Basic lines in Japanese calligraphy (shodō 書道)

In the third lesson of my shodō 書道, I have practiced only drawing lines. 

It is more difficult than it appears. In Europe, we are used to writing with a hand on paper, even with an ink fountain pen; there is support. 

In Japanese calligraphy, shodō 書道, you sit with your back straight and hold the ink brush (fude 筆) vertically. The strokes use various brush pressures, but they are very prescribed in direction.

書道 shodo: The art of Japanese calligraphy, meaning "the way of writing".
墨 sumi: The black ink used in calligraphy. 

筆 fude: This is the modern and common kanji for "brush" used in words like fudepen (brush pen).
聿 itsu: This is a more classical kanji that means explicitly "writing brush" and is often used in compound words related to writing.

永

The eight principles of 永 (Eiji Happō)

1. 側 (
   

   $soku$
   ) - A dot
2. 勒 (
   

   $roku$
   ) - A horizontal stroke
3. 努 (
   

   $do$
   ) - A vertical stroke
4. 趯 (
   

   $teki$
   ) - A hook
5. 策 (
   

   $saku$
   ) - A horizontal stroke with a right upward ending
6. 掠 (
   

   $ryaku$
   ) - A diagonal stroke to the left
7. 啄 (
   

   $taku$
   ) - A short diagonal stroke to the left
8. 磔 (
   

   $taku$
   ) - A diagonal stroke to the right

The kanji "eternity," 永 (ei), actually contains all the 8 techniques.

I will practice this kanji for many days, just like kata, before I move on with the next lesson.