Hatsumi Sensei Directs Sayaka Oguri, photo by Michael Glenn During one class in Japan I was shivering. It was so cold my teeth were chattering. We were indoors, training on a chilled hardwood floor, so my indoor tabi were little comfort to my feet. Maybe that is why when Hatsumi Sensei smashed his opponent’s head to the floor, my frozen mind didn’t understand the very important lesson he shared with us. After my brain thawed out, I could grasp the message. He was teaching us about 指先 yubisaki, the fingertips. I first wrote about this in my personal training notes which you can get here: http://eepurl.com/d0w_r At that moment, my own fingertips were encased in gloves. And probably tucked under my armpits for the body heat. I watched Hatsumi Sensei’s uke twist on the floor in pain, exhaling vapor in the cold after each gasp. Soke did henka from the kata 天地 tenchi. Heaven and Earth. But which comes first? You strike low to 鈴 suzu, and this lifts your opponent to heaven! Then strike hi
Train smart. Live better.