Anne:
I was first introduced to Western Circle through Kaiden Kris. I explored the sword arts privately
with him for a time before deciding to carry a katana and train for the rank of Green Braid under
Kaiden Gad.
My training has been continually intermittent, due to health concerns, work conflicts during the
school year and most recently a move that makes weekly training in a dojo impractical.
None-the-less, I achieved my Green Braid in August, 2017 and can proudly forever call myself a
Swordfighter.
I grew tremendously in my first year as a swordfighter. While at first I found the intensity of a
simple class in the dojo overwhelming, I eventually found myself standing at the end of night of 20
matches and 5 melees. My focus and trust of self deepened. I bring what I have learned in the dojo
back to my own leadership and teaching practices: definitive response, calm under adversity,
awareness.
There are three things that I love most about the Western Circle. First, the Strength I feel and
develop through training. Second, the sense of Challenging Play that comes in some of the non-combat
classes, when our activities feel like schoolyard games I haven't enjoyed in 30+ years, or may have
shied from even then. Third, the Relationships that develop among swordfighters: To be challenged,
and then to be supported and encouraged by your small successes and the growth others can see; To
offer and receive Sanctuary in its most complete form; To be exchange the Warrior's Greeting and all
the understanding and connection it conveys.
I am the Three Friends of Winter (Suihan Sanyou): the steadfastness of the evergreen pine, the
perseverance of the blooming plum, the resilience of bamboo.
I am the Jackalope, concealed and unexpected. There is lightness, yet power, in my feet, and I learn
to remain alert, to move with evasion and to strike quickly.
I am the Koi, forever swimming upstream towards the waterfall of transformation. I have direction,
sense of purpose, movement through adversity. I am ever closer that waterfall, where my transition
to Water Dragon will be complete.
I was first introduced to Western Circle through Kaiden Kris. I explored the sword arts privately with him for a time before deciding to carry a katana and train for the rank of Green Braid under Kaiden Gad.
My training has been continually intermittent, due to health concerns, work conflicts during the school year and most recently a move that makes weekly training in a dojo impractical. None-the-less, I achieved my Green Braid in August, 2017 and can proudly forever call myself a Swordfighter.
I grew tremendously in my first year as a swordfighter. While at first I found the intensity of a simple class in the dojo overwhelming, I eventually found myself standing at the end of night of 20 matches and 5 melees. My focus and trust of self deepened. I bring what I have learned in the dojo back to my own leadership and teaching practices: definitive response, calm under adversity, awareness.
There are three things that I love most about the Western Circle. First, the Strength I feel and develop through training. Second, the sense of Challenging Play that comes in some of the non-combat classes, when our activities feel like schoolyard games I haven't enjoyed in 30+ years, or may have shied from even then. Third, the Relationships that develop among swordfighters: To be challenged, and then to be supported and encouraged by your small successes and the growth others can see; To offer and receive Sanctuary in its most complete form; To be exchange the Warrior's Greeting and all the understanding and connection it conveys.
I am the Three Friends of Winter (Suihan Sanyou): the steadfastness of the evergreen pine, the perseverance of the blooming plum, the resilience of bamboo.
I am the Jackalope, concealed and unexpected. There is lightness, yet power, in my feet, and I learn to remain alert, to move with evasion and to strike quickly.
I am the Koi, forever swimming upstream towards the waterfall of transformation. I have direction, sense of purpose, movement through adversity. I am ever closer that waterfall, where my transition to Water Dragon will be complete.