Unlike a gun, a sword is used at close-range.
To use the weapon skilfully, a high degree of skill is necessary.

The user is not distanced from the kill.
They must physically thrust the weapon into their victim or hack through flesh and bone.
This required strength, precision and nerve.

The advent of guns meant the end of the sword.

A gun is easier to conceal, required less skill in its application and allowed the user to fire a devastating round without stepping too close to the target.
Different types of guns offer a wide range of shooting options.
As a weapon it is infinitely more versatile than a sword.

People have been fascinated by swords for a very long time.
The craftsmanship, design and elegance of the weapon are often remarkable.

Books, TV programs and movies are filled with images of heroic figures wielding a sword.

What was a sword used for?

Maiming and killing.
Death can be caused by penetration, slicing or dismemberment.

It is not a 'defensive' weapon.

What is a sword?

A sword is a bladed weapon featuring a handle.
The length of the handle and the blade will differ depending upon the style of sword.
The blade may be straight or curved.
Some form of guard may be present.

People enjoy dropping into the gym at their convenience, working out and then leaving.
There is limited commitment and the training is done at their convenience.
This is not really what martial arts training is about.
Martial arts teach a wide variety of skills.
Combat is just one of these skills.
In order to learn a martial art, it is necessary to change how you look at things.

You must remove anger, aggression and conflict from your life.
Instead of fighting with people: physically, verbally, emotionally and psychologically, you learn how to approach situations differently.
It will affect every aspect of your life.
How can a gym teach this?

Some people have naïve expectations regarding self defence.
They expect to learn a few techniques, tips and pointers, and be perfectly capable of defending themselves.
This is not realistic.
Self defence courses are like urban myths; they promise something that is seldom delivered.

Some martial arts classes serve to preserve and safeguard an art that would otherwise die out.
Swordsmanship, archery and other such practices have little purpose in modern life.
The students who train these arts keep the knowledge safe.
They preserve the heritage.

Are these viable martial arts classes?
On the one hand they are; the skills are genuine martial skills, no doubt proven in actual combat over many years.
On the other hand the skills are not functional or viable in modern society.
Will you be carrying a sword?
If you did carry a sword, are you legally allowed to use it?

Fighting groups do not really constitute sport because their aim is not to compete.
The aim of a fighting class is to engage is combat that is as real as possible.
In this regard, such classes are following the martial spirit.

Unfortunately, brutality and strength often prevail.
A student may suffer more injuries in class than on the street.
In such a class, the artistry of the martial arts takes second place to guts and sheer determination.

Many martial arts have become sport.
Instructors are now 'coaches' and the whole approach is geared towards competition.

There is nothing wrong with this, if this is what you want to do. 
However, strictly speaking, such practice constitutes 'sport' not 'martial art'.

The mandate of sport is quite different to that of a martial art.
Sports are about winning and losing, gaining trophies, medals and awards.

At its most crude, a martial art is simply about surviving a violent assault.
At is most refined, it is about attuning yourself to the way of existence, adjusting to the rhythms of life.
No sport can offer this.

Tai chi is an internal martial art, a style of Chinese kung fu.
How you train the form, and what you do with it is defined by this fact.
The neijia are circular and rely extensively upon spirals, curves, softness and gravity.
This must be evident in your form training and your applications.

Modern martial arts classes cater for a wide variety of student:

1. Sport
2. Fighting
3. Young children
4. Performance art
5. Preservation classes
6. Self defence courses
7. The gym approach (drop-in and work out)
8. 'Feel good' groups that focus upon the emotional and psychological benefit

There is arguably something for everybody.
However, many of these classes have nothing to do with the purpose of martial arts training.
The modern student can train what they like, how they like.
The important thing is to be honest with yourself concerning the nature of what you are practicing.

Once upon a time martial arts were taught for very simple, pragmatic reasons:

1. Personal protection

2. Professional combat skill

Nowadays, things have changed.
People are often too lazy to learn how to protect themselves.
They imagine that a cocky 'attitude' and a big mouth will work against a real life assailant.

The need for professional combat skills remains the unchanged.
Guns and batons may be widely used by security/military services, but robbed of their weapon, an individual still needs unarmed combat skills.

Bai shi is all about integrity and trust.

Is the student capable of furthering the art?

Are they true to the art?

Can you leave it in their hands?

Do they inspire your confidence?