Why were you influenced to join karate?

[Kieran-Lilith]

Many many reasons.

One being I had joined when I was younger, but had then quit. Rather, my parents made me quit. They didn't like the instructor, and actually, I wasn't a big fan of him either. He messed with my brother too much....

Another being, my dad made it to brown belt in TKD. I wanted to make it that far in something like that, too.

Then, one of my best friends is in the MA. He got me to the school we're at now.

I always did have a faint interest in the Eastern culture, but I didn't know it would apply to karate as well. Actually, anything spiritual or mental I didn't know about....I thought it was just a bunch of fighting and memorizing kata. Oh, how wrong I was....I'm so happy I was wrong....And, as someone else said earlier, the longer I stay, the more reasons I find to keep going...even when Sensei won't open the windows or turn on the AC in this dreadful OH humid heat....

[cmantim]

I originally signed my daughter up and my sensei said, "Why don't you come & join us. Give it a try."

well, I liked that first class so much I've kept going ever since. Now I'm a Go-Kyu.

(edited for grammatical errors)

[aefibird]

I was influenced by my family (father & brother were/are judoka) and a friend of mine who had started karate only a couple of weeks before I did.

[Goju_boi]

well i had originally singed up for kung fu but was ripped off at a mcdojo.then i looked around found a goju ryu dojo,so l looked up the style and became interested in it because of it's strong kung fu influence.Also it looked pretty legit and it's kinda close to my house.

[italian_guy]

I put influenced by other martial arts.

I started my MA journey with kickboxing after more then 1 year of training I felt the need of something which includes other aspects of martial arts (forms, tradition, self defence applications) so I switched to Go ju ryu karate and never regret.

[USCMAAI]

I began my study of the martial arts in 1971. At that time I was a 5yr old with some major anger control issues. My family (mom, dad, 4 older brothers and 2 older sisters) all trained in various styles from Western boxing to Hapkido. I was placed in training after an incident where I tried to shoot one of my brothers with a .38. My parents had tried therapy and I was one of the first children to be prescribed medication (thorizine). The martial arts has saved my life. The lessons I have learned in training has protected me from physical harm, but more importantly, I learned how to control the "beast" inside me. I have heard my sensei's words "If you don't control yourself, someone else will" just about every day of my life. Those words have kept me out of prison. I will always be greatful to my parents, and my sensei for having the wisdom to teach me through the arts that you must have discipline and self control.

[Sauzin]

Why was I influenced? Well to make a long story short I was very weak and not very physically inclined. I simply didn't think physical combat skills or physical anything was necessary and considered it a waste of my time. Then I got a girlfriend, something I didn't previously think possible, and my perspective changed. I knew I could stay out of trouble and protect myself (run, negotiate, simply not be there) from just about any situation. But I wasn't sure that I could do that for my girlfriend or my future family now that I knew it was possible I could have one. So I decided to give karate a shot. It was either this or learn to use a gun. In my life I have learned that the less you rely on external things the more you will have when you need it. Karate seemed to better fit the bill so I gave it a try.

[BLueDevil]

Well, I also started for many reasons, Ive been wanting to study for a long time but i lived in a small town and my family didnt have alot of money growning up so I never got the chance. then 2 years ago me and a friend decided we both wanted to to something and looked at all the schools and decided on 1 but then money got tight again and it got put on the burner for another year, but once I got money again we went back and joined and have been doing ever since

[Sunrunner]

I have to be honest....16 years of hard work and dedication were totally brought on by the Karate Kid movie series...Hey, don't blame me too much, 7 is a young and impressionalbe age. To this day they are still some of my favorite movies. Very cool Topic monkeymagic.

[Goju_boi]

lol,I'm somewhat with you.I kinda thought martial arts as a flashy thing until I researched them and started practicing it