3.7 Free choice blog

The last thing I read was a book on kendo. Kendo is basically Japanese Fencing. In the book it taught me the proper way to assemble my shinai which is the sword. I love kendo and this book taught me so much. I learned the proper striking and blocking techniques. The book also talked about the famous swords man Myamoto Musashi. He is known for being able to fight with swords in both of his hands. He first killed at a very young age. He was known as a ronin which is a rouge samurai. He developed nito which is when you fight with two swords. I am still learning how to fight using nito so this was very interesting. The book described the equipment you used when performing kendo. Their is the men which is the helmet/mask, the do, which is the chest plate, the gi and hakama, which you wear underneath the gear, the tare, which is the skirt, and the kote, which are the gloves. The equipment is so cool. The samurai designed this equipment so they would not hurt each other when they practiced. Most equipment is made of bamboo so it is very light yet very strong. You can get shark and manta ray skin dos'. The equipment can also come in various designs and colors. They can be very beautiful. The book also talked about how to care for your equipment. Every once in a while you must take apart your shinai, sand it, and wax it so it stays in pristine condition. You also must air out your gear so it stays clean and smells decent. At first kendo is an expensive sport but if you put time into it I promise you will not regret practicing kendo.

2.07 Free Choice Blog

Summerization

I read a couple of chapter of a book about an abused girl finding hope and learning to trust. In the book a girl named Grace Cooper lost her family in a car accident when she was eight. She was moved from foster home to foster home as she was growing up. Her current home is with a drunk named Jack and his wife named Candy. When Grace turned seventeen Candy died and left her all alone with her abuser Jack. Now Grace is all alone. Grace is smart but she doesn't apply herself and is a loner. At school she is bullied just because she is an easy target. After school she works as a waitress/cook at a local diner. When she returns home she has to make sure everything is perfect for Jack. If the house or supper is not perfect she will face consequences. At home she cooks and cleans. Her only safe haven is an abandoned theatre with an old piano. One day she finds a mysterious boy named Jed in her theatre. She tries to leave but he sees here. No matter what she does Jed continues to come back to the theatre and tries to listen to her play. He sees that she is hiding something but is stubborn and won't let him get close to her in fear of being hurt. The story goes on to Jed coming closer to finding out her secret and Grace continues to experience pain and tries to distance herself. Jed eventually sees the bruises and marks by accident when Grace almost falls while she was working. Grace plays it off like it was an accident and she fell but Jed is smarter than that. That was all I read I can’t wait for the next chapter.