Vox

To find quality, one should value the persons integrity and respectful personality rather than the physical appeal.

If you've heard of Roger Waters you're most likely very familiar with Pink Floyd. as for Other Progressive Rock Bands, i recommend Toto IV by Toto. and since you listen to Ska, i'd recommend Cargo by Men at Work, and Ghost in the Machine by The Police (hell any Police album), If you haven't listened to Pink Floyd's The Wall deffinetly do.

Half my family lives on the West Coast, I'm from Chicago, but i've always considered Rhode Island home, even though i only "lived" there for a brief period of time. So Providence RI or Newport.

Definitely, an experienced tactician, armed or not, could very well outdo an inexperienced armed attacker.

Not going to disagree here, you made some pretty good points. But the whole point I was attempting to make was that it bothered me on how much people hold swords (specifically Japanese) in such high regard and often overestimate their abilities, I'm not here to criticize practitioners or hobbyists if I was, I'd be a hypocrite, all I'm saying is that it's a dangerous idea to overestimate a sword and it's limits especially in the increasingly dangerous world where crimes committed using firearms is the norm. If someone thinks they have a decent chance defending themselves with a bladed weapon in the event of an armed home invasion is rather foolish. Universally accepted disciplines, philosophies, and techniques present in various combat arts, both old and new, sword or not, can and are definitely useful today and valuing them as simply offensive savage techniques meant only to bring the death of individual would be ignorant. As a fan and dedicated follower of the sword carrying community, I don't want to see our image tarnished with the arrogant idea that swords are superior and more noble to wield than other defensive tools Also, this forum's sort of an odd place to discuss this, lol

Indeed, though I'm no professional, I do prefer combat art more, being dedicated to practicality, which Is ironic, considering Katanas, or any sword for that matter are almost entirely impractical weapons for modern combat or self defense, that being said, I appreciate sword schools as preservers of history and culture more so than practical self defense courses. Wow, that quote attempt screwed up big time.

Japanese swords, though indeed interesting, exotic, and cool are a bit overrated in their abilities. This is partially due to them being heavily associated with the aristocratic samurai class that wielded them. I own 3 and though they're certainly more agile than my scimitars or broadswords they can't match their raw brute strength. Katanas are also probably favored for the skill required to wield them fluently, though I'm not a big fan of some of the less practical martial arts schools and disciplines that use swords in a more artistic than martial way.

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Are there regional Bronycons? i wasn't aware.

Alright, any help would be appreciated but here's what i got so far. http://voxpolice.deviantart.com/