The House of Cash, or "I fell into a burining ring of fire."

Last Tuesday, Johnny Cash's house in Tennesee burned to the ground.

He and his wife June Carter Cash lived there their whole married life. They owned two other homes, including one in Jamaica, but this was a unique, one of a kind house which they always considered home. They were the only family to live in the house.

You may have glimpsed the home if you ever saw Cash's "Hurt" video.

He wrote many of his final songs in the house.

In the movie "Walk the Line," when Cash literally stumbles onto the house being built, it marks the start of his long, slow turnaround from drugs and despair.

After Cash died, the house was sold to one of the Brothers Gibb (yes, of the Bee Gees...), but it was being renovated before occupancy when it burned down.

The only thing left now are the chimneys.

Little by little, we lose this Republic

I don't usually talk politics, but this really burns me up in a fundamental way...

In 1789, when the Founding Fathers argued in the heat of the Constitutional Convention, one of their major concerns was checking the potential for tyranny in a strong, centralized, national government. They built a series of tripwires and safeguards into the Constitution to keep this from happening. Most of us are familiar with the two major safeguards, the three branch government, and the checks and balances system that keeps each of the three branches as watchdogs over the other two.

But there are many smaller safeguards built in, all designed to keep anyone from centralizing power in one place of the government for too long, or too tightly.

One of those safeguards is the Electoral College.

Now, I recognize that those of us who grew up learning civics from Schoolhouse Rock did not hear much about the Electoral College until the 200 election. Those who grew up after Schoolhouse Rock probably know even less. Good news, Schoolhouse Rock corrected that mistake and for its Mega-Box Set DVD release, created a brand new song:

[Cheerleaders, as a cheer:]E-L-E-C-TOR-AL
Electoral College - we've got a tale to tell!
[Sung by voting box:]So what if we don't have a football team?
At least we never have to write a theme.
No classes, no professors, no tuition,
Yet we're the goal of every politician.
[With cheerleaders:]'Cuz everyone who graduates becomes the president.

I'm gonna send your vote to college,
When you vote for president,
And if you'll let me share some knowledge,
You'll understand this big event!
The folks who wrote our Constitution
Had the idea for this plan,
And it's been used in our elections
Since our government began.

When you pull down on my levers for the person of your choice,
You're also choosing state electors, who will have the final voice.
They're called the electoral college, and they'll meet to stipulate
Who the voters have selected to be the winner in each state.
Now, the number of electors
That your state is going to get
Is based on total population
That's a formula that's set.
And when the popular vote is counted
To find a winner in each state,
Each state will pledge all of its electors
To choose the winning candidate!

[Winning candidate:]I like it! I like it!
[Cheerleaders:]E-L-E-C-TOR-ALElectoral College - and we deserve a yell!

And even if the vote is close,
And someone wins by just a little, tiny hair,
Electors give that person all their votes,
And it's considered fair and square!
I'm gonna send your vote to college
When you vote for president,
And now the electoral college
Will work the way our founders meant.

[Spoken by vote box:]So what if they don't have a big macho football team?
[Sung, with cheerleaders:]It's every politician's special dream!
[Vote box:] 'Cuz everyone who graduates,
[With cheerleaders:] Yes, everyone who graduates,
Everyone who graduates becomes the president!

So there, now you know. What the song doesn't tell you is "Why?"

Well, here's the deal. We could have a popular vote for President in this country. Lot's of people think it's a good idea. But... The population of urban centers outnumbers those who live in rural areas. The Founders well understood that geographic differences would tend to creat common cause among the voters of a region. Certainly not everyone in a particular place will vote the same way. But if I'm a politician courting a popular vote, I would do much better to go to New York City and say, "I'm for giving more money to better roads and services," than to Kansas to say, "I'm for farm subsidies." Nobody in New York cares much about farm subsidies, but someone in Kansas might care about roads. How am I going to campaign?

So the Founders created an apportioned system to account for regional differences. Now a politician has to travel and pander -- I mean, court -- voters with many different issues. He, or she, has to build consensus. The candidate can't as easily write off the issues important to key, but dispersed, minorities.

If we went to a straight popular vote, the urban centers of New York City, Las Angeles, Chicago, Baltimore/Washington, Philadelphia, along with smaller, but important urban concentrations would dictate the winner of the next National election. New York City alone would outvote Maryland, Connecticut, and Rhode Island -- combined. BTW, Right now, these jurisdiction would vote Democratic. And the Red State vs. Blue State competition is why the key champions of a popular vote right now are Democratic. But while a popular vote would sew up the election for the Dem's in 2008 (Guess what: it's probably already sewn up, Dems! So chill out!), it is extremely short sighted if you take the view of keeping power decentralized.

Two states have approved a bill to do away with the Electoral College, Hawaii and Maryland. This is an effort to amend the US Constitution, until the conditions are met for the amendment, the approvals have no real effect. A third state legislature, California, put a bill before their governor, but he *ahem* terminated it with a veto.

The Founding Fathers recognized that those with power tend to work hard at accumulating more power. Hence the checks and balances. The politicians who passed these bills tend to be lawyers: they know the Constitution and understand it. But they are ignoring the wisdom of the document. When the Constitutional Convention ended, someone asked Benjamin Franklin what kind of government the country had. Franklin told him solemnly, "A republic, if you can keep it."

"If" indeed.

Holy Kusari! This is Weird and Wild Stuff!

Oh, Steve, "Ninja Master"... Did you know what lies the Englishman would tell in this video interspersed with you authentic teachings?

Please, Great Buddha Above, let the upcoming Mythbusters episode be better...

"You're Five-by-Five, Buf."

Whedon Fans, Rejoice!

Buffy the Vampire Slayer returns in all new, Joss Whedon scripted adventures in Dark Horse Comics new series, "The Long Way Home," or as everyone calls it: Season 8.

Yes, this is it, the official story of what happened after we saw the remainder of the Scooby Gang drive away from the big, gaping hole that had been Sunnydale in a battered schoolbus. No more fan fiction. No more wear on the VCR searching for clues about Buffy's whereabouts in Angel, Season 5.

At post-time, two issues of the comic have been released, though I only managed to get the first issue last week. I didn't realize how much I missed Buffy and her friends until I saw them back in action. Things have apparently changed in Buffy's world, and we are thrown into the midst of it all. Buffy no longer fights alone, but has melded 500 other slayers into an army, complete with support, logistics, research, and transpo. Buffy uses an energy weapon to crack a force field so quickly it took me two readings to realize, "Hey, where's she get an energy weapon from?" There's a home base in a remote Scottish castle, from which Xander Harris runs a high-tech command center. And we also meet Buffy's sister, Dawn, apparently a college student now, and... Well, her problems have gotten a bit bigger.

