Kenjutsu At The Top Of The World

As we rode the service elevator up the building I should have been paying attention to what Shi Shi was saying to Astra but in truth I was more interested in what was in the long carrying bag.

We had been practicing kenjutsu at the past few gatherings, and I figured this was an extension of that, but this time something was different, the feeling was different.

The ride up took us some time, as there was no destination button. You got in, the doors closed, turned a key, and its up and away.

When the elevator stopped and the doors open, we were in a large empty machine room at the top of the skyscraper.

All was quiet when I realized and asked Shi Shi if we were even allowed to be here, which he replied with a finger to his lips and a smile.

Up another set of metal stairs and through a door, we were now on the roof overlooking the entirety of the city, the difference between night and day, being almost midnight, the city was very quiet.

Rolling out the carrying bag I again should have been paying attention to the conversation, but I was more interested in the swords.

Katana.

Kodachi.

Mogito.

Sharpen the blade and they would be shinken.

Shi shi handed Astra and myself a sword and the lessons began as they always did.

No academic instruction, just  movement in the moment.

Half of it was trying not to get hit, countering Shi Shi’s moves, and the other half was trying to watch what he was doing so one had the lesson.

This went on for an hour or so, perhaps longer or shorter, in that moment of just movement with the sword time was distorted.

Did we have any questions?

I was mostly silent and let Astra ask any questions since the lessons were primarily for him, I was lucky to be invited to tag along, but I did have one question for Shi Shi.

It was how or where to use the sword to subdue or not cause any damage, to which Shi Shi just looked at me.

His response was that the three of us found ourselves at the top of a building in one of the largest cities in the world, training with swords. If it was for “real”, we are long past that point.

Know the patience of enduring with the sword, never drawing it.