Why do you train...do you get into fights often?

[MizuRyu]

What originally got me into martial arts was because I got into trouble a lot. I grew up in an urban neighborhood where I was one of about 20 caucasian kids in an 1,800 student school, and a karate school a half mile from where I lived. I got tired of being beat up all the time and got into it, so orignally, it was because I got into fights a lot. Now, it's because it gives me something to be proud of and work on, and helps me to live a better life. Knowing that if the situation arose that you'd have to defend yourself or the ones your love that you'd be able to handle yourself is worth a lot to me.

[Zatoichi]

I do it for health and fitness.

[Jay]

its alot of fun

[Anbu Alex]

bad neigborhood for me but now im in a safer area i enjoy the training

[Dragn]

I've always heard that downtown tokyo is pretty tough. I've got a friend in jumamoto who said the same thing. Genki sudo got stabbed there like a year ago, didn't he?

Nah, Its nothing. I've never felt scared to walk anywhere at any time. The most dangerous part is Probably Roppongi where all the foreigners hang out. I occasionally got into fights with drunken navy guys there years ago when I worked in bars. These days I rarely go there.

That incident with Genki was pretty rare. Every once in a while you hear about some guy going phsycho with a knife in a train station. But most of the violent crime is aimed at women and young children.

[younwhadoug]

my wife and i started to spend more time with our sons.

also, i a have anger management issues so to speak and martial arts training on regular schedule allows me to burn energy and keep in shape.

i wanted to change myself also. i didn't like the person i was becoming. i must say that martial arts is theropudic for me.

doug hilton

[shogeri]

After almost 30 years, I have never been in any serious or deadly situation.

I train for the exercise and the discipline, and for the ease by which the martial arts comes to me.

Later!

[Dont call me Sir]

i must say that martial arts is theropudic for me.

Unlike many other pastimes and hobbies, martial arts teaches and encourages you to confront personal issues rather than help you forget about them and smooth over the cracks. In confronting personal issues, they are dealt with more effectively and efficiently, leading to a better way of life.

DCMS.

[jaymac]

I joined originally as a child and that is the only time I ever got into a fight. Not by my doing, just a couple of bullies. But I joined then because I didn't have anything else better to do and the training hall was walking distance to my house.

I rejoined in my 20's because I wanted to personally better myself. I had remembered how calm and less angry I had been when I was in Martial Arts previously. It has helped me mentally and physically. I did not join to learn to fight out on the streets, but if i am ever attacked, i feel quite prepared to defend myself.