[emingeRek]

Ben: Thanks for the food for thought. I don't think I've labeled jukendo as "offensive," but it is kind of an extreme oddity... what with the mock-rifles.

The sword (well, actually probably more so the bow/arrow) is historically intertwined w/ bushido, whereas the bayonet has no real modern, philosophical equivalent. I suppose you can argue that there is a "way of the bayonet" but that seems somehow improbable. Without a philosophical basis (this is my assumption -- though I'm sure some will say this is untrue), it's runs more towards pure technique.

As to experienced kendoka being able to do some real damage w/ a shinken, I'm sure they could -- but then they could probably do so with an umbrella as well.

Of course, my opinion is rather uninformed seeing as how my only exposure to jukendo is through video clips and pictures in Japanese magazines that I can't read. And so I too have yet to sort all this out...