Who choose whom??

[sensei8]

Did you choose said MA OR Did said MA choose you??

[Nidan Melbourne]

It chose me.

[Lupin1]

I feel like for the majority of people, most of the time the martial art chooses them in the sense that it often comes down to luck-- which style is available locally with a good teacher at a good price.

That's certainly the case with me. I didn't say "I want to study Isshinryu". In fact, I'm not sure I knew explicitly what Isshinryu was until 10 years or so after I'd started studying it. I just joined the only local class that my parents could afford and whether they taught Isshinryu, Tae Kwon Do, or sumo wrestling was lost on me.

[Harkon72]

My Karatedo Chose me, it came at the perfect time in my life

[Hawkmoon]

hahaha!

I watched Bruce Lees 'Enter the Dragon' and wanted to do stuff just like that!

So I went looking!

Got it seriously backwards, I walked into a Judo club not what I was looking for .....no punching or kicking!

Fun but not what I had seen and so wanted.

Years later a friend directed me to a karate club, I walked in and 'ta-da' punching and kicking ..great!

What I didn't understand that there were different Ryus/styles, to me it was guys in white suits making funny noises form time to time doing the same stuff I'd seen on TV!

So I'd have to say "I found it!".

and I'm glad I did.

Edited October 4, 2013 by Hawkmoon

[lowereastside]

I Often Wonder - Who Choose Whom.

[bushido_man96]

Actually, TKD was all that was offered in my area. So....I guess neither?

[CredoTe]

Great question! I agree with Lupin1 that one's MA journey most likely starts out with what's available in the area and what one can afford (or what one's parent's can afford). After some exposure to the MA, then one may start to ponder whether the art s/he is currently involved in is the "right fit" or not. Once one starts looking around for the "right fit", then it's a mutual relationship, IMHO; as in, the practitioner chooses the MA and the MA chooses the practitioner in return.

Ask any totally green parent or newcomer if they know the difference between Karate and Tae Kwon Do... Most of the time, I get "it's all the same to me" in return.

[FighterForLife]

Did you choose said MA OR Did said MA choose you??

Uhm, I dunno about everyone else, but I didn't shop for my martial art at Ollivander's.

[sensei8]

Actually, TKD was all that was offered in my area. So....I guess neither?

Interesting. In that, I suppose you choose TKD because you've been training in it for some time now, and your training hasn't been for naught.