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She was certainly quick to answer, and her expression bore a serious determination. Yasu dipped his head in response, continuing on with the instructions. "In Kendo, strength and speed, even size mean nothing. It is your grasp of distance, timing, and your ability to manipulate the situation that will enable you to succeed. In Kendo, a great stress is put on mastery of the basics, because without a good grasp of these you will quickly crumble. " He spoke softly, but clearly, making sure every word was easy to process in a practiced teaching tone. "Ask yourself this... Do you want to become a high building or collapse while building the first floor? Just like those buildings, we cannot keep improving if we do not have the good foundation of Kendo. "

One might have expected, at this point, that any teacher of their art would have shown even the smallest passion for it in their voice at this point. Yet Yasu held none, listing off the information with a certain coldness like that of steel, as if he were simply relaying information from a manual. Either he held less love for Kendo than was expected, or he simply buried such feelings deeply. At this point it was a difficult thing to tell, although no doubt the voice over his shoulder had a hand in the reasons.

"Kendo was invented as a training system of samurai swordsmanship. Those techniques were invented to train people physically and mentally to survive the era. With their invention and through their experiences, they left us their wisdom to complete our lives spiritually. Like everything, Kendo has a learning curve. It is because Kendo has movements and concepts that probably are unfamiliar with beginners that many people quit early on." His eyes fixed strongly on her, the irises holding a certain clear message. He did not expect nor intend to allow her to quit in this manner.

"In Kendo, we have various rules that run as the basic 'do's and don'ts' when within a dojo or any place of training. These rules of etiquette show respect to the art of Kendo and those teaching. Every culture has manners in which we show respect. In Japan, as you've seen, we bow. Quite a bit. There are two different types of bows. The first is the bow you will make to an opponent. Bend your body from the hip while looking at your opponent. The angle of your body is about 15 degrees, since you have to keep your eyes on your opponent. Do not keep your face straight towards you opponent. You want to keep your chin in." He demonstrated briefly before moving on. "The second is a formal bow. This is used when you bow to teachers, higher ranks and shome0n, the front. This time you do not keep your eyes on them. You have to look down. The angle of your body when you bow is 30 degrees." Another demonstration.

"There is even a seated bow. In seiza," he moved to sit on his knees, holding his hands up. "Place your hands in front of your knees, making a triangle by the index fingers and thumbs of both hands. Slowly and quietly lower your head, your nose going into in the triangle. When you lower your head, keep your eyes open so that you can still look around while bowing. When you lower your head, do not lift your butt up. Don't roll your shoulders in too much. Do not stick your elbows out too much. Keep the back of your neck and your back straight. The right big toe should be on top of the left big toe." Yet another bow, then he was on his feet again rather quickly and smoothly.

"Going back to the rules of respect, much of what you know of your own cultures respect can be applied to understand that of Japanese culture and Kendo. Of course, there are very unique rules in kendo because it is derived from Samurai swordsmanship. These unique rules do not apply to the modern Japanese society any more. The way we treat our sword is an example. We don't carry a sword anymore in our daily life. But once you step into the dojo, we have rules about how to treat our swords." He stepped away, picking up his blade, then came back. "I should tell you this too. Our dojo is not a mere training place. Dojo is a place where we pursue the way. Dojo is written "a place of the way" in Japanese. Therefore, it is used to express a place to train martial arts such as kendo, judo, aikido and so on.
A dojo is where you practice and train the way of anything, as long as the way leads you to enlightenment. A dojo is a place where we discipline ourselves and improve ourselves to be a better person. A dojo could be anywhere in this sense. Your home can be a dojo too. A street can be a dojo too. If you call a gymnasium a dojo, you must pay respect to the gym. Clean the gym after you practice because that is a part of your training. Bow to the dojo when you come in. Bow to the dojo when you go out. Show your respect and appreciation to dojo. I try to explain history or philosophies behind these rules of respect, but there are some things even I can't explain. It's simply because it is the way it is. These traditions, customs and rituals surely had meanings but somewhere between now and then, we lost the meanings."

"The first of these rules of etiquette is, of course bowing when you enter and leave a room. As I explained, it is to show your respect to your place of training and those within. Is about wearing hats and coats in the dojo. In Japan, we take off shoes when we go into a building such as house and dojo. Shoes are for outside. Jacket, coat, cap and hat are all for outside. We don't need them inside the building. Probably it is the same in some countries. Taking off hats indicates showing respect. Why? If we take off our hat, we are revealing ourselves, I believe. Nothing to hide. In that way, they can trust you. The next rule pertains to sitting. When we sit in a dojo, we have two ways of sitting, seiza and agura. No other ways of sitting should be applied in a dojo. You never lie down in a dojo on purpose. Seiza was, as you saw, sitting on your knees, and agura is sitting with crossed legs. We also do not eat or drink in the dojo except on special occasions, except for water." Gesturing down the hall, he continued. "For this, there is a water fountain just down the hall, next to the office. Would you go to a battle or a fight while you were eating? This thought/concept lies in kendo. We must remember the concept all the time; otherwise, kendo becomes a hitting sport. In this aspect, etiquette in dojo is pretty unique."

He took a small breath, gesturing aimlessly. "Any questions thus far?"

The answer came short and simple after his own, but there was little more to be said anyways it seemed. A short nod coupled a silent stare, the only two things Yasu offered the woman at first. Thoughts hung in his mind, his senses drinking in everything he could and squeezing what information could be drained from it. Her answer gave him very little to work with. He thought briefly about asking her own reasons for joining, then decided against it. That was a personal question that held more freedom in a students grasp than a teachers. If she chose to share something of that level, that would be on her own whim, with no prompting from himself as long as he could help it. “Then we’ll continue on to the first part of your lesson. I suspect,” he added with an almost hint of a smile. “You’ll find some of this familiar though, if what you’ve displayed so far is any indicator.” Then whatever shadow of expression was wiped clean, leaving the blank mask of a teacher once more.

“Before we move to the first lesson though, I’ll explain what you’ll expect to learn, and when. Classes are at this time, Monday through Thursday every week, and typically span three hours. Today’s class will be shorter, though, as we’ll just be covering the rules and expectations and a few other basics. You’re expected to be on time and in uniform for every class. You’ll receive your shinai tomorrow, as well as further explanation about it. You will not receive your bōgu,” here he gestured to the bits of armor he wore. “Until we start your pair training.”

“The rules of etiquette and manners, reigi-saho, are to show respect to our place of learning, and those we share it with. Of course I’ve already explained those rules.” He paused, then shook his head once in an irritated fashion, resisting the urge to scowl. His particularly obnoxious companion was, as usual, attempting to distract him with a series of lewd gestures which were unfortunately working. Clearing his throat, he managed to regain some semblance of focus. “Kendo originates from the samurai art of Kenjutsu, which is the way of the sword, and in learning Kendo, we pursue that way. As our dojo is where we pursue that way, it is a sacred place, and so we treat it and all that is a part of it with respect. It’s more then an act of combat.”

Moving his hands behind his back again, he looked off to the side for a moment, thinking how best to continue. “Today I’ll cover the Shizentai. Starting tomorrow we will cover the rules of Taito. How to wear your sword.” He glanced back again. “The blade you brought with you will not be used in the dojo, but you may still leave it in the locker if you prefer, or at home. The blade we use is the shinai, or bamboo blade.” He turned away and slipped across the floor, his steps silent save for the soft swish of fabric. Once he reached the set of chairs he picked up his own bamboo blade and returned to stand before Dominique once more. Palm up, he held out his hand with the weapon balanced so that she could see it. Then in a smooth and slightly unnecessary flourish, he rolled his hand, flicking the blade over his palm in a full circle before grasping it at his side like a sheathed blade.

“After learning Taito, we will continue on to cover chudan, the art of taking and returning your weapon into this state. Then we will begin working on footwork, and from there, on to strikes. All of this solo training is called tandoku dosa and will span over the course of four months. Once we pass that stage, we will begin working on pair training for another two months. This will cover the entirety of basic training.” He let the words hang in the air for several minutes, allowing her time to adjust to the daunting amount of information he’d lain out for her. As he did so, he returned his blade to the chair, taking great care not to have it touch the floor. Even when he returned to face her for a third time, he said nothing, simply waiting patiently for any questions or indication that she was ready to continue.

There was a hard set to the girls eyes that Yasu liked. It was a determined set that spoke volumes of life experience lending their hand towards her reasons for standing here today. There was an uncanny patience in the woman's posture, with nary a shift in her weight. Her gaze had yet to flicker away for any reason besides those he'd given her. He nodded only once, but he allowed some appreciation to slip into his gaze in a careful, measured amount.

"Shizentai means 'natural posture'. It's the act of perfecting one's posture, and the very basics with which we will start with. There is an irony in the truth, that you must learn the natural posture in order to stand naturally." A trace of humor tugged at his lips, even as the joke fell in the lame manner that seemed rudimentary when it came to teachers of any kind. Striding forward, he placed everything in his hands aside and gestured to her. "The three key points in Shizentai involve straightening the back of your neck, pulling your chin in, and tightening your backside." He returned to his usual style of speech. Calm, quiet, and distant enough on an emotional scale to be respectful.

"It will be slightly uncomfortable at first, because there is a distinct difference between relaxing and being lazy." He touched his fingers lightly to her shoulders as he spoke, his actions much the same as his tone of voice. "Lift your shoulders and bring them back, until you feel your shoulderblades touch. Now, drop your shoulders. This naturally sticks out your chest and stops your shoulders from rolling forwards. Keep your chin in, just a little, and keep your neck straight." Idly he used the wooden blade to tap her backside, in as much a respectful way as could be managed. "Tighten up. Heels together, toes apart at a fourty-five degree angle." To accent his words, his foot would nudge between hers, adjusting the stance as was needed. "Feel your abdomen tighten? You'll also no doubt notice that you feel taller. I'll expect you to continue practicing this until it feels as natural as breathing."