---------- Wiz writes:
<*shrug* to each his own I suppose. I dont conisder that a martial art 
because you wouldnt be able to us it unless at a duel or something unless you 
carry around some type of sword with you all the time.>
 

     I've already read Chris McFarland's not-so-small (or nice) rant, but I'd 
have to agree with him whole heartedly.  And not just because he has the 
alliteral facts.
 

     Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but just because something 
wouldn't be as 'accessible' does not mean it loses its 'label' as a martial 
art.  If you read Sun Tzu's "Art of War" he states that the sword should, in 
essence, "become one with your arm"...
 

[note to Chris:]  I was kinda hoping you would have made that connection with 
your little vocabulary lesson, there.  Tying in 'martial art' to mean the 
"Art of War"...
 

     Now, I know that no one in their right mind would walk around, nowadays, 
with a sword in their grasps.  That would just be asking for trouble.  But 
just remember that long before anyone even thought of using a gun, swords 
were the weapon of choice for most civilizations.
 

     You may have a point that swordfighting _might_ be useless in today's 
day and age, but you're _very_ wrong...  People do still use knives.  I've 
used a knife many a time in a similar fashion as when I'd practiced with a 
sword.  Of course there's a size difference between knives and swords, but 
the biggest part of martial arts is learning how to adapt to use a particular 
style in any situation.
 

     Going back to the "Art of War".  It was originally intended to be a 
'guidebook' for samurai, or anyone who wanted to master the sword, but it can 
be taken into context for any 'weapon', especially that of your own natural 
weapons, your hands and feet.
 


---i am... hiroshin!!!  {^_^}ooooo<
      CoN :<>: SAUCE :<>: COV
(hiroshin-ken@juno.com *-*-*-*-*-*-*
*-*-*-*-*-* hiroshnken@netscape.net)
  [AIM: hiroshnken / ICQ#:6482966]