This thread is still alive... what a shock. When I was in highschool, I was training at my original martial arts gym. I was perfectly fine -- sure I was a social outcast at school, but I was happy breaking a sweat and training in my art. Then one day, she walked in. After the enchantment period, I managed to ignore her for the longest time. However, I became a friend of her younger brother, in a sense. Asides from that ackward scenario, I couldn't get past the fact that this beautiful creature was more appealing as a person, a martial artist, a female day by day. Though I asked her out, something happened. It was something between her parents and I (my head spins trying to recall); feelings suddenly got artillery-fire. To this day, I'll never forget her. She and I hardly spoke afterwards, and still felt tension between us. However, there were times that we still smiled to each other -- and she did the nicest thing before we never saw each other again: she made it a point to watch me test for probationary-black. In spite of the fact that nothing happened, she was the closest thing I've ever had to a girlfriend. Though I dated a couple times last summer some random co-worker, it was totally pathetic, and my feelings are lost and empty. As devoid a relationship it was, there hasn't been anyone like her. Bottom line -- I loath my past, and I despise the idea of meeting someone as a martial artist. If I ever meet a woman, it'll be as a man, not as a karateka/kickboxer/whatever.