Brighter Day

It amazes me how much a better day can make you feel. We got a great day of training in yesterday. We trained for almost 10 hrs with 30 mins for lunch. I really feel like things have turned around. We have been training with Saikai sensei and he has given me some really good advice. I also have received alot of positive feedback from several instructors from the West. Yamaguchi sensei told me yesterday that he thinks my iaido has improved alot from last year and that I am headed in the right direction. That makes me feel good about where I am going and how I am getting there.

We had competition today and I got to the second round (only by default) but I did my best and I feel really good about how everything went. I feel OK about losing because I don't think that there was anything else that I could have done to improve. Jason, one of our teachers took 2nd place in his division on the nation. He did very good and we are proud of his efforts. They continue to make us (the Utah group, with no formal instructor) look awesome in comparason with other groups who have top notch instructors year round. I am very proud of where we have come.

Tomorrow is test day, and for the first time in my iaido career, I am not testing. I am not eligible to test until next year. I will be working really hard between now and then to get my technique in line with what I think that I need to be doing in order to do well. I am so grateful for the teachers that I have that are so strict on me and that allow me to grow and improve at a high level.

I will see you all later. Thanks for putting up with my complaining for a few days. I hope that everyone will take care and knows that I love them.

Becky