What inspired you to get into the Martial Arts and learn to fight?

Question

Were you inspired by chop-socky films?
By a real figher?
By getting beaten up because you were a red headed step child?

I personally got into different arts for different reasons.

Boxing = because my friends were into it and trained and I was/am a huge fight fan. I'm sure hagler hearns had a lot to do with it.

Wrestling = because it was a combative sport I could take in school.

sword= on a whim I went to check out a kendo class, realized that wasn't what I wanted and I wanted to study the real thing rather than a sport version of it, but around that time I was introduced to ARMA and wma and liked that they trained with blunt steel and wasters. Chinese sword I just picked up a few things from my unarmed teacher while i was still doing both.

xing-yi= my teacher was hosting a cross-school open sword sparring session. I sparred with the teacher with sword and he showed me his unarmed stuff, it worked and was geared towards fighting not forms or dancing and they trained with resistance, unlike the vast majority of CMA schools, I studied with him because what he is teaching has greatly improved my striking ability.

I stay with MA because I enjoy the superior knowledge. As I'm not going to be amateur or pro (I'm too old now as most start younger than me and don't have the time with my career) I just plain enjoy doing it.

I know my answer is drawn out, but It was the best question I could think of that isn't "which is the best?" and "how do I become a ninja?" crap.

EDIT: Saint G brings up a very interesting and Important point. When I took a knife fighting seminar (use, not defence against) the thing that really stuck with me was how they spent 30 minuites out of a 4 hour seminar on suggestions on how to address the legal end of the situation. Of course they were not attorneys, but the fact that they addressed it brings home that point.

Answer 1

I got into MA first because it looked fun and I was always the new kid on the block and quickly learned I needed to defend myself and by the time I was in 4th grade I knew enough that people left me alone.

It was later on i picked up on the MA movies.

Answer 2

As a young kid, I was a baseball freak and someone told my father that martial arts would help my coordination and footwork, so I took up Tae Kwon Do for several years. That came to an end in the late 70swhen the instructor and Air Force sargeant was assigned to a station in Colorado. Then the "Ninja Craze" hit, I was addicted again. I lived near Dayton Ohio, and Stephen K Hayes had a ninjutsu school within a half hour of me and I wanted to go. After my father stopped giggling, we both investigated martial arts schools and finally landed in a school some 10 minutes away that taught Shotokan Karate. Now, some 25 years later, I have branched out into several different martial arts styles while my father stayed with Shotokan. I currently hold a Black Belt in 4 styles and my father is a 6th degree (Master rank) in Shotokan. He runs a school in little old Urbana Ohio that is the US headquarters for Seishinkai Shotokan Karate International, is a member of the National and World martial arts Hall of Fame, and was listed in Inside Karate magazine's "Who's Who in the Martial Arts." Meanwhile, I prefer to keep a low profile and teach a handful of students privately at my home.
WOW what a journey...
Sensei Cox

Answer 3

Skinny white kid + Black suburb = daily beatings ( by other kids and adults too...@ssholes).

then along came "The Karate Kid" and though I laugh now, it showed me a way out. to OUT FIGHT the m0therfuckers.

so my dad saw my interest, and because he couldnt fight my battles, enrolled me in KEMPO at 14. havent looked back to this day. I became the biggest thorn in that suburbs side. by 16 I was left alone, put into the too hard basket by opportunists.

Finding Muay Thai gave me even more to rejoice during my early 20's- 30.

