[Amnell]

Holy God.... Hyakushi, Tenchu, you guys are insane!

Tenchu... What's wrong with eye gouges and groin-shots? I suppose you would consider American Kenpo and Krav Maga to be cowardly martial arts...? If someone were threatening me, I wouldn't hesitate to strike any target that was available. This is also a (combative) way of the warrior--though it might not be an official principle of Bushido, it is essential. During my Kenpo lessons, my instructor heavily emphasized the idea of attacking whatever you can however you can. Krav maga actually encourages biting and hair pulling, I've heard (not to say that it relies on those techniques XD ) .

Hyakushi... If rules cramp your style, than you have a lot of work to do yet. I agree with you that sometimes a certain rule can be irritating, but it shouldn't be limiting to your ability.

As far as the morals thing goes... I have to disagree with Tenchu. There really isn't anything you learn from a martial art that you couldn't learn elsewhere. Yet, any kind of martial practice will be the best way to learn those principles. What martial arts REALLY gives you is not necessarily morals (or even ethics), but experience with a variety of situations. Morals and ethics, in my experience and readings, stem from the experiences.

Personally, I think you two are a little over-zealous, not unlike a pharasee out of the bible. There's nothing wrong with going to practice only 2-3 a week, you don't have to expect to die to win a fight, just because someone doesn't devote their entire being to becoming a martial artist doesn't mean they aren't a fighter or a warrior at heart. You two do these things, and that's totally fine--you have a lot more devotion than I do. But, for us mortals, it's not necessary to go that far.