We know Giles is still involved, though we don't see him. Willow has gone missing, but no one other than Dawn seems overly concerned. As for the rest of Buffy's usual supporting cast? Anyone's guess. I'm guessing all will be revealed in time. And speaking of time, we don't really know how much time has elapsed since the end of Season 7.

As for problems... Buffy's been keeping busy on the demon killing front, and the US Army has been poking its nose into Sunnydale's smoking pit. They dragged someone out of it too. Someone with a longstanding grudge against the Buff-ster. Oh, and there's a mysterious floating person who has Buffy and her Slayer Commandos under surveillance.

I'm glad to have them all back -- even if it is in monthly comic book form. It's been way too long.

Rashida Jones, "The Other Woman" on The Office

Potential No-Prize at stake!

I will announce an Official Occam's Broadsword No-Prize to the person with the best (and preferably real) translation of this YouTube clip.

I should've made a left turn at Albequerque...

Hmmm... Blighted landscape at twilight... Foreboding clouds... mist enshrouded valleys... isolated and huddled village... Knife point cliff with a decaying fortress that thrusts up into the sky in a defiant gesture... Must be Castle Dracula! Of course. We've all seen it a thousand times. How could we not recognize it?

Except this is Castle Dracula -- or is it? Well, the Romanian government wants you to think it is. It's Bran Castle and if what the realtors say is true, that it's all about location, location, location... Then this must be the place. The castle is a medieval fortress situated on the border of Wallachia and Transylvania -- yes, Virginia, there is a Transylvania. The place has an impressive history. The original fort on the site from 1212 was a stronghold for the Teutonic Knights. By 1378, it was a frontier fort keeping the invading Turks in check. In the modern age, it was a residence of the Romanian royal family, a branch of the Hapsburgs, until their overthrow by Communist forces after World War II.

Did you notice something? Not only did I say nothing of nightfiends stalking the corridors in search of blood, I didn't even mention the real Dracula, Vlad Tepes, known as The Impaler. Yet during Communist rule, this was the Official Home of Dracula. Yep, a Commie Tourist Trap. Let's face it, if you're Communist Romania, what do you have to offer? That's right, nothing but Dracula. There are no other exports, and no other good reasons to visit the country. Near the end of the Communist era, they were actually doing a pretty good business in Dracula tourism, even if it did pander to those who expected elegant men in evening dress and opera capes rather than Medieval Warlords. There was good reason for this, by the way. Fantasy vampires -- bloodsucking ghouls though they may be -- have more in common with Communist dictators than freedom fighting heroes struggling against tyrannical invaders-- which is the reputation Vlad has among the Eastern Europeans.

When the Communists were overthrown, the democratic government had little choice but to continue the sham. At least they were friendlier toward the annual convention of Dracula scholars and buffs. They also made some efforts to present a picture of the historical Dracula, which has been buried under tons of myth thanks to Bram Stoker's fictional version. With so many eager to link the Factual Vlad with the Fictional Count, the worst stories about Vlad Tepes were the most often repeated. Scholars are currently debating a more balanced view of the Wallachian prince in which certain atrocities attributed to him may well have been mere propaganda to scare the Turks.

Of course, you still have to wonder about a man who spread stories about himself dining amid a forest of his impaled enemies while listening to their screams as dinner music. "Children of the night. What music they make..." indeed.

In any event, the Hapsburgs recently won back their property rights to Bran Castle and have put the place up for sale for a cool $77M. And, if a remember correctly, for an extra $10M they'll throw in all the furnishings -- give or take a coffin or two. I'm sure they'll find a buyer. There are certain people who think it is cool to own a house with a real ghost story attached, or even a house in which a murder took place. (Last time I checked, there was a fmaily living in the alleged Amityville Horror house.) Reputations don't come creepier than this. I think Tom Cruise needs someplace to hide Katie and their spawn...

You have to admit, this place looks cool. But it's entirely too well kept to be a proper home for the King of Vampires. For the kind of decay you'd expect, you have to visit Poienari Castle in deep Wallachia. And coincidentally, Poienari was used as a residence by Vlad Tepes. And it's much harder to reach. It's isolated on top of a dagger-edged ridge line covered by a wilderness of trees in which wolves use to roam. The population is sparse in this wild country, and the peasants are a superstitious lot. It's not the kind of place tourists like to visit, you see... Unless they are the kind of tourist who only travels at night...

Nice sword...

The Ground is Your Friend

There are a couple of martial arts forums on the Internet in which I lurk and read about the state martial arts. Obviously, I'm prone to wander into the sections concerning ninjutsu, and the Bujinkan in particular.

Several weeks ago, I noticed a spate of postings about Mixed Martial Arts and the Bujinkan that I have been thinking over. In one Bujinkan forum, a MMA fighter posted a short video of himself defeating a "Boojie" in a sporting contest. First, I want to note that this was poor taste on the MMA fighter's part. Clearly he was baiting the post for a reaction. But the reaction he got was as interesting as it was predictable. He was roundly shouted down and asked to leave the forum.

At about the same time, on a different and more broadly focused forum, some MMA students started asking leading questions in the Ninjutsu section of the site. Again, these were somewhat baiting and along the line of "Which art is better? Yours, or obviously mine?" Again, this started a senseless flame war with predictable results.

But the responses from the Bujinkan posters intrigued me. The responses were variations on:

"MMA has nothing to do with how I train."

"If I ever had to fight a MMA guy, I'd find a weapon and kill him."

"Fighting on the ground is too dangerous for a self-sefense situation."

"Two martial artists are unlikely to fight each other, so I don't have to worry about a MMA fighter."

I was stunned that people believed these statements. If you think about them for any length of time, you can see they are built on false premises.

Let's take it -- quickly -- in reverse order.

You can find a martial arts school practically on every other street corner in this country. Just consider all the thousands of kids who have been through martial arts training. I'm to believe that only law abiding people have martial arts training? None of those kids made a couple of wrong decisions and ended up on the worng side of the law? Sure, I believe that proper martial arts training can provide a shining beacon to follow a moral life -- but I don't believe everyone is open to that message. Frankly, I think the odds are that two martial artists could end up in an altercation. And let's not forget that several of the 9/11 hijackers had formal training in martial arts -- and one of the Flight 93 passengers who fought back was a Judoka. Still think two martial artists will never end up in a fight today? Train for a worst case scenario: a trained attacker.

