Self-defence

[AngelaG]

After reading another thread I'm interested how many people were driven to study MA because they wanted to learn to defend themselves. For me it was in amongst the reasons, but to be honest that was a plus point rather than the primary reason.

If you did start to learn how to defend yourself, why? Is it because of the area, you live in, or work reasons?

For me I wanted an enjoyable pastime, that would get me out the house and keep me fit. The fact that I found something that would also teach me how to look after myself was a bonus. If I'm honest the "cool" factor also came into play. Doesn't karate sounds slightly more interesting than aerobics?

I have even more reasons that keep me in training now, but these developed over time. My primary reasons were much more simple.

[maskedman]

I got bashed on my way home from school for a week....then one day (after he had beat me somemore because I had all of one month Judo training, all i could really do was roll) I kneed the guy in the nuts and performed the old ouchi-gari on him. He didnt know what hit him ;D
Why did I stay on......well I dont know, but now MA is just a natural extension of who I am, and what I am about!

"my name is maskedman.............I am a martialartsaholic!"
*bows respectfully*

[Aefibird]

I'd always wanted to train in martial arts for as long as I can remember. My older (by 10 years) brother is a Judo Dan grade and my Dad is an ex Judoka (also Dan grade). However, I was never allowed to train, even though my brother and dad did, which always seemed very hypocritical to me. However, having seen some of the injuries that my dad and his friends suffered I'm actually a bit grateful to my parents for stopping me from joining Judo. My dad's Judo club was very much of the old school.

Anway, I got into horseriding when I was a teenager and competed regularly at eventing and showjumping, so I never really had time to do anything martial arty anyway.

It was only after I'd left home and cut back a lot on the horseriding (university was one reason, a knackered knee was another) that I started to think a bit more about joining martial arts.

Then I signed up to climb Mount Kilimanjaro for charity, so most of my free time was taken up with training for that. Asthma and lower oxygen levels don't mix well, so I wanted to try and be as fit as possible for that. The training for Kili took over so much of my spare time that, again, MA was pushed out.

When I came back from Kilimanjaro I then found that I had a big hole in my life - I didn't have the incentive to train like I had done before and pounding away in the gym on my own every day for no real purpose seemed a bit daft to me.

By chance, a friend of mine had started Katrate whilst I was away in Tanzania and when I got back she mentioned that she'd taken up martial arts. She showed me her first kata (Kihon Kata!) and I was hooked - I went to training with her that night and I've never looked back.

Starting martial arts was the best thing I've ever done - I've so much to be grateful to it for, and so much to be grateful to my Sensei for. I've also trained with some wonderful people in other martial arts, notably my foray into AIkido for a while and my more recent discoveries in TKD, Wing Chun and Tai Chi.

[Aefibird]

I've just written all that and then realised I haven't actually answered the question...

No, SD wasn't my primary reason for starting Karate - I wanted to start because I'd seen it performed and thought it looked great! I also wanted something to fill up my free time and stop me being a saddo going to the gym on my own. ;D

[andym]

I started Wado-Ryu Karate about 11/12 years ago, back then it was for self-defence cos I was a bit weedy but I gave that up to join the Army. Nearly 3 years ago I started Shotokan Karate but not for self-defence, more for fitness initially but now I do it for the love of the style.

[random]

I can sum up the reason I started in one word.

MONKEY

If you have no idea what I am on about then have a look at www.monkey.square-eyez.com/

The theme tune was fab. I wanted to fly around on clouds and have a bow staff that I could keep in my ear. Self defence wasn’t an issue.

[MasterH]

I started at 11-12 as a trouble maker. A few thousand knuckle push-ups cured me.

[darkstar]

random said:

I can sum up the reason I started in one word.

MONKEY

If you have no idea what I am on about then have a look at www.monkey.square-eyez.com/

The theme tune was fab. I wanted to fly around on clouds and have a bow staff that I could keep in my ear. Self defence wasn’t an issue.

LOL!! Monkey Magic

i originally started (Tang Soo Doo) at the age of 11 because i was getting picked on at school. it helped immediately, with confidence mainly, but after getting lamped up by opposing rugby teams (in the after match fights) a couple of times, at 12 I switched to Kyokushinkai and by 13 nobody bothered me anymore (at school anyway).

SD and fighting skills were (and still are) my only concern as far as MA goes. IMO everything else is just padding and time-wasting.

[random]

I’ve had a few punch-ups on the pitch but never after, too much beer to drink.

[darkstar]

random said:

I’ve had a few punch-ups on the pitch but never after, too much beer to drink.

it was an inter school rivalry thing.

[Aefibird]

darkstar said:

it was an inter school rivalry thing.

I hear ya on that one - the inter-school punch ups that the sports players from my school had with the ones from the local Catholic school were legendry.

I nearly had my leg broken once in a hockey game, although I did give back as good as I got... There were certainly more than a few injuries whenever Wath Comprehensive played Pope Pius School at any game.

[maskedman]

Sorry I am going to have to root for the catholics!

*bows respectfully*

[random]

I think it is better if we keep sectarian influences out of this.

[MasterH]

maskedman said:

Sorry I am going to have to root for the catholics!

*bows respectfully*

Go Lutherans!

[Aefibird]

random said:

I think it is better if we keep sectarian influences out of this.

Yes, I agree.

Religion is great and you can get a lot of mileage out of sensible discussion, but religious and political discussions can too often turn into a shouting match.