Strategy application 3 Qs

by kynes
(Los Angeles, CA, USA)

I've achieved my first kyu rank and am starting to work on the long road to becoming a good kenshi in combat.

I've always been a student of Musashi prior to learning kendo.  Now I study the actual techniques more intently.

1)

I would like a page of general advice for techniques.  I'm paired off with other kyu levels during practice and as you know, they often can’t control themselves, or throw their body weight, etc. variations as they are learning also.  I'd like to overcome the obstacles of their bad kendo.

For instance: I've learned that when facing someone tall, I generally should concentrate on kote and do being mindful of their men strikes.

The other day I faced a body builder who overpowered me and we were constantly in tsubazeri-ai with no hope for me. I've decided that thrusting to the neck and following up with an angled men cut will be my strategy w/ someone bigger/stronger.

Are there other words of general wisdom such as these to 'help my learning along'?

2)

Also I've bought a book called The Sword and The Mind containing old crude drawings of sword techniques and their application. I would like someone to describe them in modern terms.

3)

In many cases, there is not an opening when they attack, my senseis always say not to block but to instead strike first.  But much of my training is with older students who leave me no room to train - I’m like a punching bag for them. 

I do often block their sword and see an opening. Is there somewhere I can go which will show proper techniques for a parry and attack?

ex. is it more beneficial to block w/ tip to the right or to the left?  I generally react w/ a rt-tip block leaving me to wheel around my head and strike men on their right. (or do) but I would rather have it the other way around. 

I want to block in a way that is correct and efficient - as of now - I have no training yet I do it - I want to do it correct. "strike first" is not proper instruction on blocking - though I fully understand the intent of that advice.

Answer: Thank you for your questions and congratulations for your kyu. Did you get 1st kyu or this is your first time to get a rank?
Since we have limited space here, I will post my answers.