Yes, fighting on the ground is a very dangerous situation. Which is why you must know how to win on the ground if you ever end up there. The ground is especially dangerous in a multiple attacker scenario. So it is even more important that you know how to fight from the ground and get back to your feet quickly. If you don't train in ground fighting skills, you will lose on the ground. Oh, and those MMA guys? They like the ground, so I can almost guarantee they are training harder in how to get you to the ground than you are training to stay on your feet. And don't forget that major advantage a trained ground fighter has on his side: Gravity. Again, train for the worst case scenario: a trained attacker on the ground.

In a life and death situation, having a weapon to use is a major advantage. Unfortunately, your friends and neighbors in many places around this great country have elected officials who have stripped you of your right to contiuously carry effective self-defense weapons. Even if you are lucky enough to be carrying a weapon, you will be limited in what you carry on your Batman Utility Belt, and the amount of force you can apply within the law. It's not unlikely that a situation can escalate faster than your ability to bring a lethal weapon into play. Even though I'm sympathetic to someone feeling the need to escalate to lethal force when caught in a rear naked choke variation, do you have faith that the average jury will believe you needed to use your knife? And do you think you have the skills to get to your knife if a trained grappler is working on you? Train for the worst case scenario: a trained attacker, on the ground, when you have no weapon.

Still think MMA has no relevance to your training? Maybe if you are 89 years old and doing Tai Chi just so you have an excuse to hit on the little old ladies in the day room.

When Fearless Leader brought his interest in MMA into our classes, I was very skeptical myself. But over the past several months, I've come to understand the importance of this type of training. I've also learned that good jiu jutsu, or MMA, is completely compatible with the kind of propoer body movement we learn through Budo Taijutsu. The ground may be a disorienting environment, but the techniques are no different from stand-up fighting. In fact, the ground opens your eyes to new variations on old techniques. If ground techniques aren't part of your regular training, I urge you to reconsider adding them to your practice.

300

70 million Iranians have not seen 300, but they all know they hate it. Americans on the other hand loved the film $70M worth at the box office last weekend, and are pretty evenly divided about whether or not they like it.

The guy who sat a few seats away from me summed up the American pro-300 view on his cell phone during the credits: "The cinematography was great. The violence was awesome. It was way better than Gladiator." Deep thinking fella; glad you enjoyed it.

Most of the reviews I've seen just can't quite come to grips with the movie. All of them, without fail, try to equate this war film to our current war. But no one can seem to decide who is who in that metaphor. The Iranians, on the other hand, are convinced they are quite literally the evil Persians of the film and this is tantmount to a declaration of war on Iran by Hollywood. Judging from Mr. Cell Phone Abuse, I think the Iranians give the American public too much credit to think that we remember that Iran was once Perisa.

Does 300 have relevance to our current war effort? Sure, but not in strained one-to-one comparisons. When you see this movie, you should leave with this question in your mind: When the tally is counted in the distant future, will we be found as commited in our defense of Western Civilization as the Spartans, or will we be found lacking?

Around halfway through the story, the Persian King of Kings (insert your blasphemy here) parlays with the Spartan King. "Be reasonable, Leonidas. There is much our cultures can share," he says, after spending a morning watching wave after wave of his troops crash hopelessly against the solid Greek shield wall. "We've been sharing our culture with you all morning," responds the Spartan.

That line, conciously or not, cost 300 any chance among the Oscar voters who gave the gold statue to Al Gore. This is a film that almost absolutely rejects any notion of cultural equivalency. That's not a radical notion, that's a reactionary statement! It isn't necessarily a Neo-Con sentiment, but it is certainly a Conservative notion. There are a great number of platitudes thrown about in the movie, which features almost as many talking heads as rolling ones. But at the center of the film is the conviction that Western Civilization is, in fact, worth defending - flaws and all.

The inability to face this fact square in the eye and accept or reject it is why so many critics get caught up in the phony argument of whether or not the film is historically accurate. Reading these reviews has caused many a chuckle for me. It's bizarre to me that one reviewer seemed perplexed by what he considered homosexual subtext among so many manly men (frankly, I expected a more open rendering of this) while questioning why the costumes weren't more accurate to the period and the fighting styles so influenced by kung fu. That displays a warped sense of historic context. I've seen an amateur reviewer question whether or not any woman would really tell her lover, "Come back with your shield, or on it." Believe it, baby.

Frank Miller, the original author of the graphic novel on which this is based, did volumes of research about the real Battle of Thermopolae. And then he promptly threw it out. "As a cartoonist, I'm primarily a cariacaturist. I'm interested in what people look like. And then I'm interested in what people really look like."

Those who cry foul about historical revision to this chapter of Greek history need to consider the ultimate source: Herodotus. He considered himself a storyteller first and foremost. Fact checking was far down his list of priorities. His goal was not to give a fair and balanced account of how and why the Persians came to Greece, he wanted to record the great and noble struggle of his people against oppresive invaders! 300 follows more in that spirit than in a dry rendering of the actual tactics and strategy. This is history as inspirational legend.

Some may call that propaganda, but that is true only when it is used incorrectly. This film tells a stirring story of hard choices, and asks us that one essential question: Is Western Civilization worth fighting for? The trappings are for show, and remembrance of glorious deeds.

These were men, my friends.

Heart of the American Bujinkan

It is my sad duty to chronicle the passing of Bonnie Malmstrom to cancer on Monday, March 12, 2007.

Most of you who bother to read my electronic scribblings already heard this news from other sources. However, it would be wrong not to make mention of it here.

Well wishes, sentiments and condolences poured into the Malmstrom family over the last few months, demonstrating the truth that she was the beating Heart of the American Bujinkan.

My words won't do the moment justice, so I give you this to listen to...

Sorry I wasn't able to find the video of Neko Case singing this tune. She perfectly captures my mood.

Deeds, Not Words

Martial arts training is a metaphorical landscape filled with boobytraps. One of those boobytraps is spending more time thinking about or analyzing a technique than acting. I think every martial artist is caught in this trap at some point in his career. I'm not saying that we shouldn't reflect on our training, far from it. I am saying that martial arts are inherently physical activities, and we need to experience the activity. The time to act is on the mat. The time to think and talk is off the mat.

