The pen deals with public opinion, perception and what people can be lead to believe. The reality of this is no more relevant than today when the internet can give the perception of expertise in any subject and particularly in the martial arts. It is what self promotion is all about. It is very easy to talk the talk and to even walk the walk with the uneducated and uninformed because they come with open hearts and minds in the spirit of learning.
The sword deals with what’s done on the mat. Face to face and man to man if you will. When all is said and done the sword is what stories are made of. It is about what you bring to the floor and what you leave on the floor. Did the world see you gut it out and wimp out? Did you break a rib or was it a nail? At the end of the day where we choose to place the bar for ourselves will tell those that were actually there if we gave our all with sword in hand or pen.