Keiko with Maurie sempai

In the past two weeks, the training had up and downs. Last night at the free-jigeiko session I had the weakest centre in weeks. I couldn't apply proper seme, and was very agitated. When the opponent came, I got scared and lost my centre. However, in the previous trainings I preformed well. So I don't really understand how this difference can happen suddenly.

I fought Maurie sempai for the first time, who is one of the most senior students and always gives commands at the beginning and the end of the trainings. He's a man of large build, so I haven't practised with him so far, because I tend to want to practise with someone of similar size as me. This is not to mention that at the back of my head I thought that larger people cannot move fast. The practice with him completely let me with awe. I just could not do anything!! He scored debana-kote even when I executed renzoku (continuous-striking) techniques. Usually, people are overwhelmed by this kind of techniques, and they defend, step backwards or dodge. Doing debana-technique in-between fast strikes is very difficult indeed. He did it all the time! In the whole ten minutes I only got a kote...

The advice he gave me was to keep my centre and do not move away my shinai so much. The fact is, my mind seemed blocked and my instinct was to defend.. I really need more experiences.