Lately, I've been trying to get myself out of this trap. Training time on the mat is precious, and every moment should be as active as possible. I am eager to take the reflections from my past training time and put them into practice in the next session. In the past, I asked lots of questions, or goofed around, or otherwise wasted valuable minutes talking instead of acting. This is a hard habit to break. Despite my efforts, I still find my mouth running more than I'd like in a class.


I've also realized that I'm not alone in this. Many of my fellow students are doing the same. At the risk of sounding too egotistical, I think this goes back to our discussion of sempai and kohai. My example has encouraged my fellow students to run their mouths in various ways instead of training hard.

I'm not just talking about wasted time in jokes and joshing on the mat. The most insidious example of wasted time that appears to be valuable is the infamous, "Can I see that one more time; from a different angle?" Some training time should be devoted to the demonstration of technique by the instructor. Occasionally, we may even be exposed to a lecture. (Another of my sins when I instruct...) But it is the student's responsibility to pay close attention to the demonstration, and then try the technique. We may get some understanding from asking questions after the demonstration, but it is nothing to the understanding we get when our own bone and gristle meets an opponent, or crashes to the mat. In short, we are better served by trying and either succeeding or failing.

If we expect to learn, we must experience both good and bad technique. That is how we will know the difference.

On the other hand, if you are failing at some point in the technique, that is a perfect chance to ask a question. It will clarify a specific weakness in your movement. Likewise, we should be grateful if some training time is devoted to watching fellow students perform the same technique. We may see strengths and weaknesses both similar and different to our own, or even the instructor. Watching our classmates sheds light on our own abilities.

So let me suggest to my training partners that we all make a concerted effort to talk less, and move more.

Serenity

I finally had a chance to sit down and watch Serenity, the movie version of Joss Whedon's Firefly TV series.

On the plus side, it's about characters that seem very real, who are well-portrayed by decent actors. Despite the Sci-Fi setting, the situation is not too much strain on the old "suspension of disbelief." There are thrills. There are chills. More imagination is on display in this two hour film than you typically get in a week of television.

And David Krumholtz dies. Which is kinda cool in a way; but I'mnot sure why. Maybe because his muppet-like good looks don't telegraph the fact that his character will be killed off. Of course, I've just ruined that for you...

But: none of this is a stretch for Joss Whedon. You get exactly what you expect from him after 7 years of Buffy, 5 years of Angel, and 1 year of Firefly. No more; but fortunately, no less.

If you're a Whedon fan, this will disappoint you. I kept finding myself hoping for more. On the other hand, if you aren't familiar with Joss Whedon... This is a good place to start. But then go watch Buffy from the beginning. You could skip Angel, but you probably won't.

Holding out for a Zero...

Is anyone out there at all excited about this year's Summer movie wonders:
Aliens vs. Predator 2, and
Fantastic Four 2: Rise of the Silver Surfer?

Yeah, me neither...

I wasn't all that hot on Ghost Rider either. What little enthusiasm I mustered about seeing a live action Ghost Rider was fully satisfied by the commercials. "Oh, look! A flaming skull and possessed motorcycle." Been there, done that.

It's the same with these two films. AVP 1 was plenty, unless by some miracle they found a decent aspiring writer.

And as for F4:2, at least they had the good sense not to reveal Galactus in the commercial.

Ho hum. So what is everyone waiting to see this Summer?

James Cameron "Finds" Jesus...

James Cameron, noted filmmaker and the man who unleashed the raw sexuality of Leonardo DiCaprio upon a nation of unsuspecting teenage girsl, claims to have found Jesus.

Cameron, hitching his documentarian star to a fringe archeaologist, claims to have discovered a tomb near Jerusalem that dates back to the First Century AD and containing the earthly remains of Jesus, Mary (Magdalene, of course), and their male child.

If true, this could send shockwaves through Christianity as most -- if not all -- denominations believe that Jesus was assumed bodily into Heaven. It would also counter the Dan Brown/Da Vinci Code nuts who believe Mary Magdalene retired to the South of France and established the Merovingian Dynasty.

The Faithful, however, still have an ace in the hole on this. It seems the statistical occurance of names in First Century Palestine shows that variants of "Jesus" and "Mary" were extremely common. So there is no good reason to jump to the conclusion that this tomb belongs to that Jesus and Mary.

Since I suspect MiLK deserves a response...

"Wars not make one great." -- Yoda.

As I have mentioned several times in the past, I have an extensive martial arts library. But realistically, there are only a handful of books that I reapeatedly return to on a regular basis. One of those books is Living the Martial Way, by Forrest Morgan. I reread it at least once every six months.

Mr. Morgan is an Air Force officer with extensive experience in several different martial arts. He is, by almost any definition, a warrior. His whole book is dedicated to the notion that proper practice of the martial arts can (that's can, not will) enable someone to become a warrior.

When someone with his credentials says anyone can be a warrior, I listen. He believes warriors can indeed be found in every walk of life, not only in the profession of arms. In the section he devotes to this question, he points out that doctors, teachers, even waitresses can be warriors. These are people who demand excellence from themselves and those around them. They meet challenges head-on, and do not blame others for setbacks -- and certainly not their own shortcomings. They are standard setters for those around them.

Is he right? I still think there is a difference between those who willingly put themselves in the way of danger, and the rest of us. But I think his point is not to be taken lightly. It even has some history behind it. There are stories from Japan about masters of fine arts being accorded the same respect as samurai. The important trait was the dedication to excellence that made a master.

On story speaks of a teamaster who was challenged by a swordsman to a duel. He sought instruction from a samurai so he could die with dignity. The samurai sensed that this pursuit of even meager instruction in handling a sword indicated a pursuit of excellence. So he asked the teamaster to perform the tea ceremony as if it would -- as well it could -- be his last. The teamaster centered himself and went through the ceremony without a flaw. The samurai showed the teamaster the daijodan high posture and taught him to properly cut down from this position. "Do this with the same conviction you give the tea ceremony and you will at least die with dignity." The teamaster went to his duel and took up the daijodan posture. His opponent studied the teamaster for several minutes and finally bowed and left. He could sense the serenity of the teamaster in this single act. The swordsman might well have killed the teamaster, but he would not beat him.

Apocryphal? Sure, but it indicates that even in classical times, warriorship had many definitions. There are still times when I stumble on my journey to even this kind of metaphysical warriorship. I have decided that the trip is worthwhile because it makes me a better person.

I was a little angered by MiLK's dropping of the "whenever I return home..." paraphrase. This comes from Robert L. Humphery's Warrior's Code (which I'll quote from my sometimes shaky memory):

Wherever I go, everyone is a little safer.
Wherever I go, everyone in need has a friend.
Whenever I return home, everyone is happy to see me.

