Training Dojo [hakuda/zanjutsu/hohou/Demon Arts]

Soon after arriving back from a meeting that was his up most to attend, Zatoichi waste no time to get started as time is not something he can afford to waste. The captain of seventh simply takes a few jugs of water and throws them over his shoulder with his zanpakuto held at the left side of his waist area. Making his way towards the dojo grounds in which he built only a few hours ago for the members of his squad. Making a note to not disturb him with the sign reading outside the main doors that lead into the first dojo room; “Do not disturb, Captain is training” Dropping the jugs of water to the ground the captain gets right into going over the basics first and foremost.

Taking off his Haori as he sets it by a nearby hanger that is just beside the doorways, Zatoichi stretches his arms, legs and body so that he could simply limber up his body for he is going to need to at least give him a full control over it all. After several hours, Zatoichi takes hold of his zanpakuto and comments slowly underneath his tongue, “like before old friend,” Positioning his body into what is called in Kendo a Jodan-no-kamae stance, otherwise known upper-level posture. With his zanpakuto held high above his head and his right foot out in front as he’ll use the force from his back left leg to drive his entire body behind the downward strike to increase the swings speed and power. What is even more increasing is since one hand would supply a great deal of damage if swung down on a foe or target, the basis to increase the depth is only needed when both hands touch the hilt to further supply more raw strength added in. Targeting a simple straw dummy that is set all over the dojo, the captain takes the first three dummies as a target he’ll use to strike down with a blow from this stance. Stepping forward only an inch or two out with the right foot as the swing comes crashing down upon the first dummy thus creating what is known as a simple rieastu crash of force that any zanjutsu adept to mastery could accomplished if they applied a daily rigorous routine to it. And with that force from his left leg traveling the current force from one foot onto the other that being the right which in turn created such a great ignition of power to literately cut a penetration so deep it obliterated the first, second and third dummy all in one complete swing. Even though the captain is not quite at a true mastery of this art form he still supplies the basics to the four stances of kendo to at least practice and use them in each session.

After a series of different stance each being completely different than the previous one, the seventh captain simply pours of sweat from his face, chest, arms as well finger tips itself showing that he has yet to try and take a break since time is not something he has a whole lot of at this moment. For three days of this will be commencing on him and to take a break now would be worthless, Now after nearly doing each stance at least ten to twenty times over the captain sheathes is zanpakuto up and places it off to the side of his haori upon grabbing the first jug of water and consumes it as if he has yet to drink this substance ever in his life. The taste of it felt gave him the needed edge to continue and resume his training again.

Knowing now after going over zanjutsu the next thing would be Hakuda [hand to hand combat]. Zatoichi Cracks his knuckles a bit as to loosen his hands up since he’ll almost have to do a bit of small to large routines of further warming up his arms, legs and chest before he begins any other type of added punishment to his body. Being that Zanjutsu was basically a compilation of all his major muscles using to complete a set of moves into one complete motion and stay in tune each time around. Hakuda is more of a free flowing transition that can be simply positions and orchestrated in all types of directions so it’s always best to allow the major joints and muscles to have the needed oxygen and maneuverability before you jump right in and break and rebuilt its movements over and over again. At least to the common knowledge of Zatoichi’s physique does he tend to do things in a series of trials of progression before he gives himself a few worlds of in depth approaches on styles of hand to hand combat forms?

Like a machine running on a near limitless supply of willpower that has yet to crack, the captains does as much warm up exercises as he feels the need to do ranging from push-up, sit-ups squats and hand stand push-ups, even going so far as to lifting and holding his body up and pushing down onto one had entirely with the support and balance of it as a whole. As he finally breaks the next course of sweat upon him Zatoichi pops back upright onto his feet as he closes his fist and resumes to relax them eyeing both hands and entire body to feel as if he is now ready to begin the first combat form. Bending his neck from left to right as a pop of extreme stress is relieved each time around, the captain now is ready fully to start it up.

Not needing much of a time to catch his breath he slams his posture down into a simple but very stationary horse stance as he finds the center of gravity to allow his weight to be distributive equally. Having found his center, Zatoichi begins to gradually move from the right to left…swaying back and forth like a clock’s hand. Moving both arms and hands out in front the captain punches forth as he lets his weight and balance soon become a part of the complicated positions his entire body is being pushed forth into as this is another part of a long ongoing exercise pattern the seventh captain does as well.