Frank Maier wrote:
Lots of kendo and iaido here in the Seattle area; but yeah, it's
pretty sparse nationally except for a coupla other hot spots like L.A.
and New York, and for some reason unknown to me, the Toronto area.

I bet it is due partly to demographics, and more due to specific
individuals who were successful at teaching others their enthusiasm.


My sensei also trained in aikido and once demonstrated a whole buncha
bare-hand-against-sword moves for us. He then mentioned that he
wouldn't wanna actually hafta try 'em in real life. Luckily, not too
many people carry swords around nowadays.

Whole lotta guns on the streets, tho...

And only Superman & Wonder Woman can use bare hands against firearms.

It's a very long tradition, only recently given up, that gentlemen
carried swords. At high military ceremonies, officers still wear swords
but that is getting quite rare in the US military... from what I've
seen, I haven't studied it close-up for the last ten years or so. But
from about 1980 to about 1990 the swords worn in ceremonies decreased
noticably.

The martial arts issue is several fold... plays into politics among
other things. A swordsman was always a gov't enforcer. And if he killed
ten peasants, so what. But if the eleventh (or hundred & eleventh)
peasant killed him, then the peasants won that round. It's only a bad
deal for peasants #1 thru #10 (#110). Not my kind of odds!

Regards
Doug King

DSK wrote in message ...
Frank Maier wrote:
Lots of kendo and iaido here in the Seattle area; but yeah, it's
pretty sparse nationally except for a coupla other hot spots like L.A.
and New York, and for some reason unknown to me, the Toronto area.

I bet it is due partly to demographics, and more due to specific
individuals who were successful at teaching others their enthusiasm.


My sensei also trained in aikido and once demonstrated a whole buncha
bare-hand-against-sword moves for us. He then mentioned that he
wouldn't wanna actually hafta try 'em in real life. Luckily, not too
many people carry swords around nowadays.

Whole lotta guns on the streets, tho...

And only Superman & Wonder Woman can use bare hands against firearms.

Wrong, Some can use akido.

It's a very long tradition, only recently given up, that gentlemen
carried swords. At high military ceremonies, officers still wear swords
but that is getting quite rare in the US military... from what I've
seen, I haven't studied it close-up for the last ten years or so. But
from about 1980 to about 1990 the swords worn in ceremonies decreased
noticably.

Its a shame aint it, nothing like gotting to wear a sword to a dance or a battle.

The martial arts issue is several fold... plays into politics among
other things. A swordsman was always a gov't enforcer. And if he killed
ten peasants, so what. But if the eleventh (or hundred & eleventh)
peasant killed him, then the peasants won that round. It's only a bad
deal for peasants #1 thru #10 (#110). Not my kind of odds!

Life is full of odds. Strive to be peasant number 11.



Regards
Doug King