11 - Training for academy examination 3

[MC POV]

Its been 1 week after Old Man showed me basic movements.

Tatsumo: "You practiced basics nicely. Remember all kenjutsu comes down to basics. Even fast movements can seems slow and slow movements can seems fast."

"I don't understand."

"You will now when time is right. Remember practice makes perfect."

"Now you have learned basic sword movements but standing still. But your opponents won't be still, he will keep running. And what i have showed you is good protecting behind you, but you opponent can come from different route. He can bypass you via many methods. So you also need to be dynamic when fighting with swords. Static shinobi always becomes target for others."

I nod at that.

"Being dynamic means not always running. Constant speed running is also static in nature. Being dynamic means going 0 to 40% and than going 40% to 100% very fast."

I got confuse.

"Why there is 2 steps in going from 0 to 100% speed? Why can't we directly shift to 100% speed?" 

"Body can't handle doing every thing very fast. You need to do everything in 2 steps. You start, you understand, you execute. Its how every things goes. Take a look."

He takes bokuto and goes in sheeting position. He puts hand on Tsuka (Handle) and draw it same like katana and do side slash. 

"Were you able to see?"

"What?"

"Let me do it again. And watch my muscles."

He does it again. But this time as he is doing it i was able to see what he is saying. First his muscle contracted and bulged and than unsheathing happened. 

"When we are doing something our mind gives order, than our muscle starts working. When my mind gives orders and muscles start working it happens around 2 steps. That's why i said its happen in 2 steps."

"Is it possible to go directly to 100%?"

"Directly no. But Thunder chakra nature can increase nervous system so that it can do similar work but its still not that fast of reaction time."

I laugh in my mind. If he knows, what Failed knight Kurogane Ikki did just via watching, he is gonna puke blood. No I will show him this in future and make sure he dies because of it. Jōdandayo (Just kidding).

[Tatsumo got goosebumps at this moment. If he knew what ikki is thinking he will kill him right now.]

"Lets proceed ahead. I am showing basic fighting style which konoha shinobi uses. Its called 'Leaf-Style Sword Art'. This style mainly revolve around tricks, deception and speed."

As Old man demonstrate it, i can see how tricks go, deception go and lastly speed. 

"This style force opening in opponents and than strike at them. Do you get it?"

"Kinda but i don't like deception and tricks."

"I thought so. Your personality is different. Deception and tricks can be changed to genjutsu in future and speed can be increased with help of chakra or change in chakra nature. I am showing you this for not copying. Just pick parts from it and change it to your style. This is just basic swordsmanship style created to help shinobi to start up. Its just version of samurai style. But you understand how it can be used in any stance and position. right?"

"Yes. Apply basic swordsmanship with intense speed and deception."

"Good you already mastered basic. Now train to strike that trees around border with zig zag style. Strike at 1 tree from left, Strike at other from right. Use each basic movements like that."

"I got for other types but what about Nukitsuke. How can draw and strike and undraw and strike."

"You can't strike when you are unsheathing or sheathing sword. For drawing it fast, There is technique called 'Iaidō' or 'Iai' for short. There are four parts in it. the smooth and controlled movements of drawing, cutting enemy, shaking of blood, and replacing sword in 'Saya' (scabbard). Let me show you."

Old man use Bokken and left hand as a sheeth to make katana, He quickly draws it, performs Yoko Giri with quick continuous motion and shake of blood and resheaths katana.

"For Nukitsuke, practice Iai. Other wise start striking trees. You still have 5 more months until academy starts. In morning practice kenjutsu, and after lunch start training your body. And dinner and meditation and sleep got it. You won't need meditation as practicing kenjutsu is kinda medition so instead of doing meditation do slow basic movements. Its one of advantages of practicing kenjutsu. Enjoy. Go start training."

And off i go.