I came across a quote from 13th century Japanese Buddhist monk Nichiren Daishonin.
“Iron, when heated in the flames and pounded, becomes a fine sword.”
Nice.
What’s that got to do with you and your kendo? Just a reminder that when you started your kendo journey, your kendo was like a pile of iron ore. With some heat, flames and pressure in the dojo, your efforts and the efforts of those around you have shaped your kendo to where it is today.
Your kendo is a reflection of how much effort you put into shaping it. Your sensei can’t make your kendo better. They can guide you, explain to you, hit you, beat you, bring you to tears with a hard workout. That alone doesn’t do it. Improvement comes from your focus, your intention, your effort.
It’s up to you. Get to work 🙂
Looking forward to seeing you in the dojo.