I know I shouldn't have done this...but...
I was cyber-eavesdropping on a conversation on one of those "western martial arts" forum when the question of the true, pragmatic utility of learning any form of fencing reared it's head.
It all boiled down to the question, "How likely, in the real world, is it that you would find yourself attacked by a sword-wielding assailant?" This being the 21st century and all.
So I asked myself the same question and limited myself to America (where I live.)
Some things just take a life of their own... (sigh)
Please forgive the tongue-in-cheek title.
True Detective Sword Stories