it's funny how many old style martial arts are focused on discipline and honor now. a street thug or a burgler doesn't give a damn about honor. Unless everyone agrees to fight by the same rules, honor doesn't apply. it's not who wins a fight, it's who can walk home to his family and friends under his own power after the fight is done.

i agree emjay.

death is not something that a samurai wishes for and would accept with open arms, it is something that he will do to prove his loyalty to his master. it is not so important to lose as it is to please your master.in some cases, losing a fight that ends in death, it can be a dishonorable thing. i say this because if a masters best samurai is defeated, it will make the master look bad.

but to answer your question i think that the whole "spirit/sword" thing is really that a sword is a tool for killing in an instince to honor your master. and your spirit is to be bonded with the sword so as to honor your master.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by JohnL:
What exactly did it say?

2 suggestions

"Come to me, I'm yours, take me!"

"That'll be $700 dollars please."

JohnL [IMG]http://www.fightingarts.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif[/IMG]
[/QUOTE]

[IMG]http://www.fightingarts.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif[/IMG] [IMG]http://www.fightingarts.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif[/IMG] [IMG]http://www.fightingarts.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif[/IMG] [IMG]http://www.fightingarts.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif[/IMG] [IMG]http://www.fightingarts.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif[/IMG]
Too much!!!!!!

Geez... how old are you guys???
j/k [IMG]http://www.fightingarts.com/forums/ubb/tongue.gif[/IMG]
Btw, I think a real man is a man with intellectual, not something as... physical....... like dying in a combat....

That's just stupid... wait a sec, I am not a coward, but don't you think this 'self-sacrificing' attitude is a must for the warriors but not the generals???
General must live and take 'revenge' for the dead.

Therefore, in conclusion..... death is not a matter of honourable and dishonourable....
As the people said, life is joyful, death is peaceful....