I am taking a class in Kenjutsu

Kenjutsu is the samurai's sword art. It requires the use of blades
(especially Japanese blades such as the katana, wakizashi, and
no-daichi). Kenjutsu involves powerful, high commitment strikes to
selected targets in order to kill the opponent. There is a strong side
of spiritual and philosophical study.

This art was studied and practiced by the bushi (warriors) and
samourai since the 11th century. In the 16th century, there was an
explosion of styles, with many being formed between then and the
present. Kenjutsu is the ancestor of Kendo, a pacifical martial art.

I am taking the class for no particular reason, other than curiosity.
I am a Viet Nam combat veteran.

The instructor is young, well trained and quite a devotee of the
"sport". He stresses Honor and Respect.

I was taught honor and respect at Fort Knox and Fort McCellan.This was
used to get me to respect my cadre and to commit acts I would not have
done, like killing people.

There is no honor in learning to kill, there is no honor in killing
and the religious nuts and land owners that we are killing for, do not
deserve anyone's respect.