KendoCamp: Day 1&2
Ow. That's all I'm gonna say.
Okay, I'll say bit more 
We left on Tuesday around 11, on what should have been a 1.5 hour drive. We followed the directions, but somehow ended up at Widner University, not Bryn Mawr A little stress later, and we figured out how to get there and made it right near where we were supposed to be there, so that part worked out. Unpacked the car, trucked up our luggage and equipment, and got settled. Had to pretty much turn right around and get dressed and grab our swords and bogu (the armor we wear) and head across campus for our opening class.
First Practice: Lots and lots of suriashi (soo ree ah shee). Essentially, it's the footwork we use in Kendo. You use sliding steps with the right foot forward, slide forward and quickly bring the left foot up, both feet never leaving the ground. Now do that about 100 x to get across the gym. Now go back and forth across the gym until you feel like you are going to drown in your own sweat It's good aerobic exercise, but it's hell on your feet. Most of the stuff was drills designed to look at your posture, give you little insights into why your foot does this, or your left hand should do that, etc. Very informative and tiring class. Solid 2 hours.
Oh yeah, did I mention there's no AC? And it's 90 degrees outside? And we have to wear armor, heavy cotton shirts and pants? Yeah, that's the fun part. The good thing is, I think I am over my dehydration because all I've been doing is pounding water.
So after the first practice, we went back and showered and changed for dinner. College caf food, you know what it's like. But considering the amount of calories burnt, I ate like a pig. Plus lots and lots of PowerAde, which at this point is beginning to taste like ass.
Went over to the dorm next door to watch Iaido practice. Yeah, more sword stuff. The intricate details are amazing. Very cool class. Not going tonight, tho. I'm enjoying the hell out of just sitting here writing this all down.
Day 2: Alarm goes off at 5:30am. ZaZen (meditation) in the iaido studio, brought a pillow, need a thicker one BIGTIME. Nice bell recording to focus on, meditated around 20 minutes, and then did a walking meditation for about another 10. Came back, realized breakfast was at 7:30 and I could sneak in an hour? Oh yeah baby, naptime. got another 45 minutes. Going to try to do something useful tomorrow instead, but as exhausted as I am, might do the same. We'll see.
Breakfast and then Kendo no Kata from 9-10. Kendo no Kata is forms practice. Again, REALLY informative on the nuances of stance, and who initiates each movement (you or your partner), and nice zen like atmosphere. Took a 15 minute break and then Kendo until around noon. At this point, my gi(the shirt) is soaking wet because it didn't fully dry from the night before so I sweat right into it more. Stinking to high heaven at this point, because I don't have another top, but you know what? I'm at camp and there are a bunch of other people in the same boat, smelling just as raunchy. The worst part was putting it back on after lunch. I put it in front of the AC to hopefully dry it out some. Yeah, good idea Matt. It was wet and ICE COLD as I put it on. And my little A-Hole of a son slaps me in the back so the cold wet top sticks to me. Almost disenherited him right there and then
Class after lunch was 2 hours and it was thankfully after another 30 min nap. I believe these are becoming essential. We're going to try to crash earlier tonight, so hopefully that'll make it easier. Aidan tried sleeping in the room down the hall, but he got too freaked out, so I ended up getting a call from him, asking me if he could pull his matress in here. Probably going to do that for the rest of the week. He's not afraid of the dark or anything, just being alone. He agreed to give it a shot, but when it got to 11pm and we had to get up at 5:30, dude, enough.
The 2 hour class was pretty intense, and I was wearing bogu the whole time so I sweat my butt off. I had trouble untying the knots on my pants because they had become sweat soaked. Thankfully, I have another hakama that I'm going to use tomorrow to give this one a chance to dry out.
We just finished dinner, Aidan found a bunch of kids to hang out with from the DC dojo, so they're all in the common room watching TV. He actually just came up to check on me One of the NJ dojo student's birthday is today, so we're going to go over to Church Sensei's room at 9 for cake. They're at Iaido right now, so it'll be a little surprise.
My feet hurt, I've drunk about a gallon of Gatorade, I've realized just how much I sweat, but I'm have a good time. I needed this vacation in the biggest way possible.