why join?

[marine0321]

The post, please help me find my hero, brings me to a question that we all ask. Why do we study the martial arts or join the military or LE or just a civilian who carries a concealed weapon? Is it to protect our self. Sport, something to keep us busy maybe? or is it because we all know what is right and what is wrong?

Why did you join in?

[patusai]

We do such things as military or Law Enforcement because we have a calling I suppose. As for MA, maybe it's the same

[younwhadoug]

i joined because my wife and son had been in it for about six months and they seemed to be a lot closer than before and i was jealous. shortly after i was aproached to be an instructor (2 green). i've been instructing for a year now and run two schools and don't get paid. i can't picture doing anything else nor can i see how i made it this far without martial arts. my wife teaches with me and now i have two sons in it that we train together as much as possible.

[aefibird]

I joined mostly because a friend of mine had joined and I was interested in what she showed me of karate.

I stick with martial arts training because it's my life - I couldn't imagine myself without it, it would be like losing a limb.

[A. Orstrom]

I have always been fascinated with Japanese culture and history. Aikido and Karate came as a result of that. That, and I loved Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles when I was little

[bushido_man96]

I joined to learn self-defense as kid with little self-confidence and little self-esteem. I just recently got a job with the county jail. I am excited to be involved in law enforcement. My dad has been in law enforcement for almost 30 years. It seemed like the right thing for me to do.

[marine0321]

I joined the Marines after A good friend was murdered. He was trying to stop robbery without a firearm or any type of training. I guess it was my way of revenge. Hoping the same thing would happen to me and I could come out on top. Things have changed now, and I dont look foward to being put in that situation but am glad to have the training in case that situation happens.

"shoot straight and Have a good one".

Im out.

[ps1]

I joined the Army after the death of my father. He was a highly decorated veteran of Vietnam. He never talked about the war due to the horrible experiences he had. I always wanted to know what it was like. I have spent 8 years in the Army and 15 months in Iraq. I would not trade those experiences for anything.

I began studying martial arts after seeing the Karate Kid in 1984. I am a true addict and could not begin to measure it's value in my life. Truly beyond comprehension and only shadowed by God and my Family.

[WudangDragon]

bruce lee/jet li movies when i was younger, an interest in chinese culture and a will for self-improvement made me start kung fu and now i cant live without it

and growing up on the wrong side of the proverbial tracks made it quite useful to be able to defend myself . . .

[karatekid1975]

I started for self defense for a job I had at the time. I was working security on 3rd shift, by myself. That scared me at times. I remembered the Karate Kid movies, and decided to try MA.

I stay in it now for the character building. It helped a bit over the years, I find out everyday (or in some situations) that I have a lot to learn still. I have more confidence, and self esteem, but I can still be "bull-headed" and not listen to reason, or egnore stuff when I need to. And, with MA training, I'm working on that.