Mr. Humphery was a Marine in World War II. He fought on Iwo Jima. He knew warriors. And this was his distilled essence of warriorship. His Code was brought into the American Bujinkan community by Jack Hoban.

So while I do still think there is a difference between Warriors and warriors, I defer to men who have been both to help me see the similarities.

Too far?

For some weird reason, the subject of torture comes up with macabre frequency among my training partners. It is, of course, a purely hypothetical subject for us. But when you study a warrior's art, I think conversations of this sort bare something of the speaker's soul.

There is an apparent weight shift toward the permissive view of the subject. That is, the belief that sometimes nothing else will do seems to have most of us. I am in the minority that does not think "torture" is an appropriate act for the United States. I like to think that the permissive view holds sway among a group of macho, Right-leaning guys because it is a hypothetical topic for us. After all, no one wants to appear soft on terrorists.

I came across this article -- yes, from the Left-leaning New Yorker -- that shares many (not all) of my views and says them better than I can, so I'm going to post it here. Among the many views of mine that it shares is that the permissive view is growing in popularity because of the TV show "24." Even my mother-in-law, a dyed in the wool Liberal herself, loves Jack Bauer and how he can make the tough decisions. Whenever the subject of torture is brought-up by my classmates, they always invoke the "ticking time bomb" scenario, and I can practically hear the distinct "beep-beep" from "24" in my head as they press me to agree that in that circumstance torture might be necessary to stop a catastrophe.

Well, yes, if it looked like drilling out a terrorist's knee was the only way to stop a multi-megaton nuke from going off in downtown Manhattan, I admit the option will begin to look good. My problem is in deciding where the threshold is: what if it is a pipe bomb attached to a single child in Kansas? Yes? No? Maybe so? As the article points out, ticking time bomb scenarios are actually very rare.

One of the other problems is that there is no commonly accepted definition of "torture." Which is why there is still much hand-wringing over the "aggressive interrogation techniques" the present administration wants to use. Like pornography, we know torture when we see it. Scenes from the Saw horror movies, or Hostel definitely count as torture. But is sleep deprivation torture? I'd say allow some techniques that disorient a subject. At least it is easier to draw lines around non-physically abusive techniques.

Senator John McCain is no stranger to torture, he experienced it first hand as a POW, and you never hear him say anything positive about it. He never says, "Oh yeah, it worked on every one of us. We sang like canaries after the thumb screws." He'll tell you it stregthened the captives' resolve. It is pretty widely known that torture will make people talk, but it doesn't always get them to tell the truth -- which just degenerates into a cycle of more abuse to keep the person talking.

It's always easy on "24," they always have the right bad guy, the act is usually accomplished quickly, and then the subject (victim? I know it's hard to sympathize with scum) always tells the truth. I like to remember the USA Network show "La Femme Nikita." They used torture regularly too. It didn't always work. In one episode, they brought in a terrorist and told her in great detail how they planned to break her. She looked straight in the eye of the torturer and lifted her hands off the table. Then the terrorist reached out with one hand and started breaking her own fingers. The torturer nodded and left the room. "We'll get nothing from that one," she told her boss. But that's just fiction, right?

From Dale Seago

OK, the following is "cut and paste" from a forum in which Mr. Dale Seago, Bujinkan teacher, posted about his experiences filming for the TV show, Mythbusters.

The Discovery Channel TV show "MythBusters" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MythBusters) is doing an entire episode on fact vs. fiction about "the Ninja", and they got in touch with me for information (having done enough research to realize that my teacher in Japan, Masaaki Hatsumi, is the inheritor of the last known historic ninjutsu traditions). I shot three segments with them last Friday; was able to set them straight on a lot of things, though I don't know how much will get used that wasn't actually in the filmed segments. (They're also doing a lot of other stuff regarding "ninja gadgetry" that I'm not involved with.)Probably the most dramatic is going to be where they explore the myth (?) that shuko hand claws can stop a sword cut.

None of my folks were available at the time they wanted to shoot it (10 AM), but fortunately Joel Elliott, instructor for the Sacramento dojo came out to help. It really wouldn't have been the same without him, as I needed someone who really knew his way around a sword to show the realism of it. And fortunately I was able to first explain on-camera the tactics that allow you to do something like this. They were surprised to find that we were going to be actually moving around, jockeying for position, etc.

Insurers insisted we use a mogito -- steel blade but not sharpened, which could still be really nasty if it hits you. They also wanted me to wear a helmet, but I declined and signed a release for that.Then we just did it. Cold, no rehearsal with each other beforehand; and Joel was giving me such a good "real fight" feeling that it didn't even occur to me to just stop the sword -- I kept flowing and did the sort of thing I would have had it been a real situation and "killed" him. We did about 20 takes of that, all with the same result, as they wanted to get it from different angles.

Then they said they wanted to have one of their crew try to get me with the sword. Much to my surprise it turned out to be Kari Byron. Again, we did it cold (but from a stationary start, and I didn't "kill" her), though I did first show her how to "get the distance" by placing the sword on my head in the "finished" position and then taking a step back. We did about ten or 12 takes on that one, and what she lacked in form and technique she made up for in sincerity as she tried to split my skull.

In the afternoon we filmed some other stuff, starting with Adam & Jamie coming in and observing a class in session for a while, then asking me some questions, and finally Adam wanting to try some stuff out. I invited him to play with the Kukishin ryu kata we were working on, but he said he'd rather just attack me and try to kick my @$$ (his own words) and see what happened. The results were predictable.I should have the air date in about a week; right now it looks like sometime in April.

I'll keep you posted.

Sofia Vergara

Appearing in your home on "Knights of Prosperity." Yes, on free, network television. Ain't America grand?

Rank, and its "privileges..."

My Saturday afternoon training session featured a quick comment that held loads of implications.

One young man joined our training a few minutes late. He was kidded, and our Fearless Leader joked that it was fine by him if the young man chose to be late because, "The world needed Green Belts too." (A note, our system only has three color belts: white, for no ranking; green for the kyu ranked mudansha, and black for the dan ranked yudansha.)

One of our Shodan, and a frequent commentor on this blog, continued the joke by saying, "I out-rank him, and he was here when I started." FL thought this might make for a good blog topic, and I agree.

Our young friend does represent an unusual situation, but not unheard of. And our Shodan points out the differences between the concepts of "seniority" and "rank" in the martial arts.

