You are likely not aware of Iajutsu, then? This is a form of >swordplay 

that involves being able to make a "One-hit kill" In ANY >situation. You 
know the opening scene in Ninja Scroll where Jubei >throws up the roll, 
and kills two men just in the drawing of his >blade? That's Iajutsu 
right there. A true practictioner fought in the >following manner:

1)draw blade
2) in the process, kill enemy with the drawing stroke.
3) sheathe blade
4)try to do this in one movement.

It was and to this day is a hard school, but at one time was quite 
popular. so people like Jubei were running all over Japan in the 
Toyatome reign.

  I can accept that fact, but... still, that's a rare occurance. The 
game still comes down to this, and I think you'll have to come to terms 
on this one -- the battle is over not when the more skill swordsman 
draws his blade per se, but when the opponent makes the first mistake. I 
believe someone else made this statement on this thread before-hand, and 
apologize for seemingly reinterating or biting off their comment.

Um, Linna, not to rip on you, but  that's more Iado or Iajutsu. >Modern 

Kendo, even in Japan, is mostly a form of physical discipline >and 
exercise. Also, "One-hit kills" aren't necessarily discouraged, >and are 
in fact the most artful victory, but Kendo still generally >relies on a 
series of blows being traded back and forth.

  Um... not necessarily. I'm not saying that Ki-ken-tai-ichi or other 
forms of that philosophy are unique to Kendou alone, but I am arguing 
that it is one of the main goals in a Kendou sparring shiai (match). 
When you're in a shiai, one of your objectives should be to best you 
opponent in one strike. Sure, blows are traded; that's because someone 
was too slow or someone else anticipated an attack, etc, and that's the 
outcome. In fact, that's what makes it so interesting sometimes. But 
still, the main goal when you're sparring is to expose your opponent's 
weakness, and use it to your advantange. I know it sounds a little evil, 
and this point is stated much more beautifully in books, (possibly more 
correctly, too), but I just wanna say that multiple attacks is not 
favored in Kendou.

  When I started practicing Kendou, one of the sempai asked if I wanted 
to spar against him. I was still new to game, and even though I knew I 
was still a beginner and green, I wanted very much to see how a shiai 
would feel like. We went for a 3 minute round and I did end up scoring a 
few points. After the match was over, and when we bowed out, he 
approached me and took off his helmet. He looked at me with a hard gaze 
and said, "You are sloppy. You hit too many times and only score a few 
times. You're firing like you're an uzi with a ton of clips. Rather, 
next time, I want you to think like you're a six shot pistol with only 
one bullet in the chamber." In this way, was I introduced to Ki-ken-tai 
ichi. So based on that experience, I have to state (again, I know) that 
Kendou does not favor exchanging a multitude of blows until someone, in 
the flurry of movement, snaps in a hit.

  That's my view, of course. ^_^

~Linna
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