As the festive season draws near, we wish everyone happy holidays and a peaceful end to the year. Adopting a similar style to an article on Neko's no Myojutsu, we hope you, the reader enjoy this entry - finding something meaningful or just a light-hearted read.
In the quiet stillness of the dojo, three cats sat in a circle, their tails flicking in rhythmic harmony. All were studying a dashboard. Their conversation was about to unfurl, blending wisdom, humour, and a shared pursuit of curiosity.
Tora, holding and studying the dashboard, "I often wonder about our human friends practising Iaido. "
Haya, reading the human's notebooks and papers: "Indeed.. often we see that, when they start practising a skill, they often advance quickly. However, after some early progress, and as they learn more, their progress typically begins to slow down gradually ?"
Enso, the smallest cat of the three: "It is similar for us cats... no? Many believe their progress slows down after a while because the new skills to learn become more difficult than ones encountered in the initial stages of their learning."
Haya: "Hmm.. Progress happens through repetition. With practice, muscle memory is built as the mind learns and adjusts."
Enso: "So the key is to always have a focus on the basics, even at more advanced levels?"
Tora: "It appears so, from the recent Kyu grading our human friends conducted. Emphasis on basics is a recurrent theme in their assessments. Look, they are doing analytics on Kyu grading. The scores inform the kyu graders on what to work on next, for improvement."
Haya, looking up from the papers: " I see. So the instructors can refer to it to plan their teaching.. "
Enso, noting the categories in the dashboard: "These are just some aspects of the basics. Humans are complicated, aren't they? Hm. Nukitsuke seems to need the most refinement."
Haya: "I see their assessment on footwork basics. Footwork is a necessity for maintaining balance and stability."
Taro muses: "Analytics ensures decisions are evidence-based and adaptable as conditions change over time."
Just then, someone opens the Dojo door. With a practised elegance that could only come from countless quiet departures, the three cats rose and left their circle, leaving no trace of their presence.
In the story above, cats are chosen as story characters as a cat's natural ability to analyze and adapt symbolizes the balance between mind, body, and environment. This concept can be applied to iaido, a traditional martial art centred on precise and fluid movements. By combining analytics with iaido, we can gain valuable insights that enhance training and deepen our understanding of the art. While iaido traditionally emphasizes its spiritual and philosophical aspects, integrating analytics offers a modern approach to complement these teachings. Analytics can help track learners' progress, identify plateaus, and tailor training plans to address specific weaknesses, ultimately refining the physical and mental aspects of the practice.