"Seniority" is bound up in the concepts of Sempai and Kohai. These are terms relating solely to the time one has spent in a particular martial tradition. If I join a new school and new art tomorrow, all of the current students and instructors would be my Sempai. They would have certain responsibilities regarding me, as I would be thier Kohai. They would be responsible for showing me around the school, instructing me in the peculiar rituals of the class or art, and generally making sure I don't muck it all up. Basically, this comes down to "showing me the ropes." The instructor, usually termed a sensei, is there to share instruction in the art, but teaching me how and when to bow, or how to wear my dogi is the job of my senior students.

As Kohai, my job is to learn and graciously accept the hints and suggestions from my seniors. I also accept the responsibility to share this information with the next student to join the class. When that happens, I become his Sempai.

This arrangement reflects the old idea of the Ryu, or tradition. Ryu is one of those Japanese words that holds many meanings, one of which is "flow," with a connotation of "flowing through time." The nature of the Sempai/Kohai relationship stresses the continuing flow of the tradition ever forward in time. Someone taught my teacher, who instructs me, and I will pass it on to the next generation. We are all responsible for passing on the small rituals that form our tradition.

Sempai are not, however, a privileged class. As they advance in seniority, they are expected to take on more responsibility in the school. In a truly traditional school, it is the senior-most sempai who are responsible for cleaning the dojo's practice space. It is the brand new student who has the luxury of arriving just as class begins. Sempai are their to serve and provide examples for the Kohai.

My school is not the image of a traditional dojo. It is an efficiently run, store front with all the amenities of mats, equipment, and other tools. It doesn't take one long to realize this is not the much derided "McDojo," despite the large number of small children enrolled. It has a staff that takes care of the basic maintenance of the space. Even so, I have my jobs as a senior student. The most ritual of those jobs is to light the candles on the Kamidana, or spirit shelf, before class.

There are other little things I try to perform as actions for others to see. For one, I always start as the Uke when we work on kata or other techniques. This is, in fact, a traditional role of the sempai -- and one much neglected. Many students want the more advanced person to act as the Tori or Nage in order to see who the technique is done one more time. No. In traditional thinking, the model for the technique or kata is the teacher. The reason the senior student goes first is that presumably he has seen and done the technique before and has a better understanding of how and why it works. It is the sempai's responsibility to correctly initiate the technique. Perhaps you've heard the joke: "Like many beginners, your attack is completely wrong." There's actually a degree of truth in that. Each attack prompts a particular response. The sempai must correctly attack for the technique in question to be practiced correctly. To change the punch, or the distance, or the timing... That cheats the Tori of good practice.

If you don't believe me, consider the last time you worked with a partner who was sloppy. Did things work? Probably not without great difficulty. Now, that's a form of training too, but we all know it is "perfect practice" that makes perfect.

To bring this train of thought to a destination, each of us is a Sempai and Kohai to some other student. We need to remember the essential point of the relationship, which is respect for the passing on of tradition. We shouldn't get caught up in the politics of who outranks who, or I've got more time in that that guy. By acknowledging those aspects, we are simply paying respect to a particular person's dedication and involvement in the art. We also need to understand that seniorty brings not privilege but deepening involvement and commitment to the art and our fellow students.

Study on this well.

Diplomat Tactical Pants

As many of you know, Royal Robbins 5.11 Tactical Pants have dominated the market for "concealment" or "low visibility" tactical wear for several years now. They provide a very practical alternative to solid color, miltary style BDU trousers, wear well, and have an assortment of useful features. Interestingly, they really did not enhance the features that appeared on their ancestor garment, the Royal Robbins climbing pants that appeared in the early Nineties. Even the 5.11 Gear name is a nod to the original purpose of the pants, which were for outdoorsman trekking to their favorite rock-climbing spot. The 5.11 pants are now pretty standard issue to a veritable who's who of federal, state and local agencies.

And maybe that's why there have been no competitors until recently. Woolrich, an esteemed outdoor outfitter jumped in last year with a near copy of the 5.11 pants. Now there's the Diplomat. These pants also do not depart too radically from the 5.11 pants, but they still have some differences: a couple of cleverly placed additional pockets and velcro tabs at the ankle. They retail about $5 cheaper at the online sites I've located for them. My personal R&D budget has dwindled, so I do not have a pair of these for review, but I will say they look promising. If anyone jumps in to get a pair, please let me know what you think of them -- especially if you can compare them one-to-one with the 5.11 pants I love so much.

Litigious Dorks

Put your hands in the air if you've heard of Konigun Ninjutsu. Anyone?

I thought as much. This appears to many to be another group of wannabe ninjas who mix a little mumbo-jumbo together with second-rate karate and call anyone who questions them a bunch of liars and spoilsports.

The problem is... they sue people who have the nerve to ask questions about their legitimacy. Okay, I won't ask any questions, nor will I call them frauds. I will simply post a link to their website and you can decide for yourselves... You shouldn't need a Ph.D. in Japanese History to smell something fishy.

Now, you might ask why they would sue anyone about this nonsense. Easy, they want someone to be the straw man so they can get a court in the United States to certify that they are a ninjutsu system. Consider this, can you prove, to a reasonable person to the standard of "more likely than not", this negative: Konigun is not a ninjutsu system? Keep in mind that the average, reasonable person has no clue about martial arts, let alone the complicated history of ninjutsu. You'll need to prove there was no mysterious, lone Konigun ninja who taught the current master before dying and leaving no trace -- as a good ninja would.

Also keep in mind that it is still difficult to prove to elite, highly educated martial artists that Bujinkan and the other X-kans are teaching legitimate ninjutsu. (Especially since I don't think Hatsumi will be willing to leave Japan with the authentic densho to produce what evidence he can to a court of law.) At a minimum, Konigun walks away from a law suit with "proof" that the X-kans are no more legitimately "ninjutsu" than their art. And they can use that in their phony advertising.

What is it they say about wrestling pigs in mud?

Paging Dr. Banzai!

Calling all Blue Blaze Irregulars! Instant newsflash...

Any out there besides me remember The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai: Across the 8th Dimension? The hero was a rock n rollin', philosophy spoutin', six-gun slingin', neurosurgeon/astrophysicist, and probably a bunch of other things. This was a geek-fest starring Peter Weller in the title roll, Jeff Goldblum as his chief sidekick, opposing the evil antics of John Lithgow and Christopher Lloyd. To be fair, the idea of a pulp action hero with as much in the brians department as the brwn department isn't new. Doc Savage, the man of bronze, was plying those waters many, many years ago. But, you never got the sense from Peter Weller that Dr. Banzai's churning waters ran very deep.

