Keeping it in the family

[aefibird]

How many of you got into martial arts because your parents/brother/sister/children/grandma does or did do martial arts?

 

I was just wondering if people tended to become martial artists if members of their family also are martial artists.

[Red J]

I originally started at 18 and studied various styles for a few years. I recently, within the last 2 1/2 years, came back because my son started. Well, he stopped, I started, and now my daughter has come on board. So we have influenced each other.

[ninjanurse]

I am the first. I introduced my husband and children, who I hope do the same for their kids. If not, "grandma" will!!!

 

[Red J]

I can hear them now, "My grandma can kick your grandma's butt."

[SBN Doug]

My daughter joined at six because I was in it. Now she's a teenager and couldn't care less.

 

My son is still going, but just started a year or so ago.

[Beka]

My dad made me and my whole family (him, step mom and step siblings) join some MA school way back in the day. I think I was around 8 years old or so. I was the only one who liked it enough to stick with it. I remember I was a white belt with two black stripes. At some point, I had to quit, I think for money reasons.

 

I'm also the only one who took it back up later. I keep trying to get my dad to do it, and to get my 16 year old sister to take classes. But of course, I doubt they will...

 

*sigh*

[markusan]

coming from the other direction I started many years ago and recruited my son and daughter into TKD when they were about 6 My son has his junior blackbelt he's 13. . My daughter got to blue belt then left to concentrate on gymnastics. She finished gym last year and is back with her eyes set on making blackbelt. Our association has lots of families training. Nothing like a bit of sibling rivalry to sharpen those skills and keep the enthusiasm up. It usually starts the other way though. Mum or dad start bringing the kids to classes, then see all the stretching and quality warmups and think "I could do with a bit of that". They are often put off by the sparring at first, but soon learn how much fun it is, and that a bruise or two is not the end of the world.

[karatekid1975]

I was the first to start. I got my boyfriend and nephew into it. My nephew stopped, but wants to join again in a school closer to him. My boyfriend is close to BB now. I'm about six months behind him (I chickened out on testing a few times, plus I switched dojangs).

[Fenris-wolf]

Well, I got dragged by the daughter of a family friend when I was about 10 - I stayed, she didn't.

 

But I really think playfighting with my father influenced me a lot. I dunno if I would have been so into sparring otherwise... But I'm happy the way it is.

[delta1]

I was just wondering if people tended to become martial artists if members of their family also are martial artists.

 

Probably because my family is downright ornery!

 

My dad taught unarmed self defense for the AP's, and he taught us some of it growing up. So we allways had some interest in martial arts/fighting skills. In HS I worked out with some friends useing Bruce Tegner's books and whatever else we knew or could find. But I didn't really 'formally' start to study a martial art until several years ago when my brother and me got back together (much to everyone elses consternation). He introduced me to American Kenpo, and I've never looked back. I still look sideways at anything I can find, but it all comes back to Kenpo. Sort of like being married- you can look, but allways bring it home! So, I guess you could say that the martial arts for me is a 'family affair.'