KarateForums.com Turns 16 and a Half!

[DWx]

As has now become customary at KarateForums.com, every half anniversary a staff member has the honour to address the community in celebration of this milestone. This year, I feel very privileged to be able to celebrate this anniversary with the community and share my thoughts with you.

While I was thinking about different topics I could discuss today, I thought about my own experience with KarateForums.com and how those of you, who take the time to read and contribute here, have impacted me. I joined KarateForums.com back in 2007 in an effort to try to learn and understand more about martial arts. Now, 10 years later, I'm still here, still reading and still learning. A lot has changed for me, both personally, and in my martial arts life, yet KarateForums.com is still here, and I still get excited to read new posts and topics. This led me to think about how both I, and the community, have changed over the years and to think about what it is that keeps me coming back.

As martial artists, we have to be prepared to adapt and grow over the course of our training. For most of us, it is a lifelong journey and our circumstances may change many times over. It can be challenging to move forward. Over the course of our training, we may train at different schools or with different teachers or even in different styles. We may have to adapt to injury or physical limitations, adjust our strategies and tactics and persevere through difficulty. There can also be changes in our personal circumstances which will influence our training; we may get married, have kids, move to a different area and change jobs. Yet even though these changes can disrupt our martial arts journey, we can all guarantee that the wider martial arts community will be there to support us when we need it, to celebrate our successes and to help guide us through any difficult times.

KarateForums.com is part of this wider community.

During my 10 years here, I’ve changed a lot. I have experienced successes and experienced failures and have had challenges I’ve needed to face. What keeps me coming back to KarateForums.com is that the community has always been there to support me. Whilst members have come and gone there is one thing that remains consistent here: KarateForums.com is a community where you can find that support, where you can celebrate your successes and where you can find that guidance, if you need it.

There are many places on the internet to discuss martial arts but few where, whatever your background or belief, you are respected and encouraged to share your opinions. Few places where you can feel part of a wider community that wants you to succeed. We will all experience challenges on our martial arts journeys, and the community at KarateForums.com will be there to support you. In this respect, KarateForums.com has never changed. 16 and a half years is a fantastic achievement for any website, and the longevity of this community is a testament to the community spirit that exists here.

KarateForums.com is more than just a website, it is a community with real community values. I hope that never changes.

[Patrick]

This is such a wonderful post. Thank you, Danielle. This community is always something I am tremendously proud to be a part of, and you have well-articulated the reasons why. This is a special place, and you are one of the reasons that is true.

Patrick

[MatsuShinshii]

DWx,

Well put. Solid post!

[bushido_man96]

Well said, Danielle, well said.

Happy Anny, KF!

[sensei8]

Happy 16 and a half Birthday, KarateForums.com; may you have many, many more!!

Danielle, put in words with such spirit and understanding just how valuable KarateForums.com has been all these many years, and it will continue to fill the needs of KF members for those many years to come.

The vision of Patrick is that exclamation point to any sentence that any KF members has ever written about KarateForums.com, as how KF was that light at the end of the tunnel, even when that light was quite dim. Thank you, Patrick for your undeniable vision, as well as the guidance that you share with each and every KF member unselfishly.

I could go on and on touting about KF because KF deserves that gratitude!! Happy 16 and a half birthday, KarateForums.com!!

[Patrick]

Thank you, Bob. I appreciate your kindness. Our community is special place, full of wonderful people.

Patrick

[sensei8]

Our community is special place, full of wonderful people.

Patrick

By all means!!!!!

[Wastelander]

Thank you for your post, Danielle, and happy half-birthday to the forum!

[JR 137]

Thank you very much for that post, Danielle. Truly one of the best and most accurate posts I’ve read anywhere in quite some time.

I’d say here’s to 16.5 more, but I’ve got a feeling it’ll be far more than that.