What do you expect from the man who played RoboCop? While Peter Weller is a cult favorite on the Sci Fi Convention circuit, it's not like he ever made a big, important movie.

He's solidly in the B-list of well-made cult films.

So imagine my surprise when I learned Peter Weller, man of a thousand faces, and film super hero, had an alter ego...

It seems Mr. Weller is, in fact, working towards his PhD in Italian Renaissance Art from UCLA. He already holds Master's Degrees in Roman and Renaissance Art. And this is no lark... like any aspiring academic, he actually teaches classes, writes papers, and lectures! And he seems to have a sense of humor about it too. Here's a quote regarding the fact that his classes are so hard he actually loses many students after the first class: "They thought they were going to get the easy A from old RoboCop." Why would they think that? Don't they realize RoboCop is one badass mother... Sorry, I was just talking about RoboCop.

This specialized expertise has garnered Peter Weller a gig hosting the History Channel's Engineering an Empire. He apparently is very knowledgable about Roman architecture. Who knew?

Momofuku Ando

Usually when I post pictures of elderly Japanese men, they are highly skilled martial artists desperately trying to maintain a tradition of ass-whupping that goes back hundreds of years. Not today.

On January 5th, 2007, at the ripe old age of 96, Momofuku Ando, founder of Nissin and the inventor of instant noodles, died.

I found his obituary in the back pages of hoity-toity The Economist, a weekly newsmagazine that I feel into the habit of reading several years ago while studying for a job interview. (Don't ask.) The obit is very wry. It likens the instant gratification and simplicity of instant Ramen noodles to the search for enlightenment. Apparently this is not merely the low-wit of the author, because Mr. Ando had three sayings that served as Nissin's motto:

Peace will come when people have food.
Eating wisely will enhance beauty and health.
The creation of food will serve society.

Talk about a mission statement. No wonder Japanese business is such tough competition.

Anyway, instant noodles are the kind of thing you take for granted. You just assume they've always been around. Not so. Mr. Ando got the idea while walking home from work in 1957. He saw the long lines of people waiting at the noodle shops, which were the Japanese equivalent of McDonalds back in the day. I say "were" because I suspect McDonalds is now the Japanese equivalent of McDonalds, but I digress.

It took Mr. Ando a year to perfect the process of creating the instant noodle. The secret? Flash-frying the fresh noodles in palm oil. But here's the bit that really surprised me -- as it will surprise almost any student in higher education:
Mr. Ando was laughed at and repeatedly told he would fail because... the instant noodles cost 6 times as much as a bowl of fresh noodles! Hard to believe when you can take home a grocery bag full of the things for pocket change.

Well, we will all miss Mr. Ando in our own ways. But he did something extraordinary by making so many millions happy with something so incredibly simple, and even if he is forgotten, I'm sure his legacy will continue forever.

Basics

Path of the Assassin is Koike and Kojima's 15-volume story of notorious ninja master, Hattori Hanzo! Published by dark Horse comics, you can follow the "quasi-historical" (i.e. fictional)advantures of Hanzo through this series. Koike and Kojima are best known for their hugely influential series, Lone Wolf and Cub and they have an excellent understanding of the Japanese past.

While I certainly would never in a million years claim they know true ninjutsu, they do have an excellent understanding of samurai and martial arts history. And being Japanese, they provide an added insight into the mythology and history surrounding the samurai and ninja cultures. It is very different from the Hollywood idea of the legends we have in the US. The shadow of Sho Kosugi does not fall on Koike and Kojima.

And speaking of the true stuff... I had an opportunity to teach a section of the dojo's End of Year Training. I took about fifteen minutes to express, and demonstrate, what I learned this year: that Basics really matter.

I'm not talking about the outward movements we tend to teach or describe as basics, but the underlying principles that make them work. I showed how the most recent Black Belt recipients could throw a great punch, but failed in a decent understanding of the necessary distance to use it properly. They had been working on that punch for over five years.

Earlier this year, I was left in charge of a class and I asked some new black belts to each teach something themselves. It was an excellent gauge of progress. They each competently taught a technique, but not one of them referenced a principle. There are, of course two big principles we ought to be talking about ALOT!

Distancing, or ma-ai.

And...

Balance, or kuzushi.

But there are plenty of other principles also to consider in good taijutsu. Moving in circles, or angles. Proper use of total body weight. Leverage. The meaning of "Natural" movement. And of course, the elusive "Kukan," or management of space.

You have to pick apart the larger movements we call Basics, or Kihon Happo, to work on these principles.

I had another enlightning moment when walking through a Black Belt class one day and suggesting a correction to a gentleman performing a particular kata. He had replaced a kick with a knee strike. I showed him how to do it better ("correctly" being a loaded term) and he frowned at me. He told me he knew that was the original way the kata was done, but he couldn't do it that way and substituted the knee strike. OK... But I'd seen him do it several times and he'd been consistently doing the knee strike. Yes, he had changed the way he did the kata -- and that was ok, he said proudly, because it "worked."

I shook my head and moved on, secure in the knowledge that this man would wise-up, or hit a dead end and quit. We change kata at our own risk. If we can't perform a movement correctly, it is a clue that we are doing something wrong and need to figure out what it is and why. Kata hold many lessons about the basic principles, and we need to be mindful of them. They are not simple movements strung together as a tailored response to some attack. They are meant to suggest a solution, based on a basic principle, to a particular type of problem. For example: Straight attack coming in on a line? Shift in a circular way and generate power for a counter-attack, while placing yourself in a protected position. Change the kata, and you might get part of that solution, but neglect the second.

National Marine Corps Museum

This is Tun Tavern. On November 10, 1775, the Continental Congress commissioned Samuel Nicholas to raise two Battalions of Marines. That very day, Nicholas set up shop in Tun Tavern. He appointed Robert Mullan, then the proprietor of the tavern, to the job of chief Marine Recruiter -- serving, of course, from his place of business at Tun Tavern. Prospective recruits flocked to the tavern, lured by (1) cold beer and (2) the opportunity to serve in the new Corps of Marines. So, yes, the U.S. Marine Corps was indeed born in Tun Tavern. Needless to say, both the Marine Corps and the tavern thrived during this new relationship.
Tun Tavern still lives today. And, Tun Tavern beer is still readily available throughout the Philadelphia area. Further, through magazines it is advertised to Marines throughout the world.

