why did we all start?

[Kenshi]

my question is why did we all start training in martial arts. i know when i first started i started for all the wrong reasions. but after years of traing and research i did find a greater level and now when i teach i can see it in some of the students too. so my question is anyone else go thught a big change in there years of traing. and i don't mean in skill and strgenth.

[Kwajman]

On a very basic level, to learn more about myself. I'm always trying to find what my limits are, how far I can push myself. I have low self esteem, and this helps me to build myself up a little...

[Kenshi]

that cool i respect that thats one of the main reasions people join in the first place

[hafer34]

Ever since I could walk I was imitating moves from the karate kid and ninja turtles haha. Its in my blood and will be there for the rest of my life. Very good question though, Kenshi.

[nzric]

I've never been interested in martial arts and I got dragged along to a taiji class by a friend. I thought only new age hippies did tai chi so I wanted to make fun of them. That's the truth!

[Alias]

Originally posted by hafer34
Ever since I could walk I was imitating moves from the karate kid and ninja turtles haha. Its in my blood and will be there for the rest of my life.

Ditto, except that it was Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris for me.

[Shaolin Dragon]

Originally for self-defence, but now I go for self-improvement; spiritual, physical and mental. MA has it all

[Shade]

The main reason for me has been a desire to be able to learn how to defend myself if ever called upon to do so (what with the growing number of attacks on our streets etc).

Other factors include the desire to become more physically fit, more flexible, more aware, and more confident.

I am also being quickly awoken to the immense and powerful spiritual side to the arts which i find fascinating.

[Disciple]

If I can remmber correctly I first started in the early nineties b/c of a few things, one may have been power rangers... though I don't consciously acknowledge that, but I do remember trying to convince my parents b/c my cousins were starting. And thus began my journy. a few years a go I stopped and then a realized, WHAT am I doing? So I went back after 2 years. I went back b/c it helped me physically and helped center me, I went back to help with a paht of physical fitness and coordination as well as for self awareness.

[zun]

Television is a great motivator for me - sometimes. :)

Watching chinese MA fly thru the sky, hang in the air, sword fighting - *sigh* nostalgic times.

Remember going to one of my first TKD classes, only to be dissapointed that they didnt teach hangtime! :D

[Yama Tombo]

I don't know exactly why I started martial arts, but I found out more about myself as I go.

Though when I think of it: Ditto, except that it was Bruce Lee for me

I think I wanted to be better than Bruce Lee.

[RAD]

My children were first to join MA. It looked like a lot of fun and I was in need of some form of exercise. My sedentary lifestyle had made my weight skyrocket. My instructor admitted to me a few months back that he did not think I would make it to a second class... Boy did I prove him wrong... now two years later and 70 less pounds, I am still enjoying my MMA training and still reaping the benefits of the continued weight loss.

[Bigfoot]

There where too many girls trying to get me, so I needed a way to fight them off. (Don't let my fiancée read this one). Honestly though, I think I saw a Summer offer somewhere and thought it sounded exciting - that was over 20 years ago. I still find it very exciting.

[David]

Like the Shaolin monks (hehe), I was physically wasting away with mystical study and decided it was time to study a physical system, preferably one with benefits and utility.

Rgds,
David

[inacan]

I think I started because of several family members being in MA and bothering me to try it (I was doing other things at the time) and then I became genuinly fascinated with MA's in general and started to read about and such. So I started, after I started it became a matter of getting better flexibility and such and I just fell in love with the whole concept and training.

[Reiki]

I did a number of years in judo as a teenager then quit because I was sick of getting partnered with all the testosterone soaked young blokes and being the only girl. Always wanted to learn karate but never got the chance...

When my son started I decided I would too as I got sick of watching and wanted to be doing it and here I am a few years later!

Bruised, battered and loving it - and teaching it. :D

[shunyadragon]

I started by studying Buddhism and meditation at about the age of 19. Later I took classes in Tai Qi Tuan, Qi Gong, Tae Kwon Do (very disapointing), Aikido, Kendo, Eido (sp?) Japanese sword, 5 years at an eclectic free style school near Durham, NC and then off to China. I've been in China studying and practicing in the parks for six years. I am researching lost Arts and techniques for healing and spiritual disciplines and combat. I'm researching the Dorji or Pruba are short clawed articles used for weapons, healing and spiritual meditations. I am also study the long horse cutter sword with a one meter blade from the Qin Dynasty.

[freespirit]

Im not going to any classes of any actual martial arts but i rely on my own unconsious, consious and natural abilities to work on but this 'unique' way that i practice has led me onto a whole side of philosophical, spiritual and physical which has also led me to be alot more 'free' that alot of other artists, i feel totally at home with my own unique way of practice.

[Terry Matthes]

I like physical challenges. Anything like track and field, obstacle courses, it all just intrests me. One day I got a flyer in my mail advertising a new martial arts school nearby. I didn't have the money at the time, but I put the flyer in my room for save keeping. A year later I was cleaning out my closet and it just kinda fell off the shelf and I was like "Alright lets do this!". That was last october and I am defintley glad I decided to clean my room that day.

