You think Frau can handle this man? Katana with katana?

[frau kaleun]

Originally Posted by 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.

Bonus points for quoting Worf.

We have had a couple higher-ranking people from our dojo who have performed in competition because they wanted to on their own - as far as I know, only doing kata. Yes, sensei helped them practice and fine tune their skills - but we aren't trained for competition, we don't compete as a school, it is something that is never mentioned much less put forward as a goal or encouraged as some way to gain prestige or "prove" oneself. Sensei has actually discouraged parents of some kids who thought throwing them into tournaments would be a good way to "build their self-esteem" (after a few months of lessons, right, having your kid get his butt handed to him in front of a crowd of strangers will just do wonders for his confidence) and he has lost students because of his refusal to get on board with that kind of thing.

Anyway, most of what we're taught is illegal in competition and would just get us thrown out.