[Day 2 - Mid-Afternoon] Polearm Training with Moshi Kaimenko

[Hida Musasha]

The armored samurai returns the nod in between strikes, but doesn't really break his motions.

[Moshi Kaimenko]

"Feet flat Usagi-san," she barks as she turns to study the rest of her 'line'. After a moment she snorts and jerks her head at the Matsu, "You, square off with Hida-san. Try not to wreck the poles."

Her dark brown eyes cut towards the remainder of her students as she examines their forms and the way they hold the practice weapons. "Hands further apart Bayushi-san."

[Hida Musasha]

The muscled brute pauses mid-swing, and as he waits for the Matsu to ready, as he takes a defensive stance.

[Usagi Zenko]

Flat feet...on a boat? He struggles against his instincts to follow the directions given, continuing in the practice. "Hauh!"

The pole swings around with a bit more speed and intended direction.

[Moshi Kaimenko]

"Remember to use your toes to grip the floorboards," she instructs with that cool indifference.

[Moshi Chihiroko]

Chihiroko continues to practice, taking in all the information she hears Kaimenko giving the others.

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

Nobuyoshi obligingly places his hands further apart on his practice weapon. He sticks to defensive dodges, spins and parries, but with the hands further apart, the weapon can move a little more like a weapon, less like a piece of wood. He spares a glance towards the other students and their forms, though he's careful not to dally too long, less he draw more attention from the gunso.

Keep your gut tucked in? Is Moshi-san gaining weight? With proper kimonos it's not something you'd notice if done properly, but these uniforms are...different. he wonders as he continues to avoid getting hit by invisible opponents.

[Moshi Kaimenko]

She watches the Hare and the Scorpion a while before nodding once. Her eyes turns towards the other Moshi. Kaimenko manages not to sneer before she growls, "Stop. Show me your stance Moshi-san."

[Matsu Iori]

The muscled brute pauses mid-swing, and as he waits for the Matsu to ready, as he takes a defensive stance.

The Matsu readies himself, and nods towards the Hida, letting loose a practice swing, as well as a shout "Kiai!". The swing has momentum and strength behind it, but whether it hits is not as certain.

[Hida Musasha]

The attack shudders off Musasha's armor, and the Hida lashes out with his own attack.

[Moshi Chihiroko]

She watches the Hare and the Scorpion a while before nodding once. Her eyes turns towards the other Moshi. Kaimenko manages not to sneer before she growls, "Stop. Show me your stance Moshi-san."

And she did as requested taking into account all the things Kaimenko had previously told her.

[Moshi Kaimenko]

The tip of the wooden practice glaive moves to tap the inside of Chihiroko's elbows, "Hands further apart at shoulder width. Have you ever practiced with staves?"

[Moshi Chihiroko]

Do I look like I've ever practiced with staves? "No, I haven't." She took the new information and adjusted her stance.

[Moshi Kaimenko]

"You're going to want to practice stance whenever possible, so it comes naturally. Using a polearm is like fighting with a stave, save that a polearm is longer and usually has a bit of metal on one end. We'll start with blocks, high, middle and low."

Kaimenko takes a step back and demonstrates each movement with an economic competence. Her eyes shift towards the Hare and Scorpion, "You two, pair up. Bayushi-san, you'll be striking first in this sequence. High, middle, high, low. Usagi-san, you'll be defending. Do a set of six and then switch."

The Moshi's attention turns back to Chihiroko, "Let's see those blocks."

[Moshi Chihiroko]

She nodded as she took in the information. "About the only thing I have experience with is a Yari and that is in the form of Air." Chihiroko figured the Moshi knew what she meant.

Then she mimicked what she'd seen Kaimenko do. Several times in succession. Each with a firm solid hold.

[Moshi Kaimenko]

"Like and unlike," she answers flatly, "It isn't enough for your body to remember how to move without the aid of the kami, but it's better than nothing."

Without warning the woman brings her practice weapon to strike with each of Chihiroko's blocks. They were smooth and measured, meant more to give the Mantis a sense of what it was she was blocking rather than to harm her.

[Moshi Chihiroko]

Her face took on a serious tone and nodded once. "Again, please." And she prepared once more to block should Kaimenko go again.

[Usagi Zenko]

Zenko nods to Kaimenko, turning to face off against the Bayushi. High, middle, high, low...

He offers a smile as he brings his polearm up, one end pointed towards the Bayushi. "After you, Bayushi-sama." His hands gripped the polearm closely, his feet flat and toes 'gripping' the wood, while his stance was a little wider than his prior training had him use. Blocking will be a bit different then the dodging I'm geared to do...wonder how it'll work.

[Matsu Iori]

The attack shudders off Musasha's armor, and the Hida lashes out with his own attack.

The Matsu tenses for the attack, but doesn't winces at the sting of the blow. He then thrusts his own 'polearm' forward, hoping for a counterattack.

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

Zenko nods to Kaimenko, turning to face off against the Bayushi. High, middle, high, low...

He offers a smile as he brings his polearm up, one end pointed towards the Bayushi. "After you, Bayushi-sama." His hands gripped the polearm closely, his feet flat and toes 'gripping' the wood, while his stance was a little wider than his prior training had him use. Blocking will be a bit different then the dodging I'm geared to do...wonder how it'll work.

The Bayushi bows to the Hare and begins the weapons practice. His swings are definitely a bit on the wild side, throwing himself into striking at the correct places at the correct times. A Hare, even one who was tied down by being ordered to block instead of dodge, would not be easy prey otherwise.