Any Xchangers currently studying or have studied a martial art? I started Taekwondo training a couple of weeks ago and I'm really enjoying it. I actually originally signed up my sons who have been wanting to try it for a while now. Since I could join at no extra charge I decided to try it to spend time with my oldest son (15) and get myself back into shape.

I'm still just a beginner, but I'm enjoying it (even though I'm sore) ;) and I test for my first belt (orange) in April. I can't wait til I can spar! :fight: :lol:

I'd love to hear anyone else's stories if you've ever been involved in martial arts!

I took a combination Karate-kickboxing class for a couple years when i was 16-17.

it was tough, running, pushups on our knuckes , punching for so long I could,nt keep my arms up, and when I dropped my arms , the instructor would whack me in the head with his gloved fist.

I remember being so thirsty, I raised my hand and asked if I could go get a drink of water and was told no

I remember having to spar with a guy who was 6'7 and I kept kicking him in the funny bone by accident (couldn't boot him in his shoulder with any authority. after a couple warnings, he attacked me and real fight broke out until the instructor broke us up.

The instructor was a well known karate champ in Halifax, but he was also a well known crimminal (finally went to jail for extortion). He ran after hour bars, just a bad crimminal element. He used to tell us stories about how he beat up some guy at a concert etc. He actually wanted us to be bullies.

After I got up the nerve to quit, my friends would see him in the bars and tell him, that I was pissed and I was out to get him. Thank god when he heard it was me, he'd just start laughing

I took a combination Karate-kickboxing class for a couple years when i was 16-17.

it was tough, running, pushups on our knuckes , punching for so long I could,nt keep my arms up, and when I dropped my arms , the instructor would whack me in the head with his gloved fist.

I remember being so thirsty, I raised my hand and asked if I could go get a drink of water and was told no

I remember having to spar with a guy who was 6'7 and I kept kicking him in the funny bone by accident (couldn't boot him in his shoulder with any authority. after a couple warnings, he attacked me and real fight broke out until the instructor broke us up.

The instructor was a well known karate champ in Halifax, but he was also a well known crimminal (finally went to jail for extortion). He ran after hour bars, just a bad crimminal element. He used to tell us stories about how he beat up some guy at a concert etc. He actually wanted us to be bullies.

After I got up the nerve to quit, my friends would see him in the bars and tell him, that I was pissed and I was out to get him. Thank god when he heard it was me, he'd just start laughing

Well, heck, so much for encouragement! :lol:

Seriously, that sounds awful! :eek: That's gotta be a hard thing for a teenager to have to go through. It's too bad that thugs like that guy give martial arts a bad name! The Master and the instructors at my Dojang seem very nice so far. For what I'm paying for the 5 of us, they'd better be nice! :contract:

My experience was my own fault, he ran into us at the gym working out, and suggested we join his classes, and we knew what we were in for from the minute he told us that his training combined several deciplines and would turn us into the greatest street fighters around (at 16 I was sold) .

I asked if we wre gonna get belts and he told me to Sears had a special on if I wanted a belt.


Nolan I'm sure your place is great, I do know a lot of people who have taken martial arts and sometimes I think about joining myself but never get around too it.

I can't wait til I can spar! :fight: :lol:

I'd love to hear anyone else's stories if you've ever been involved in martial arts!

my son did karate (shotokan) from pre-K to about 6th grade. as the payor of the expense (not chump change by any means), i was constantly weighing the pro/con of the experience all the way throughout.

soooo much of it depends on the specifics of each individual school/headmaster. but, i'm pretty sure there are aspects that are common to all. in massachusetts, martial arts schools are only surpassed by Dunkin Donuts and pizza shops in prevalence. each one is a business and the leader wears dual hats as an instructor/mentor, and as an entrepreneur. in our situation, the path twisted back and forth several times, as the theme of the school changed towards a business goal, sometimes to the detriment of the more senior students.

all in all, my son got a lot of benefit, but i'd also advise you to always keep your eyes wide open. i'm glad it's over with now, as it eventually ran its course and reached the point of diminishing returns. i actually wanted to pull the plug much earlier and gnashed my teeth for the final 2 years.

it does differ significantly from the other extracurricular's my son does now (exclusively into team sports). the truly unique benefits?

- he had the opportunity to work with and socialize well beyond his age group with older adolescents, teens, adult students, other parents, et al;

- as a senior student, he served as an instructor (a requirement to advance into the higher stages);

- he experienced the demand, pressure, and reward of representing his school in competitions, and as part of the school's demonstration team.

was it all worth it? ultimately, you do whatever/however you can for your kid's benefit, and am glad he persevered.

sparring? be careful what you wish for.... j/k

good luck with the journey....

I'm a 3rd degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do. My son Robbie also got his black belt when he was 9! I love it!

Sure, I hold the rank of Shodan (1st degree black) in Shao-Lin Do. Studied actively for about 8 years and absolutely loved it. Beyond the physical conditioning, I learned a lot about patience (which I sorely lacked because of a nasty temper). I studied (although not directly) under Master Sin The. (http://www.starmgc.com/shaolin/gmaster.html) He is the one that I had to test under. A VERY impressive and genuinely decent man.

Studied most of the weapons, but my favorite was the Bo staff. I just liked the way that the movements felt to me when I held it (seemed the most natural).

Good for you, Buc! It is a great experience (and, yes, sparring is a hoot!). Keep us advised on how your test goes.