Oh how I'd love to be in martial arts...

[SamuraiInBlack]

I've always wanted to join martial arts as a kid. Not because it's part of my eastern heritage but because as a kid, I was constantly picked on and I had no real skill at fighting. But eventually I learned how to defend myself from trial and error. But that wasn't enough and I usually wound up hurting the people who were attacking me. And in a way it made me more violent as a person. But I've mellowed since those days.

The last time I was in a fight was last year when a guy decided it'd be funny he'd pick on me for 3 weeks after asking him every time not to, then he'd threaten to beat me up, and then one day he thought it'd be funny he grab me by the throat. Well, a couple of head-first locker slams later he realized that wasn't such a great idea. And after putting his head into a brick wall when we took it outside, he didn't know what hit him. Needless to say I was suspended for 5 days for fighting, as was he.

But that was the last time. Now I just walk away. I'll only fight back if it looks like that's the only way it's gonna be resolved.

But still, I'd love to be in martial arts, if only to learn discipline and how to defend myself, if anything at all. But the problem is that many schools in my grand ol' state of Illinois...and many of the teachers here don't really teach, at least in my area. My friend was a yellow belt in karate and all he learned was proper breathing, fight stance, and a crappy kick that even a two year old could counter.

I think I'll start learning Jujutsu from my uncle again. In the first two lessions he taught me the proper way to fall so I wouldn't hurt myself doing so if I ever got sent to the floor, the pressure points, different holds, great counters against punches and kicks, and all the ways to get people to shut up about how they're gonna beat me up (best technique: Crack 'em across the jaw while they're yackin')

[MystyPines]

Merry Meet SamuraiinBlack!

I think martial arts are great! My son is 10 years old and has been taking Kung Fu for 3 years and previously took 2 years of Karate. My son during his early school years had a behavorial problem with being unfocused, distracted and also not being able to sit still or keep his hands to himself. Of course, the teachers from the beginning were trying to get me to have him diagnosed with ADD and have him put on medication. Well, after researching ADD and taking workshops, I knew that was not a resolution I wanted. I feel the Kung Fu Master has taught him discipline, respect, confidence and focus (not to mention he has learned some of the Chinese language) and gave him an outlet for all that extra physical energy he had. My son, since taking Kung Fu, now does not hit other children at school or disrupt children during class like he previously had. He has become a confident young man. I recommend any martial art to children, especially those with self-esteem problems. :D