Here are some thoughts and reflections stemming from last weekend’s road trip.

• Kendo is like Alexander Keith’s beer: Those who like it, like it a lot.
• It is easier to observe the things that should be done than to actually do them.
• Similarly, it is easier to see areas where others could improve than to find your own areas of weakness.
• If there are things you do when you train that are impractical, does it make sense to do them less?
• Everyone’s kendo experience is unique to them.
• Sometimes a hit is not a hit. Don’t stop ’til the flags go up.
• Kiai is an expression of your spirit. Listen to your kiai and ask yourself if it matches your spirit.
• A tense body often reflects a tense mind.
• The next logical step after learning the Bokuto Ni Yoru Kendo Kihon Waza Keiko-ho is to incorporate them into one’s shinai kendo.
• Explaining why is sometimes as important as explaining how.
• Knowing how much to explain and when is a beneficial skill for a sensei to possess.
• Everyone brings their unique challenges to the dojo. Despite that, the dojo must be a safe place to train. This requires everyone’s cooperation and is part of the training.
• Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.
• The best time to strike an opponent is when they are not ready.
• A person with a high rank may be addressed as sensei, but rank alone is not sufficient to be a good one.