Not that you asked but...
It is easy to get caught up in fantasy and role-playing, especially in the earlier stages of training.
Personally any picture of me in hakama with a sword quickly dissipates any notion of role-playing. Haven't got used to it. I am more likely to underestimate myself than fantasize about any ability.
Well, I suppose it depends on what aspect of martial arts one chooses to focus on. It is all there, in a way I think. Self-defense was one reason for me beginning MA, another was developing body mechanics (whatever that means). Still another reason was connecting to a different culture and outlook. Philosophy, developing spirit wasn't really something I did MA for until I saw aikido. Funny, because I am the pondering, academic sort. The focus, especially when I met people like Jesse Glover, shifted a bit, became more intense and I remembered the other things. I was more aware of self-defense, culture, spirit. I don't have the fastest or hardest punch, much discipline, much knowledge of culture or spirit, but these are still parts of it for me. It's more organic than I thought.
When I first read about koryu about four years ago I was hardly in the place to look for a teacher, but I thought, "now this is interesting. I will have to be patient.." These things you people are able to talk about, becoming part of a stream, budo spirit, self-improvement, incorporating any sort of martial/philosophical attitude into daily life (life-giving sword, strategy, "art of peace/art of war" etc)...I look at myself and remember patience. Four years has gone by quickly.
Now I enjoy a new reason, a deeper connection to a culture and perhaps looking at a stream if not dipping toes into it. But the most central reason is that I wouldn't like NOT doing MA. I am patient with the rest, focusing on one thing or another as I can along the way. The main problem with my training is having to leave good teachers behind to pursue a profession; still, I have found good teachers in the oddest of places. TY
J. Nicolaysen
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"I value the opinion much more of a grand master then I do some English professor, anyways." Well really, who wouldn't?
We're all of us just bozos on the budo bus and there's no point in looking to us for answers regarding all the deep and important issues.--M. Skoss.