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Post by Kakita Isao on Jan 22, 2018 3:25:22 GMT -5
Kakita Isao entered the dojo early that morning before class to work on his iai with Doji Reiha, whom he had offered to mentor over some finer points during lunch the previous day. In turn she offered to help by serving as a partner for paired kata. The young Crane entered the dojo, changed into his training garb - a dark blue kendogi and hakama - and set his duffle bag on the side of the dojo floor. He removed his iaito and prepared and began to go through a few warm up exercises. |
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Post by Doji Reiha on Jan 22, 2018 4:44:57 GMT -5
Reiha got up early and changed into her hakama, taking care not to wake her roommate who lay sprawled on her bed clutching her pillow (so cuuute!!  ). The shoji door slides open and the Doji girl sticks her head in to check if she's not disturbing anyone and smiles as she spots the Kakita. "Oh! This is the right room! Great!" She quickly bows. "Good morning, Kakita-sempai! Have you eaten rice today?" |
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Post by Kakita Isao on Jan 22, 2018 7:28:17 GMT -5
"Good morning, Doji-san!"
The Crane fairly chirped, a warm smile on his lips despite the early morning. He returned her bow before he looked to her, his tone somewhat serious, "I'm not your Senpai, Doji-san. Kakita-san is more than sufficient between us. We're clansmen after all. Anyways..."
He looked to see what she had brought with her as he adjusted his glasses. His demeanor relaxed and he readily smiled once more.
"Do you have an iaito? If not I have a spare one, just in case. It may not be properly sized for you, but it can still be useful for learning and training together."
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Post by Doji Reiha on Jan 22, 2018 7:54:56 GMT -5
"Oh no! I have my own iaito! I have taken lessons over the summer."
Reiha holds out her practice practice sword for inspection as she shuffles into the dojo. It's a basic, but obviously expensive one if the smith's mon on the saya is anything to go by, even for a Crane.
"So, errr, I guess we'll be doing the Seitei Iaido Katas?"
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Post by Kakita Isao on Jan 22, 2018 8:01:47 GMT -5
"Hai! We will begin with what you know and just go from there, hai?"
He smiled and nodded, inspecting her iaito with her permission and offering all due respect for her personal equipment. "It's a fine iaito," he assured her. "Where did you study over the summer?"
With an indication he gestured for her to follow him, stepping out onto the hardwood floor so they could adopt their stances. He readied his katana, securing it through the belt of his hakama and tying it in place. There was a serene quality about him as he did so, clearly in his element in the dojo. His eyes were closed and he hummed quietly to himself, centering his soul.
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Post by Doji Reiha on Jan 23, 2018 4:29:06 GMT -5
"My mother arranged a private tutor, a distant relative, Doji Tanaka-sensei. He's really old, and doesn't teach anymore, but he made an exception for Okaa-sama. She knew him when he was younger. She said he used to teach at the Kakita Academy."
Reiha follows the Kakita to the center of the dojo.
"He taught me the twelve Seitei iaido katas, though we focused more on the standing kata, obviously." There's a slight blush as she adds, "Tanaka-sensei said I was an excellent pupil, but I have never, you know, tested my skill against someone else, so, I don't know, really..."
She too readies the katana and bows to Isao before entering her stance. It appears the little artisan is really not unskilled, if a bit nervous and unsure of herself."
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Post by Kakita Isao on Jan 23, 2018 8:22:50 GMT -5
"That would suggest this wasn't simply a summer affair, but perhaps something more involved altogether," Isao spoke, his usual chirps and cadence leveled to a calm, serene rhythm.
Once she joined him, he offered her a warm, welcoming smile. He didn't know Reiha hardly at all, which he felt was awkward since she was betrothed to his friend. So, he hoped they could become fast friends - or in the very least, he could have a Crane companion to talk about iai with. There were none other at the school he knew well enough to babble to about the martial arts.
"Let's begin with the first and move through the twelfth as a part of a warm up. How does that sound? Afterwards, once we both feel confident and properly primed and ready, we can then practice paired kata together. Then, if you're daring enough, we could have a practice bout. Good?"
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Post by Doji Reiha on Jan 23, 2018 13:22:28 GMT -5
"Hai, Kakita-sempai!" Reiha gives another bow and sits down to perform first four kata, which are executed from a seated position. The Doji girl loses much of her nervousness as she goes through the familiar exercises, with attention to her focus and being mindful. By the time she finishes the eight standing kata she appears about as relaxed and present as Isao has ever seen her. She actually acquits herself well for a beginner... |
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Post by Kakita Isao on Jan 23, 2018 13:50:08 GMT -5
The Kakita fell into place beside her where he moved through all twelve kata, performing them one by one alongside the Doji. He was certainly a very advanced student but at no point did he ever attempt to impress that upon her in a haughty, arrogant manner. No, he moved with grace and speed and once they finished, he bowed to her and kept that small smile on his lips. He had been watching her the whole time with the eyes of a sensei, firmly understanding what was right and wrong. However, he saw she performed well and looked satisfied because of it. "You are good for having only picked up the art. I am suitably impressed," he complimented Reiha. "You also take to it naturally. It suits you well."He then walked around her to face her and asked, "Are you prepared to practice paired kata? They are much more valuable as striking at a real person creates a different mindset and sharpens new skills. Timing. Distance. Measure. Have you performed any before, or just the twelve single kata?" |
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Post by Rodrigo Azerola on Jan 23, 2018 14:18:38 GMT -5
Rodrigo stepped into the doju. At least, he thought it was called the doju. He could be wrong, but if he was someone would surely correct him. Regardless, he wanted to get some sword practice in before classes began for the day, seeing as he had no combat classes scheduled.
It would feel good to be able to hold the handle of a sword again, even if it had only been a few days. These Rokugani had insisted on parting him with one of the symbols of his station, and yet they walked around freely with theirs. Hypocrites. A wooden sword would have to do.
It was then that he noticed the two students practicing, and quirked his head. They were training, but not in any manner he had ever seen. He bowed to them with a flourish of his arms.
"Ah, hello! Pardon me for intruding, but can I ask what style of fighting that is?"
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