Training in Close Protection under the guidance of a 10 special forces major, had me fizzing with the introduction of Close Quarters Combat. through various contacts that has continued, and I now just train at home.

became a bouncer, enjoyed the practise, and the learning of another valuable skill from an associate: the LAW, and all that is gold in relation to violence and tresspass. so I get arrested, but nothing sticks, or the police arrest the other guy/s. knowing what laws to quote makes all the difference.
IN THE LAND OF THE IGNORANT - CONFIDENCE IS KING! people.

having that knowledge of law in relation to assualt, rights, tresspass, etc is just as important as the fight skills, as knowing when to hold him, when to fold him, when to walk away, and when to run (to rip off that country song... but it makes a good point) makes all the difference to the after effect of fighting that no one here has experience of (the police arrival) and your confidence as a whole is increased.

anyway... blah blah, here I am. 35 and glad I was a victim of bullying and it made me the man I am today. there where no guns in the 70's and 80's and violence was real and expected, today people are bullshitters playing a game of "who is the most staunch" dumb @ss's. and guns have given confidence to the weak, which is never a good mix IMO.

Answer 4

way back in the sixties (when mother in laws roamed the earth)a family friend suggested to my parents if you dont want to see your son in jail in a few years(i was 7 or 8)you should try this.(praying mantis style kung fu-for real not like now or portrayed on tv.)by the time i was about 15 i realised what the family friend meant by 18 i knew for sure what he meant.i started freestyle karate in the 70's and thats always been my base but have also done many other styles as well(at the same time)
so basicly it was to control my extremely violent nature(that i was born with)and from there it just became a life which i still lead.over the years i have had many students and have helped many,many chidren stay on the right track and become good,decent members of the community(never for financial gain)that in itself is enough inspiration.
P>S.you make some good points ST.G there should be more ppl on answers(and the world in general)like us.

Answer 5

It was actualy the "Krotty" age of the 80's and the movies that followed. I got hooked into those stupid schools that claim to have you be chuck norris. Well after the UFC came about I got into grapple arts, and have mixed the two ever since. Hurray for being 24 and practicing more than 5 arts already :) CROSS TRAIN SUCKA'S!

Answer 6

Kung Fu tv show. Started aikido back in high school, switched to Tae Kwon Do for more kicking and then Hapkido for the wrist locks. I wanted a well rounded defense. Where one art had a weakness, I tried another to take up the slack. Wrestled in school also.

Answer 7

I was inspired by a guy who wanted to kill me, he cooled off after a while. Since I was not keen on firearms at the time I decided to check out Kendo. Once I met the instructors, I stayed not only for the amazing things they teach you to do with your body, superhuman things, but for the friendship and great insight into Japanese history and zen. I went in hoping to become a sushi chef, and came out a poet.

Answer 8

I got into the arts because as a teenager I was seeking my identity. I began to run with a bad crowd, I got into a couple of fights and my father decided I needed discipline. I have been in ever since.
It turned around my behavior and attitude. My grades and attendance at school went up.
The short answer is i got into it for the perfection of character in can provide.

Answer 9

At the tender young age of 5years, I was drawn to concept of combat, heroes, and great leaders from ancient times, and the Kung Fu television show of the early 70's that had changed my life completely. At the age of 6years old a light turned on in my head and has changed me forever. If you believe in reincarnation then my being drawn to martial combat would make perfect sense. By the age of 7years, I was all ready on my way to learning the martial arts with punching and kicking blocking and moving drills from my mothers friend Mr. Fong. Mr. Fong took me under his wing and was impressed with my inherent desire and quick learning ability. He had told my mother that it was as if I was re-learning what he was teaching me due to the fact that I was like an incredibly big sponge soaking up every bit of knowledge that he could share with me. Mr. Fong had moved back to China when I turned 11years old, and from there I enrolled in Tae Kwon Do of which I have continued my love affair with the art. I've continued to study all forms of martail art from boxing to grappling to striking etc.. Mr. Fong came back to the states when I turned twenty-one, and we started where we left off as if no time had passed. You could definately say that my whole life has revolved around martial combat and that's how it started for me to sum it up without writing a book on it.

Answer 10

I was pretty little when I first started tae kwon do-14 years ago-and I was really really really shy and sensitive. My brother on the other hand was really violent and aggressive. So my parents put both of us in at the same time, for me to bring me out of my shell and stick up for myself and to calm my brother down and teach him respect ect.
I'm really glad I started!