This is my story... my precioussss...
(Musashi Miyamoto is an actual historical figure, and in my opinion, the greatest kendoist ever.)
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| Budoka no Jinsei:
| SIDE STORY 10:
| Excerpts from a Kendoist's Diary
|
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| Spooky life lessons by:
| opaj
| How the heck is this a life les- er, edited by:
| opaj
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February 5, 1993
This is a journal for me. Mommy gave me it for my birthday today. I don't want a diary I said. Not diary, journal she said. When I'm older, I can look at this and it would be neat. That's what mommy said.
March 30, 1993
I haven't written for two weeks 'cause school started. I'm in fourth grade now. I joined kendo club. It looks cool and I wanna be like the guys in the movies. Samurais are cool.
December 4, 1993
Master Yoshida said I have talent. He thinks that I can be a good swordsman. He said he wants to teach me Two Swords One School technique. I learned that that's Musashi Miyamoto's technique. I want to be like Musashi Miyamoto. I'm gonna be the best ever.
December 13, 1994
Master Yoshida is the coolest. He gave me a recommendation to an actual school of Kenjutsu! He learned his kenjutsu there, but he decided to teach kendo instead of becoming a famous athlete. I asked him why, but he told me that, while kendo is a sport, kenjutsu is a deadly art and a way of life. Kenjutsu could kick kendo's butt!
January 21, 1995
I heard mom and dad fighting yesterday. They were quiet and it was late, but I couldn't sleep so I heard them. Dad said he doesn't want me to go to the Kenjutsu School. Mom said it would be a great character builder. Dad wants me to be smart, like Ichiro and Jiro. Both my brothers get good grades, but my grades aren't too bad. I just think being strong is better.
March 21, 1995
Dad said I could go to try out kenjutsu during the vacation. So mom took me there today, and I had this thing where they introduced me to the customs of the school, and then they practiced with me to see what I knew. The man said that I had exactly the kind of material that they were looking for, so I think I got in. I just hope dad lets me.
March 28, 1995
I had my first official class today. I was suprised. I was the only kid there. The youngest guy besides me was thirty or something. I didn't know it would be like that. But anyway, it was cool. We sat in meditation for like an hour, and that was boring. But then we started practicing moves. All the strong guys got two bokkens, but I only got a small kodachi bokken. He said I have to get good enough to beat someone with only a kodachi. I can't wait until I can use two swords.
November 13, 1995
Great news! I got to use a katana bokken today! Master Toriboshi said that it's the fastest anyone's ever done that. I'm gonna be the best!
February 16, 1996
This sucks. I haven't written for a while because dad grounded me. He said I can't go to kenjutsu class again until I get my grades up. He wishes I was like Ichiro. Two weeks ago, he got an acceptance letter to Tokyo University. Dad was so excited, he almost forgot my birthday. I'm thirteen, I can make my own decisions!
February 20, 1996
Mom made dad let me go to class. I've got the coolest mom ever.
August 13, 1996
I did it! After months of hard work, I got my black belt! Master Toriboshi just can't believe it. He's never even heard of someone getting that good that fast. He says I'm a kenjutsu genius, and lately he's always telling me to use my skills for good or something like that. Mr. Ebihara is jealous 'cause I'm his upperclassman. I'm gonna be the best!
November 1, 1996
Mom and dad were arguing again. Dad says I'm turning into some punk. Mom says that I've got a talent. She wishes she could have done something like that. Dad thinks I'm a disgrace to the Shinmen name, but mom is proud of me. She never met the man, but she thinks I take after my grandfather. I wonder who he is. All mom knows is that he was a WWII hero. She was adopted.
January 23, 1997
That's it! Dad's going nuts. He snaps at me all the time. Whenever Jiro does something bad, I get in trouble. Dad says he wishes I was like my brothers all the time. Ichiro's gonna be a doctor, and Jiro wants to go into business. That's boring! I want to be strong. Doctors and businessmen are rich, but they don't go down in history. Musashi Miyamoto was a warrior! I'm gonna show him. I'm gonna be the best, and be rich and famous!
October 23, 1997
Today was weird. I felt light when I woke up in the morning. We were doing striking practice during kenjutsu class, and when I hit my target, it broke. Master Toriboshi said that the target must've been old, and got me a new one. But that one broke too. Then he said that that one must be old too, so he got me a brand new one. He said, that's pretty unlucky. But when I hit this one, it also broke. He said that that was a brand new one, and that it shouldn't have done that. He got another one out, and this time he told me to only use my left arm. By now, everyone had gathered around and was staring at me. I was kinda embarassed. When I swung again, the target broke again. Master Toriboshi said that he'd never seen someone as young as me use that kinda power. He asked me to spar with him. I lost, but only barely. Both his bokken broke when I was attacking, and he just won by sneaking under me and striking me with the broken end. He sent me home early, and everyone stared at me as I left. It was scary.
October 24, 1997
Master Toriboshi had me meet him privately today. He told me that what he thinks happened was that I made a breakthrough. He said that I always had the power I used yesterday, but something happened yesterday that allowed me to use it. He doesn't know what it was, but I think I know.
October 25, 1997
I hate dad. He said that he won't let me go to my kenjutsu class anymore. Period. I told him what Master Toriboshi told me yesterday, but he didn't believe me. He told me that everything Master Toriboshi said was meaningless, and that he wouldn't raise a son who lived in the clouds. Then he sent me to my room to study. He can't do this. I'll show him. I'll show him ki.
November 3, 1997
I borrowed the forbidden scrolls from Master Toriboshi. I found the ultimate technique of the school. It uses ki, and it's called the Shikei Ha. I'm gonna learn it, and then I'm gonna prove to dad once and for all that I'm right.
The author of this journal does not write anything for the next three years after the preceding entry.
November 10, 2000
Today is the third year anniversary of the accident. I haven't kept my record since then, but I think I'm ready now.
Ever since the accident, dad left me alone. I think he blames himself for it. But that's okay. I do, too. I think he was also secretly relieved, because the doctors didn't think I could continue martial arts. But I showed them. Not only did I continue kenjutsu, but against all odds, I've remastered and remade Two Swords One School.
This is a lot for me to write after so long. I'll write again tomorrow.
July 3, 2001
I heard of this really amazing sounding tournament, but when I brought it up, dad immediately said no. I thought I had beat him, but I guess he's still got some fight left. It doesn't matter. In 2004, I'm going to be an adult, and then he can't stop me from going to the Omega Tournament.
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