Teaching how to shout “kiai” was a bit chaotic since they started screaming in high pitch until I showed them how people shout in a very low pitch in a video. You’re supposed to shout from stomach, to focus the energy and to show your power.

Meditation, stretch, watched kid’s kendo practice video and Kiai video. We started incorporating “kiai”, a shout before we strike “men”, “kote” and “do” with a partner. Today was the first day we practiced that, and they were doing too good at what sounds like a yelling “YAAAA!!” So the next door teacher came in, and told me that she’s trying to teach her class, asked me if I usually teach at the same time. So, we did a quiet Kiai after that.

Seeing kids have fun was fun, and it went smoothly

Brought a real shinai (kendo sword made out of bamboo) today, and kids were so excited to see it! We meditated, practiced strikes with partners, and fought against each others.

First meditation was hard to get kids focused but other than that, it went smoothly, and another meditation at end of class was better.

Stretches, sitting meditation on crisscross apple sauce, bow, practiced kneeling down strikes and standing strikes individually and with a partner. - men, do, kote. 1 offense and 1 defense and switching. Practiced foot work - suri-ashi, okuri-ashi. Watched a 4 min long 2024 kendo championship finals video. Laying down meditation

Good. These kids are sweet No incident today, went smoothly

Meditate, stretch, bow, strike practices by kneeling, standing, walking forward and back. All 4 strikes - men, do, kote, and tsuki Partnered up and practiced striking to the head / men Watched a 4 min video about kendo

I went prepared material wise, but when I got to the school 15 min early, it was the middle school address on google calendar. So I was a little bit late to class, but Danny said I got there quick from the other campus. Danny and Angela, the office lady at the middle school campus talked, and they decided to give me a Lyft. So we might need to reimburse Angela for the ride.

Stretches and introduction Meditation in cross-cross apple sauce Meditation in seiza Left hand swings on their toes, kneeling down Basic foot practice making sure the right foot is always in front. Keeping the foot work, add 3 basic swinging practice. Men, Kote, and Do.

Balloon dogs