Kim Taylor
Yudansha

is: What value is a "true lineage" to martial arts practice.

There is much concern these days on the net about proper lineage, about who has the papers and who has broken away. What is the value of a true lineage to the actual practice of the martial arts?

is: Why am I worried about remembering koryu sets?

A couple of days ago I began making plans to get the partner into the gym and practice up a couple of new koryu sets that I still don't have worked into my bones. I don't have a lot of time for this and it suddenly occurred to me that I don't really have dozens of students waiting anxiously for this material.

is: Why do people think it's appropriate to comment on koryu they aren't part of?

Having watched people discuss the legitimacy of this or that teacher of this or that koryu and whether or not they had permission to do so over the years, it has always fascinated me that people feel they have the right to opine about what is essentially a family matter.

Is it a Brangelina Jenn thing where it's just fun to muck into the gossip?

is: Why don't people just start their own arts/sports?

Why do people on the net set pre-conditions to their study of kendo or other arts? For instance a fellow on swordforum is asking about kendo but doesn't want to study it if it is just points, instead he wants to know if it counts "kills".

is: How do I get my Menkyo Kaiden while being in the IKF?

I can't think of a single koryu iaido or jodo line in the IKF that is also giving out koryu grades, so how will I ever get my Menkyo Kaiden?