the talk to Motoko thread

[Ammaranth]

(just then a turtle flies in through an open window)

Motoko: Aaah! (runs around the podium, trying to escape)

Tsuruko fills in for her panicked sister

Tsuruko: Ahem, as of this time, although she has other vocational plans, my sister has not done anything to disqualify herself as a potential heir of our family dojo. As to the other part of your question, a katana is forged from steels that are both hard and soft, to be both firm and yielding.


Question: What is it with the miko outfit? My "friend" has this obsession with them. Why do some guys find them so darn sexy?

[Grey Fox]

Motoko: "Because they're honor less perves? actually, prostitutes were originally associated with spirituality in Japan...hmmm...makes you wonder about those mikos!"

"Which would you rather have? The perfect level of mastery of your from, "perfection" in other words, or a quieter life with perhaps less demon slaying and more dealing with taking it a day at a time?"

[Ammaranth]

Motoko: More and more, I become convinced that "perfection" and quietness are not at odds with each other. Quite the opposite, actually. As for demon slaying, that can be troublesome, but then, so are these darn exams. But whether one is slaying demons, or living a quiet life, true mastery comes in recognizing the importance of the day to day.


Question: There are a lot of atributes that are important when it comes to the study of the sword, but if you had to pick one, or perhaps just one or two, what would you say are the most important traits of a good swordsman (or swordswoman) ?

[Grey Fox]

"Well, that's not the easiest choice, but I'd have to say that the two most important traits are to have determination and certain already existing base skills."

In terms of finesse and technique, would you say your skills have laxened over the course of you time at the hinatasou?

[Lirik Endivian]

(Motoko Humor )

"I.... I umm....."

(slience)

"HOW DARE YOU QUESTION WHETHER MY SKILLS HAVE SLACKENED!!"

*gets ready to swing sword till turtle lands on head*

"EEHHHHEECCKK!!!" *faints*

(thats probally what Motoko would say. shes always been sensitive to how much skill she had)

Hmm... Have you actually published any of those novels, and if so, does anyone at Hinata Sou know about them?

[t0k0l0v3r]

motoko: ...The-the n-novels? Wh-what are you talking about?

*JUST THEN T0k0l0v3r appears!!!!*

TL: they wanna know about the novel that shinobu was reading out loud at keitaro's wedding.

motoko: YOU AGAIN!!! DAMN YOU, GO TO HELL!!! BOULDER SPLITTING SWORD!

*TL ish toasted alive.....*

TL: *cough cough* would you ever consider puting your hair up in braids once it was long again?

[Grey Fox]

Not really, i like it short, though i ight grow it long again, i dunno.

Do you like peanut butter?

[Captain Renji Sparrow]

Hello...
Motoko...
I have a question...
Have you ever wondered what you want to do with your future?

[Grey Fox]

^ not counted for 2 reasons:
1- Are you even a member?
2- the first post says you have to answer THE QUESTION ABOVE FIRST

[Ammaranth]

Motoko: I find that peanut butter actually makes a great training aid for practicing chiburi. If you're having trouble with the blood removing flick in an iado kata, you can practice it by putting some peanut butter onto a boken, and then using one slash to fling it all off. It's something I came up with after hearing Keitaro talk about he and Naru trying to have more fun while studying. And as for my future, well, there are my studies, and the prospect of still possibly succeeding to the head of my family --

(Su stands up)
Su: But Motoko, you didn't tell them about how you like to eat peanut butter with bananas!

Motoko: (turns bright red) Um, er, uh-- Next question!


Amm: Motoko, what do you think of shobu zukuri style katana? I recently purchased one, and am still getting used to the unusual blade to handle ratio, but so far I'm quite happy with it. Your thoughts?

Ammaranth

P.S. Nice response of my earlier question, Fox. I think I'll have to agree with you there.

[Grey Fox]

(The Miko one or the Swordsman one?)

*Sigh*
"That's a hard one, i mostly know about Shirazaya & Daishō. I'd say that, it certainly proved itself as an armor breaker in battle against the mongols for the samurai of old, as for myself though, blade-wise, i can't really differentiate it that much from a Naginata. Though against a armored opponent i suppose you would do well with it. however given that you are most likely a collector or plain civilian, you won't get much chance to use it's potential for killing."

I have recently taken a liking to using Kusarigamajutsu, with a Tanto and Bājíquán to partner it. What is your opinion off this combination?

[Ammaranth]

Motoko: Seta could probably give you a more detailed answer as far as Bajiquan is concerned, being that he is very well versed in arts from many different countries. As far as the kusari goes, I have mixed feelings about the weapon. It can certainly be very formidable in the hands of someone who knows how to use it (or an amateur who swings wildly, for that matter) but I don't think it has the same overall strengths as the sword. It can attack strongly, and be very surprising to someone who hasn't seen one before, but it is not an easy weapon to defend with. I would recommend studying it along with a more traditional weapon, like the sword. One interesting bit of trivia: there are some claims that the famed Miyamoto Musashi developed his two sword style as a means to combat the kusarigama. I'm not sure if this is true or not, but its an interesting idea.


Ammaranth: Motoko, we see you in one episode at a western style fencing class. You seem to do quite well, even if it is not your personal style. What are your thoughts on western martial arts?

[Grey Fox]

"Episode? What are you talking about?!"
"Hmph, anyway i think that western martial arts are no better or worse than other martial arts, there are only different levels of practitioners, but overall i think that they rely too much on weapons and styles that are either too weak to match up to another sword style or emphasize strength too much to defeat an opponent who is quick and uses techniques like that of tai chi"

ME: Do you know anything about a place called mundus magicus? Or perhaps even a certain distinguished shinmei swordsman in an organization called kansai?