[bestonlinepharmasy2]

I still don't get it.

I suspect that it's a sort of generational thinking, Mr. Smith. You state that the antics of these young men doesn't change your practice at all, and that's true... or at least, I hope that it's true. However, due to you tube, these young men are receiving a much wider audience than they would have twenty years ago. They're reaching a lot of young kids, and I believe that the concern of some people is that those young kids will see this and think "Hey, that's what sword arts are like! That's cool!" and that this generation might turn away from historical / traditional sword arts because those arts don't meet their expectations.

I don't know if it's a reasonable concern. I have a friend who is a dan-level kendoka, and was inspired to start kendo because she loved one of the Three Musketeers movies as a kid, and there was no fencing salle in her town. I myself was inspired to take up sword arts by innumerable films and books, very few of which, I suspect, would meet the authenticity standards of some people.

But then, there are also those (including my sister-in-law) who would prefer that kids not play video games, because they believe kids can't distinguish between pixelated violence and the real sort. Are they right? Am I wrong? Only time will tell.

[worldofwarcraft]

They're reaching a lot of young kids, and I believe that the concern of some people is that those young kids will see this and think "Hey, that's what sword arts are like! That's cool!" and that this generation might turn away from historical / traditional sword arts because those arts don't meet their expectations. But that's par for the course. It's why there is such a high turnover rate in the JSA. Personally, it was Highlander that made me want to start learning sword! I guess I can understand that being a concern, but it's really pretty unrealistic to think that YouTube goobers can kill off the traditional arts when decades worth of "movie sword ryu" has failed.

[Marlboro-oroblraM]

I don't look out for those type of clips, I just saw it while watching something else on Youtube and couldn't believe how bad it was and posted on here. I'm not worried about knob-heads like the one in the clip will take over JSA. It doesn't affect my practice. I'm not losing sleep over it. I've spent more time answering your questions than I have worrying about it. I would just hate to think someone watching that clip would think that is "proper" JSA that's all. Maybe I am just "protective" about iai?

I've been fascinated by samurai since I was a kid (a loooong time ago now), did some karate when I was younger and looked up iaido clubs on the internet after watching "The Last Samurai" (not the best film but I enjoy it!) and the rest is history as they say. So like most I wanted to "have a go with a samurai sword" and have learned to love iaido since.

Probably still doesn't make sense tho . . .

[hujdrftgkas]

I was only able to stomach the first two minutes, but my only thoughts are: such pretty woodland scenery to be defiled by such nonsense, even the squirrels were probably closing their eyes. If this is indeed what "Joe Public" percieves Iaido to be, so be it. They're in for a real shock first time they visit a real dojo. YouTube is a forum for entertainment, nothing more. This clip fits the bill admirably.

[cypedembeda]

I also worry friends/relatives think this is what I do!!

....and subsequent responses

The problem for me is that most people are disappointed when they find out what I really do and then stop talking to me, so in general it's actually easier to let them believe that I go off and do sword-twirling with Tom Cruise and Christopher Lambert three times a week. That way they still want to hang out with me and think I'm cool, and that is why I support YouTube ninjers.

[moohassinny]

I think I will wear shorts, tee and trainers (sneekers) to practice from now on . . .

Can't believe that guy is using a shinken . . . .

I know I've taken the p*ss a bit, but genuinely worried about someone getting seriously hurt.

David

Hey David....why not look at it in a more Darwinian light? That way you need not worry....

I would never worry about an adult going out and swinging his new shinken around with no caution (unless it was around the public, my cat etc).....Here we have someone big enough and old enough to know better and if they so choose to lop off a foot, well, there's one more place on a sprung wooden floor for someone with a bit more sense to practice!

[N9u9ie4p]

This is the part that I don't really get. Why is it a concern? I'm sure the vast majority of people think that what we do is what they've seen on Kill Bill and Highlander. Yep, about as realistic as that fellow's stuff. This doesn't concern me at all, and doesn't affect my practice in the least. It does seem to bother a lot of people though, and that's what I've never really been able to understand.

It's an issue of being misrepresented by eejits that deign to sell themselves as experts in a form that we love and practice and sweat and bleed for....The biggest tragedy is the fact these tools often have more hits on their links than the serious students who have done their homework, researched their ryu and work hard to be proficient then someone logs in to the tube, sees old knacker face there wielding a rather large hunk of steel or whatever and looking for all the world like a discombobulated nincompoop with no more idea about swordsmanship than my cats long gone gonads and then saying "is this what you do"? "that looks silly".

I'd say our friend in Stourbridge has every right to feel concern