[Skybird]

No doubt, the technical skill is impressive, and in no way I would ever claim to have been even close to that performance level. Compared to that display of choreography and skill, I was just a dilletant. But I simply reject an opinion that shows and sensationalism like this are what a warrior's arts are about. It is about lethal skill in real fighting, and character-education, both goes hand in hand. Neither me nor my mentor and trainer were able or even willing to bring this into cooperation with shows and tournaments and ordinary sports-as-a-hobby attitude. I for myself never did it for sports. And for my teacher, it was a way to form an honourable basic attitude to live by while transitting through this life. And I honestly think that this is what it is about: skill in real combat, and basic living attitude. Not shows, tournaments, and boasting with one's competitiveness.

And I am certain that there are some people in the world who live in the hidden and of whom we will never learn that they existed and who are happy not to ever stand in the spotlight, who would smoke this guy in their pipe, if they would clash. Not that they would ever actively search for such a meeting.

Or as Worf once put it in one episode: "The real warrior knows the important battles are those within himself, this is where he must prove himself." Added for pathetic effect to some TV series, yes - but true.