The United States Marine Corps is older than the Republic for which it stands. For over 200 years, it has stood guard over our country and taken the fight to our enemies wherever they slept. The Corps is very proud of its history, and insists that all new recruits learn a fairly detailed account of dates, names, and places important to the Corps' heritage. Yet, until last November 10, there was no central, National Marine Corps Museum.

Over my Christmas Vacation, my father and I went to visit the new museum. He had provided a donation for the place, and wanted to chack on his "investment." My father was not a Marine, he was a draftee in the Army. But when he heard there was an effort to build a museum, he felt strongly that he should provide some money to assist in the construction.

The museum is world-class. It covers the full expanse of Marine Corps history, but focuses on the modern age: World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the Cold War Era. This was obviously done to appease the many, many vets (always known as "Former Marines," never "Ex-Marines") who provided money so the deeds of their comrades would not be forgotten. The staff is rife with Former Marines, all ready to answer questions knowledgably and eagerly. There are plans to expand the museum to have exhibit halls devoted to the earlier periods, and more than one staff member told me they have more artifacts than they can ever hope to display.

The place is very moving, and does not shy away from the Marines' core mission: find the enemy and destroy him. This is not an dry, antiseptic view of history. There is a life size display of a World War I Marine struggling in hand-to-hand combat with a German stormtrooper -- it's all mud, muck, knives, and pistols. As the visitor enters the World War II gallery, the visitor is greeted with another lifesize diorama of a Navy Corpsman treating a wounded Marine.

The actual flag from the famous Iwo Jima picture is on display at the Museum, across from a war studded with globes and anchors, one for each Marine who died in the gray, sulfur sand of that godforsaken place. In the Korean War Gallery, there is a room size diorama of a winter battle, kept chilled by air conditioners. Personally, I think it was still too warm in there, and I'd have dropped the temperature more, but it gets the point across.

My favorite room was a depiction of a Vietnam firebase -- most likely Khe Sanh. The entrance, as you can see in the conceptual drawing above, is through a mock-up of a Chinook helicopter's tail. The Chinook fuselage vibrates, and a hot, dry wind blows through the main compartment. You can hear radio chatter over some speakers. I closed my eyes for a moment and thought of a high school classmate who recently returned from reserve duty as a Marine in Iraq. One of his stories involved a raid from the back of a Chinook, and it occurred to me that it must have been just like this... Except for the stark fear and adrenaline dump, of course!

I recommend the museum. I'd like to go back some day and spend more time. We were there for four hours, and it was no where near enough time to soak it all in. We missed a few things -- including the Tun Tavern mock-up that serves as a dining hall. And I decided against trying out the indoor rifle range with it's five dollar cost and laser rifle training tools.

On a final note, I think those of us in the Bujinkan should also make an effort to visit this museum as part of our roots if possible. Consider that two members of the "Holy American Bujinkan Trinity" of founders (Bud Malmstrom and Jack Hoban) were Marines, and I think that not a little of the spirit of the Corps has been grafted onto the sprout that came from Japan.

Oniyuri Shinobigatana Review

I've already lost count of the number of swords I own. It isn't a huge number, but it's more than the average person. (Of course, how many "average" people own even one sword?) My previous acquisition was a Last Legend katana and I was so happy with it that I figured it would be a long time before I purchased another sword.

It was about three years... I guess that's a long time for me.

I discovered Cheness Cutlery's shinobigatana. They make two versions, the Onibasu and the Oniyuri. The Onibasu is the "economy" version and list prices at $299.99, but seems to be on a semi-permanaent sale at $189.99. Since Santa Claus was financially kind to me this year, I purchased the Oniyuri version, which lists at $499.99 and is also on semi-permanent sale for $249.99.

The Oniyuri is advertised as being made to the specifications of a Togakure Ryu sword, as commissioned by a Bujinkan Dojo based on information they received from Hatsumi-sensei at some point. I can't verify the truth, but it sure sounds good. These are the technical specs for those who care:

metallurgy: 9260 Silicon Alloy Carbon Spring Steel, full hand forged, through Tempered, Oil Quneched, Hand Polished.

Dimensions: Overall sheathed length: 44.5 inches. Cutting edge: 23 inches. 0.3 inch width, 1.25 inches height. The sori, or curve in the blade is a deviation of 0.5 inches.

Weight is 2 lbs 12 oz.

Tsuka, or handle, length is a whopping 14 inches!

Now, I am not a sword connoiseur. All of my stuff is made for cutting and is sturdy, but it was all made by Indians or Chinese folks, none of it is a true Nihon-to, forged with the blessings of the kami, and direct from the Land of the Rising Sun. But I do know that oil quenching is a no-no for Japanese sword fans, amd double-pinning the tsuka to the blade is a faux-pas. Still, this is an impressive cutting tool made in the image of a true shinobigatana, or ninja-to.

The obligatory word on the ninja-to: We all know by now that the straight bladed, square-guarded short sword that is instantly familiar to even the previously mentioned "average person" is a Hollywood fantasy. Yes, I know that Christian Bale even used one in Batman Begins... But they were living in Tibet! Obviously, if you are a secret agent -- no matter what era you live in -- you don't want to be carrying around tools which instantly identify you as a spy or assassin.

A ninja sword tended to be whatever sword fit the disguise you were in: rich samurai, poor wandering ronin, armed monk, traveling merchant. Even so, Togakure Ryu seemed to favor a "trick" sword that was made to look like an everyday katana, but had a shorter cutting blade. This provided some advanatges to the owner. The most widely known is the quick draw. The shorter length allows the blade to clear the scabbard faster. It also messes with the distance of an attacker. (Ponder that, those of you in the know...) The sword could be used in tight spaces. The hollow in the bottom of the scabbard could be used to hold small items intended to be secret, or even blinding powder. (Note: If you own a ninja sword from Cheness, DON'T put powder in your scabbard. I know it sounds cool, but the oil from your sword will creep into the powder and creat a mess over time. In eons past, replacement saya were much easier to come by than in 21st Century America.)

I haven't had a chance to cut anything with it. But the workmanship holds up with the Hanwei line so many people have, and is almost as good as Last Legend. These seem to be the current standards for swords to be used (or is that "abused") by martial artists. Here is a thread from Kutaki discussing the Cheness swords. And here is an interesting thread on whether or not there ever was a straight bladed ninja-to from e-Budo. I post this last link because it opens the question: how do we know the story about the curved, short Togakure Ryu sword is true? Has anyone ever found one? It's a mindbender for sure...