wait and see how he did. I think he did well, but don't know. I did not have an anxiety attack, which was a great and good thing.

Sort of...My friend Denise offered to go to the classes with me and I'm happy to have her so I don't feel so "on my own." I am leaning towards natural childbirth so I have hired a doula to be there with me. If everything goes as planned, Joe should be there for the actual birth, but he will have missed all the classes, so that's why I have the doula. But she doens't go to classes, so that's why my friend is coming.

Stephanie, that's good. The doula won't need the classes, anyhow, but it's nice to have someone to go with. Joe just needs to know that he needs to advocate for you with the nurses, and to cater to you where he can (touch you if you want him to, back off if you don't). You can probably explain the breathing exercises to him in a little time, at home.

We took the classes, and I prepared for a natural delivery, but made an agreement with myself that I could change my mind. With Ben, I took the epi, and I think it interferred with my ability to push, but I couldn't stand the pain. They eventually had to use the vacuum extractor to get him out. With Julia, they put the epi in and then shut it off immediately, because I went from 7 to 10cm in the time it took to insert the medication catheter into my back. I had a numb right thigh, and that's it. With Chris, they didn't have time to give me anything.

I'm fascinated by iaido -- it's the art of drawing your sword and killing someone. Not swordfighting, just draw->kill.

Discover deep, philosophical truths about the human condition and transform conflict into beauty.

All this, and stabbing things too.

Aimee, good for you, with the krav. Yay for MM's new job. Emeline is gorgeous as always, and how did your audition go?

My audtition went really really well. I stil haven't heard about it, but I find myself being happy about how I did, but not overly anxious about if I got it or not.