NewB, either you are really new or you clearly don't know the way to do things around here. Instead of politely introducing yourself, you ought to have made some "hachi-kyu" comments in one of the discussions (usually saying that you are naturally talented at jodan or that you've been aspired to do kendo after watching kenshin, kill bill, last samurai) and insist that your personal opinion is better than that of ours and your senseis. And after we verbally abuse you to the point where you find yourself being angry at your computer for no substantial reason and feel like you just might quit kendo, (because you didn't know/expect that upright, wholesome kendoka would act like butt faces) only then. .. are you one of us! we've all went through it. now here's to poking fun at you... cheers. and enjoy the danger lurking ahead. god i hate sarcasm.