Kote Do!
I used to look up to Kenshin Himura, in my younger days, not because he was a cool guy with a sword, but the values he carried with him. I then realized that most of the Samurai during that time had nearly the same amount of values that the animated character had. I then looked up to a greater man Ieyasu Tokugawa, a real figure and am important one during the Edo period of Japan. Not everything Ieyasu did was great, but the majority of his decisions, acts, and his personality I look up too even today. People often wonder why I am so "nice" or act with such compassion, even though I can be pretty mean on a bad day (not everyone is perfect!). The reason I act that way is events from the days of middle school to the present has molded me into the person I am. Having that historical figure to look up too has also helped greatly, in everything I do. I also decided to train myself with a sword as well for various reasons. I've been teaching myself the proper way through some videos and books since the closest dojo is in SF. I really started getting serious just this year, I have been getting really good at the basic strike or "Men" , and now have moved myself on to the "Kote-do" but still practice the basic strike daily as well as other basic workouts. Not many people knew, others did; now everyone should know. The training has improved many sides of me that were very weak and still in development, like my courage, physical strength, and even my mind. I hope I can one day get training from a real sensei, someday soon I hope; I feel like I'm disgracing all who follow the discipline especially with my Shinai (bamboo training sword) in such a horrid shape.