Kendo, Kenjitsu, the way of the Samurai

I have a katana. For anyone who does know what a katana is, it a japanese sword. For anyone reading this, first of all when I say sword, please do not imagine a european sword. There are many different types of swords, the British have their own, french have their own type, so do the Chinese in which they call Tachi. They all look and are made differently and also have different meanings.

When people notice that I have a sword, the first reaction they have is to get creeped out, maybe some think I'm some mass murderer. Then they ask, "well why do you have a sword?" and so forth. But if I were to say I have a gun in my closet, they might get a little nervous but they are more accepting of the gun than they are of the sword. Its okay, a gun is used for protection. BTW, I do not have a gun and do not like guns, they are the most unskilled and ugly and least artistic weapon ever created. In contrast, I would be more worried about the person who has a gun than a sword. Why?

Well the difference is in training. Whats the first thing you think of when you hear Samurai? A guy walking around with a sword cutting everything down or maybe even a ninja type figure. Yes Samurias are guys with swords but they follow certain principles to, you can't just be a Samurai. The world itself means 'to serve', and the person they would serve was the emperor/shogun of Japan. But Samurais are also very disciplined, disciplined enough that if ordered too, they would take their own life. Also the samuria served their village and family, they were the ones who protected their loved ones. They were also expected to be literate and enjoy the arts such as caligraphy. Education was important to a Samuria. Samurai also practiced Zen meditation which was to calm the mind which led them to the reasoning of how it is wrong to tortue people or kill them needlessy. Some even adopted non-killing philosophies. A sword is also not a weapon that you can just get up and go swing. It takes hours of practice and perfection just to get the simplest swing down. Anyone who just owns a sword without training is really not that much of a threat. Using a sword requires a lot of practice and discipline. When trained to use a katana, a person is trained in the way of the Samurai and learn to follow certain principles: Zen Meditation, Bushido, and Education.

But anybody can learn how to use a gun. Whatever morals, beliefs whatever, a gun can be perfected in its use without discipline. It is a weapon that does not take a whole lot of skill to use.

So why do I have a sword? I guess I almost like a Samuria except I do not walk around with my sword or in a komino(japanese clothing). When I am practicing with my katana or my bokken(wooden sword), it helps me relax and become focused. Like any other physical activity, it helps relieve stress, especially if I get real anxious about something and I can't talk to anyone about it. I also do serve/protect my loved ones, such as my little sister. That does not mean I pick up a sword and go fight for her but I do have her back on whatever she is going through. And I am trained to fight as a last resort. There are many ways of avoiding and solving problems, such as walking away or staying calm and finding a solution. Volience only leads to more volience. To fight or even worse, to actually use a sword is the very last resort to getting over a conflict. A sword can be used as an offensive or defensive weapon, I just choose defensive and apply that to my life. I also value my education as I realize ignorace = control.

Sure following the way of the Samurai my sound weird at first, but if you really think about the idea, it is really a way of life. Same for Islam, Christianity, Buddhism whatever the religion or belief is. I am Christian btw. But that does not mean I cannot adopt the principles of a Samurai.

Keep in mind also that many of the major belief systems actually have a lot of overlapping beliefs too.