The first question I am always asked when someone learns of my background is invariably "How did you become a samurai?"

This is a difficult question for the enquirer always wants a quick answer, something which is not possible. Also, no-one can completely understand something without having actually experienced it ...more

Kata is, to those who do not practise it, a fairly simple affair. It is commonly thought of as a set of pre-arranged movements, somewhat like a dance. For some people, kata is about performance, the primary goal being to develop the speed, power and timing required to win a coveted trophy. For others, kata is the remains of a long dead tradition that no longer has any place in the modern day ...more