Thank you for the replies. The one thing I could not help feeling when I read the replies was, that most of the replies are from the states!! I remember going to an Aikido summer camp in Seattle, Washington with a few dojo members and the dojo‘s Sensei. After the first day I realized the dojo hosting the camp was not only step above what I was used too, but also it was more of a self defense dojo; but, the dojo also had a great aura of respectfulness. But here's the funny thing! This was the parent dojo of our dojo, and the main 7th Dan instructor said ," Aikido is a self defense not a way of life." This to me was a shock!!! It was Blasphemy, almost taboo . He basically said the opposite of what my Sensei told us at least every second day, which was, "Aikido is a way of life and not a self defense." I swear I could not look my sensei in the eyes, for well, because it was awkward in a funny way. Then the 7th Dan was showing us moves that again was ironically, for the most part taboo and would never-ever be shown at our dojo in Canada. So, if and when I ever write a thread, keep these points in mind. First, Canucks are pretty mellow, and two, smoking marijuana here is legal in Canada!