One of the hardest parts about kangeiko thus far (one morning training in!) was setting my alarm for 5am last night. Following that I had the most dreadful sleep, dreaming that my alarm was just about to go off, and that I was terribly dehydrated, and that I had slept through my alarm and missed training. Unfortunately, the last one definitely wasn't true and I struggled out of bed feeling like it was the middle of the night. Even Tippy the dog didn't know what was going on - "Going outside - now, already! Oh boy something exciting must be happening!"

We were very lucky in that it was an unusually warm morning. After all the freezing weather we have been having, it was very refreshing! I was amazed to have 11 brave souls who had resisted the temptation of the snooze button. All 11 people were at training on time. Lets hope this behavior filters into regular trainings! Akiyo had got poor Ria and Sui out of bed to come too on the first day of their holidays!

Straight into training - Akiyo had suggested that the first day be just kirikaeshi (yes folks it was her idea not mine!). So after a quick warm up and suburi we did just that! Starting with to sets, increasing by a set each rotation up till 8, counting back down again to two, then counting up again in even numbers to 8, and counting down to one set on the odd numbers. That is 96 sets of kirikaeshi (that's 1043 cuts). The first count up to 8 was the hardest - knowing we had only been doing it for 20 odd minutes, and there was so much more in store. Everyone was putting in a lot though - they came knowing the whole idea of kangeiko is that it is hard, and they knew that the only way it would be great is if they gave it their all.

With a small amount jigeiko to finish on a high note, all was right in the world! It was the first time in a long time I got to work before all of my colleagues. I couldn't stop eating all day. I finished my lunch by 11 and the hunger pangs remined. Evening training was somewhat subdued, but enjoyable - even with the realisation that the aches and blisters would never have time to heal over the next week. I must quote our good friend before he gets on here and writes - Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more!