Karate is a formula of self-defence that has developed thanks to sundry senescence and which now contains elements of keeping fit and keeping a supple body. Both the mind and body are focused whilst karate classes take place and this gives the practitioner the opportunity to escape the normal pressures of everyday life.

Authentic Japanese swords can and usually realize rate a narrow fortune.

In occasion many (though not all) sword collectors maintain that to get a half way decent sword you need to be spending around US$1000. And the maximum? Well, the sky is the limit (there are quite a few Japanese made Katana that sell for around the US$25,000 mark).

So what about all those $50 swords being sold on ebay and everywhere else?

Well, at the end of the day, these swords are often junky ornamental "sword like objects". They can't be used as a martial arts weapon. Even just swinging them around with moderate force risks the blade snapping off at the handle...

But if you know what to look for, buying authentic Japanese swords at a reasonable price - say for around US$150 to $500 is quite possible. And in some cases, for even less than this amount of money, it's possible to get a nice sword that is well balanced, sharp, strong and an excellent 'bang for your buck' buy.

For start though - let's take a very quick look at what separated the authentic Japanese swords from the ornamentals:

• Japanese swords are slightly curved, sharp and single edged

• Authentic Japanese swords are light, fast weapons and should weigh no more than 3lbs max. They are also very well balanced

• Real Japanese swords aren't made from stainless steel - they are made from high carbon steel. They also have what is called a "differentially tempered blade" - meaning that the sharp edge of the sword is harder than the spine, giving the sword flexibility (so it doesn't shatter on impact) but also extreme cutting power.

• Real Japanese swords also have a tang (the part of the blade that goes into the handle) that is made as part of the blade, not a length of steel welded on afterwards (called a "rat tail" tang).

There are also a few other factors, such as traditional appearance and fittings to consider...

Now in our target price range of US$150 to $500 - there are only a few swords which qualify - and you'd be surprised, it isn't necessarily the most expensive ones either...

The first is the

Kusanku kata has traditionally been called the "night blowup kata." Recently however, this assent has been challenged by opposite more appropriate martial artists. They maintain that the "night fighting" designation is basically a myth, perpetuated by misinterpretation of the name or techniques. There are several good arguments to support this position, but it is obvious that Kusanku kata does contain techniques well-adapted to fighting at night.

Most of us are perceptive with martial arts based on what we reflect on TV and the movies; Jacky Chan, Steven Segal, Jet Li, Chuck Norris, Bruce Lee etc.

Some of the famously notorious martial arts in practize today include Judo, Tek Kwan Do, Karate, which have made it to the Olympic Games, Akido, Tai Chi and Qigong, which are not in the Olympic Games as yet. Although some of these martial arts come from Korea and Japan, the roots of most martial arts can be traced to China.

It is believed that all martial arts can be traced to the Shaolin Temple and the Wudang Hills in China. In reality, there must be hundreds of different types of martial arts practized in China, including the more popular BaQuaQuan, TangLangQuan, TaiChi, HouQuan, etc.

Training injuries, bruises and cuts are common during practizes and sparring sessions in martial arts schools. In fact, injuries are so common that most martial arts teachers also double up as doctors in treating aches and pains that come from sporting and training injuries.

The common ways to treat pain and ache in martial arts schools include: