Why do you use karate?

[Monkeymagic]

I am writing up my dissertation and would appreciate any help from this forum. I am trying to find out why people in western society take up karate. I would appreciate any type of answer, long or short and from those living in the west and any views on those living in the east.

 

This is a very open ended question, so please feel free to write.

 

':karate:'

[aefibird]

I took up karate because my friend did and she showed me a kata. I was intrigued and went along to the club. Five years later I'm still training...

 

I suppose I started training, really, for self defence and fitness.

 

I keep on training because I love it and it has become a very important part of my life. I like the fact that it is a martial art and that there are so many different facets of it - there's always something to learn and study.

[G95champ]

My reason was to help me become a better football player. So as a complimentary sport.

[ShotoMan]

I have been into martial arts since a very young age. I was into Bruce Lee, The Water Margin (remember that!!?) and the Kung Fu series. I used to copy kicks and punches. I was quite surprised to find that all my silly and clumsy versions of these kicks were in fact not far from the real thing when I started training in karate properly at the age of 15.

 

Good memories...

 

I used to strap this chair with four screw on legs, onto a rolled up matress and work on blocking this thing, like it was a wing chun wooden dummy! When I think about it now, I'm surprised I didn't fracture my wrist or worse hitting this thing. The striking area was very hard too, so I tended to place a thick towel over the surface. I was nuts!!

 

Karate is the most important thing to me. I would not say I am a super-duper expert who is a top technical specialist, but I appreciate what I can do and I often make myself proud of things I learn.

 

Good stuff.

 

Edited April 21, 2004 by ShotoMan

[Monkeymagic]

G95champ - How has karate helped you with Football? Was it the fitness, co-ordination, or something else. I assume you continue karate. Do you continue karate still to help you with football or was football the reason you got into karate?

 

aefibird - why is karate an important part of your life? Which aspects or karate are the important parts? How do they benefit your life outside of karate?

 

Shotoman - So did film get you into karate? Why is it the most important part of your life?

[Shorinryu Sensei]

My interest in the arts started back in the Bruce Lee/Chuck Norris era of the late 60's and early 70's. There were limited opportunities to take classes where I lived, but I had the opportunity to work with a friend of mine while stationed in the Army in (West) Germany in 1973-4.

 

After I got out of the service in eptember of 1974, a friend of mine was taking classes from a new instructor that had just moved to my town. He had recently gotten out of the Navy and had studied for several years on Okinawa under the head of the system.

 

So, in January of 1975, I started along this long, interesting path we all call the martial arts.

 

Now, why did I start in the first place? And why have I stayed with it these many years? I guess I've always been fascinated with what the huiman body was capable of doing with the right training. Take gymnastics for example. I'm constantly amazed at what these people are capable of doing. The same with the arts.

 

One slight twist of the body, or a bump here or there can toss a person on the ground, or cause a lot of pain.

 

Oh crap...gotta go...I'll try to get in ehre and write more later.

[Drunken Monkey]

just a few questions.

 

when you say 'people in western society' do you mean any person who resides in a 'western society'?

 

do people of eastern origin count?

 

i am born and raised in london but my parents are from hong kong.

 

do i fit into your study?

 

and do you really only mean karate and not other martial arts as well.

 

after all, does it make a difference (or mean anything) if a chinese person who is born and raised in london chooses a chinese martial art over a japanese martial art?

 

i mean, if you asked me why i started martial arts (not karate i should point out) my answer would be because it's a family thing.

[aefibird]

aefibird - why is karate an important part of your life? Which aspects or karate are the important parts? How do they benefit your life outside of karate?

 

Well, to me, all aspects of karate are as important as each other.

 

This includes the mental/spiritual aspects as well as purely physical training. Before I started karate I was very shy and introverted and I suffered with an eating disorder. Karate has helped give me self confidence and self esteem - passing each belt grading was a great way to boost my self worth. Also, being asked by my instructor to teach the beginner class (under his supervision) was great for my karate and for my self as a person.

 

As well as boosting my life mentally karate has helped me physically. I am now much stronger and faster than I was prior to training. I am much less afraid of being out on my own after dark (I live in a very rough area of town, on a housing estate with more drug addicts than regular residents - I'm the latter not the former!) as I feel that I would be able to cope much better if I found myself in a nasty situation.

 

 

 

Karate has also given me new friends and the people at my dojo are like my family. I know its a bit cheesy to say so, but we really are like one big family, except with less arguments . We hang out together, go places together and are always there for one another if anyone needs any help.

 

If I had to give up my karate training for any reason it would be a big loss to my life. I've got to go into hospital for an operation soon and I'll not be allowed to train afterwards for at least 2-3 months. I'm not looking forward to giving up my karate, even temporarily!

[Monkeymagic]

Drunken Monkey - your comments would be useful. I am really looking at karate, as one question I am asking those i interview, is that of why they chose karate over other martial arts. Although, it would be interesting to find out why you continue to practice the martial art linked to your family.

 

Aefibird - thank you for your comments. I will be posting another focus question soon, so your comments there would really be appreciated too. Why did you choose karate over other martial arts?

[Ironberg]

I Joined Karate/ TKD for these reasons:

 

1. To become athletic.

 

2. For competition (yes, sport).

 

3. For the ability to defend myself.

 

4. For sparring.

 

5. To learn and produce (new) kata.

 

6. To push my limits.

 

7. To have an activity that involves the mind to some degree.

 

8. To gain weight.

 

9. Coordination/reflexes.

 

Karate has given me all this and more (flexibility). However, the competition side is really kinda waning because of the limitations of being in a small town.