Thanks again everyone for the welcome. Dan, I studied Ninjutsu for five years with the Kurai Kotori Ryu in Denver, Colorado. It is a multi-disciplinary dojo and they practice taijutsu (a synthesis of japanese unarmed styles), kenjutsu (swordfighting) as well as many other traditional weapons. These days I am mostly practicing taiji and a little gung fu with my cousin who is an instructor here in Costa Rica.

I am really looking forward to using the Scizzy. So cool that you came out with a Scrap Yard Sword. I will be visiting Colorado for Thanksgiving and will bring the Scizzy back to Costa Rica with me. It will be cool to have something that I can really use without worrying about damaging it.

Any chance of a full-length Busse-kin katana in the future? Just thinking about it is getting me excited.

Ninjas vs. Pirates: both are cool for different reasons, but in a fight I gotta represent and go with ninjas. Pirates might have an advantage on the water since the Japanese never leave their island, but they are likely to be in a weakened state from scurvy and guzzling rum. I believe the ninjas fighting skill and discipline would prevail in the long run.