Good day to all,

I am a student of the Japanese martial arts and especially of the
sword based arts of Korindo Aikido and jujitsu. I feel that you are
denied a few truths by the casual way you are introduced to tools such
as staffs, knives and swords. Tools are very important to the student
and they teach us a lot about their proper use and expand our view
concerning distance, speed, timing, balance and all. Having practiced
with Boken and Jo and some real edged weapons in a few martial
settings, I generalize the outcome of fun practice as delusional in
terms of survival progress. It is useful to play fight without
knowledge or guides but the progress will seldom flow to battle
readiness without learning technique and diligent practice. The
technique does not replace the man but it is a tool to reach greater
awareness and knowledge and eventually freedom from all structure will
arrive (I am still waiting). One has to focus a lot of effort to
reach high goals as self and tool efficiency and free work is not
enough to hone the self alone.

Cheers, Sharon Friedman.