[Ara]

Yeah, I got a flyer at school some years ago for TKD, and just decided to give it a go and see what i could do. I havent looked back and ive loved and learnt from every moment of it :)

[K93200]

my question is why did we all start training in martial arts. i know when i first started i started for all the wrong reasions. but after years of traing and research i did find a greater level and now when i teach i can see it in some of the students too. so my question is anyone else go thught a big change in there years of traing. and i don't mean in skill and strgenth.

I started to learn how to fight better and find a new sport to play and practice with. I still use it to defend against other street trash and things like that.

[AntonToo]

Competition! and it's more fun then going to regular gym :)

I mean comon sparing Is very standard in nature, most animals do it, it's built in. I hate when people mix in spirituality and tradition into something with such a basic function.

[Nrv4evr]

i started mostly through family connections. my first sensei in canada was the instructor of a family friend. my sensei in kyoto is my dad's uncle in-law.

i started the actual interest through bruce lee, having to fight quite a few times, even though i lived in a small town, and being oriental, having to put up with a lot of stereotypes. :(

[Knight_Errant]

It's cheaper than clubbing and you can have a fight without taking it outside.
Kind of sad, really....

[Scarlet Mist]

I joined so I would be better able to defend myself. I mean, is some guy is gonna try to mug you you might as well knock all his teeth out, break his arm and dislocate his kidneys.

[K93200]

I joined so I would be better able to defend myself. I mean, is some guy is gonna try to mug you you might as well knock all his teeth out, break his arm and dislocate his kidneys.
amen bro!

[AntonToo]

I joined so I would be better able to defend myself. I mean, is some guy is gonna try to mug you you might as well knock all his teeth out, break his arm and dislocate his kidneys.


Oh yea? I just heard of a guy, great fighter, had a few titles and all, he got shot and killed while getting mugged. He got one guy down but the second shot him (he didn't know the mugger wasnt alone).

So Amen to that bro.

[leeless]

I started a Duke Of Edingburgh award in January, for which, I need to do 1 hour of physical exertion a week. I knew of a kickboxing Gym in a nearby village. I now go for 1 hour twice a week because I like it so much.

[dragon_bunny]

i feel so shallow... i just wanted to be a ninja and play with sharp pointy weapons... oh and blunt ones too :D i'm as deep as a puddle

[Scarlet Mist]

Oh yea? I just heard of a guy, great fighter, had a few titles and all, he got shot and killed while getting mugged. He got one guy down but the second shot him (he didn't know the mugger wasnt alone).

So Amen to that bro.

Let's look at it this way, they probably would have shot him anyway. Do you know how many news cast I've heard saying "He was shot and killed, robbery was the motive". They don't just rob you anymore, they shoot you, or they drag you off to places and shoot you. I think I'd rather get shot somewhere closer to the open where the assailants are gonna run away after the shooting that get shot somewhere in the woods where they're gonna drop you in some unmarked pit!


Gangsta

[Furikuchan]

Both of my parents were martial artists. Both of them had fourth degree black belts in karate, my father had a fourth degree black belt in kobudo, my mother had a first degree black belt in judo. (My father, note, only got as far as to get his brown belt in jjudo, then started learning the arm bars, then quit because he had no further use for the art.) They both had so much rank, and so mucn influence in the martial arts circuit all over the east coast, naturally, their kids were going to learn. So, yeah, my parents started teaching me when I was younger, but I continued to train because I developed a love for the arts, not just because "they were forcong me to."

[Knight_Errant]

I started a Duke Of Edingburgh award in January, for which, I need to do 1 hour of physical exertion a week. I knew of a kickboxing Gym in a nearby village. I now go for 1 hour twice a week because I like it so much.
Yeah, I started doing karate in DOE too. Very cool award scheme.

[leeless]

Cool...where are you at in the scheme?

I find kickboxing compliments the expedition part of the award quite well as the soles of my feet are nicely calloussed so hopefully, I'll won't get blisters.

[acarpe]

haha yeah
i'm off on my DofE Gold expedition tomorrow as it happens, 4 day expedition in Scotland

[leeless]

Cool. I'm doing the route maps for a Gold practice for August. I'm going to the lakes. Should be cool.

[AntonToo]

Let's look at it this way, they probably would have shot him anyway. Do you know how many news cast I've heard saying "He was shot and killed, robbery was the motive". They don't just rob you anymore, they shoot you, or they drag you off to places and shoot you. I think I'd rather get shot somewhere closer to the open where the assailants are gonna run away after the shooting that get shot somewhere in the woods where they're gonna drop you in some unmarked pit!


Gangsta

Oh yea is that why the person who shot him came police precinct next day and confessed?

If they want to kill and rob you, they kill first and then rob, the other way around is more complicated.

[cybermonk]

I started martial arts because I liked to fight a lot and it was one of those things you could learn and take to the streets right after to test if it worked. Now I no longer like to fight, at least not fight as in streetfight because i dont find it to hold much of a challenge and is not as entertaining as it used to be. You could say I have changed in that manner, also since im older now and probably as a cause of the martial arts I have learnt that just because you can beat someone and they are delusional about it doesnt mean you have to fight them to prove it to them.

[Knight_Errant]

Cool...where are you at in the scheme?

Unfortunately I only managed to get my bronze before my group folded. Still, I'm planning to go to art school next term and they have a group there :)

[leeless]

What do you mean by group. Just contact the county DOE representitive (should be on the website). They make groups out of people from all over the county...

[Albert]

Why i started: Ninja Turtles and He-man.. :)