Recently I have read really fantastic book by Kensho Furuya. Among most garbage published to satisfy the demand of the fashion for martial art, I was happy to get it. It did not give me more answers rather cut off my superfluous thoughts.

We all ask the question sometime “How long it takes to get good in Iaido?” ‘Lifetime…’ Hundreds of students are lost in this way by such Teacher’s answer.

Once, a traveler wasn’t sure of his way. As he proceeded, he saw an old man sitting by the road. The man was very dirty and wore rags for clothes, but he looked very wise like a priest or holy man. The traveler approached the old man respectfully and asked how long it takes to reach the next city. The old man looked at him but didn’t answer. The traveler asked again and still the old man sat there and just stared at him. Finally traveler gave up, thinking the old man was crazy and just stupid. After he had made a few steps, the old man shouted out, “Five hours!” The traveler was surprised to hear this and a little angry. ‘If you new how long it would take me to get there, why did you just sit there saying nothing while I was asking you over and over again?’ Replied the old man, “How could I tell you how long it would take, until I saw how fast you could walk?”

//KODO Ancient Ways by Kensho Furuya//
Best Wishes,
Elena