What was the point of it all? Losing my mind

[Revario]

How much of your mental health are you willing to give up for martial arts? Where it is something supposed to bring people together and build communities of like minded people, I have found that it caused more divisions and isolation especially when people have opinions and dont wish to just join to be a mindless follower. 

 

At what point does one decide that Martial Art is costing them too much and isolating them more then it brings joy to their life, is that the moment they should call it quits, or betray themselves and just continue while joining the group and hiding their true feeling? 

 

Idk, at this point I truly wonder WHY do people practice martial arts, I think most people have interest in health benefits and looking at nice forms or competitions and making money via martial arts.

I am highly thinking of quitting all and make my life less stressful and more happy. I dont see a reason to keep hitting my head on a wall of unacceptance. I tried to make something else/ different. It was in vain. 

 

Good continuation to those who choose to keep Martial Arts alive, I dont think I have more to give in that aspect, Ill focus on other areas in my life. 

[Zaine]

I'm sorry to hear about your struggles. Martial arts for me is a solace and I often fall into it deeper when I am struggling with my mental health. I'm deeply saddened to hear that the martial arts community at large, a community that has made me feel so welcome and understood, has made you feel isolated. If you feel comfortable talking about it, I am interested in hearing about your experiences with martial arts. You have posted in the past about not meshing well with the sensei in your dojo who teaches the classes that you are most easily able to attend. Do you think that another dojo might be a better fit for you?

That said, and I want to be clear on my stance, if your mental health is suffering because of your involvement in martial arts, then you need to prioritize your mental health and withdraw from martial arts as a whole. At the end of the day, martial arts is a hobby for most martial artists. If this hobby is having a negative impact on your life, then the only people who would put you down for leaving it behind are people you should not be associating with. Martial arts are optional, and while I love martial arts and wish that everyone would do them, I understand that there are a lot of things that need to be worked on in the broader martial arts community to make it a better, more welcoming place. Take some time away. If you end up getting the itch to come back, find a dojo promotes a culture and community that works for you. If you never feel the itch to return, that's okay too. Again, I'm sorry that your community has let you down and impacted you in a negative way. I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

[Revario]

Yes the Sensei, my practice and lack of understanding of it by most other people. And that is probably part of the issue, I dont see it as a hobby. Hence where the main difference in my practice comes in. 

 

As per visiting other schools, I did and was met with worst reactions then where I try to train presently. 

 

I have knowledge of where people who have a similar mindset or way of practicing are, just not physically close to where I am. And since the style of Karate I do is different at the base and adapting those Kata specifically, I am pretty much alone doing what I do, others do it with their own respective style and have managed to make a thing out of it. 

You may be right, either I have to stop trying to bring others to see things in a specific scope or simply let go.

 

Only person I am letting down by removing myself from the Martial Arts is myself, and that makes it complicated... 

[sensei8]

Mental Health is a very serious and personal matter; it should never be taken lightly. 

When it comes to my mental health, the MA is just a thing, it is just a want and not a need, and not worth to affect my mental health.

Before, I wasn’t alone, but nowadays I’m very much alone. What was once alive is now a lonely destitution. The SKKA is dead, our Soke and Dai-Soke are dead, many of my fellow Shindokanists are either dead or gone their own way; only empty chairs surround a once thriving table.

I’m still trying to understand and cope with the fact that what was is no more; not easiest thing to wrap my mind around.

Still, I’m a MAist, now and forever and nothing will change that in me. My mind might be a very lonely thing but my mind is strong. 

Keeping God first before the martial arts keeps my sanity in tact amongst the dark cloud of loneliness.

Edited Monday at 05:12 PM by sensei8

[Furinkazan]

5 hours ago, Revario said:

How much of your mental health are you willing to give up for martial arts? Where it is something supposed to bring people together and build communities of like minded people, I have found that it caused more divisions and isolation especially when people have opinions and dont wish to just join to be a mindless follower. 

At what point does one decide that Martial Art is costing them too much and isolating them more then it brings joy to their life, is that the moment they should call it quits, or betray themselves and just continue while joining the group and hiding their true feeling? 

Idk, at this point I truly wonder WHY do people practice martial arts, I think most people have interest in health benefits and looking at nice forms or competitions and making money via martial arts.

Is this in your dojo, or the MA community at large?  If it's happening in the dojo, then that's on your instructor(s) for failing to maintain a positive training environment.  If it's in the MA community at large, then I would just limit my MA fellowship with my classmates.

5 hours ago, Revario said:

I am highly thinking of quitting all and make my life less stressful and more happy. I dont see a reason to keep hitting my head on a wall of unacceptance. I tried to make something else/ different. It was in vain. 

Good continuation to those who choose to keep Martial Arts alive, I dont think I have more to give in that aspect, Ill focus on other areas in my life. 

Before you quit martial arts, I suggest checking out some other schools in your area if there are any.  You'll find that no two schools have the same environment.  My school has a very peaceful atmosphere, while I've seen others that are run like a military boot camp.  However, this is assuming that your issue is with your school and not the MA community at large.

Edited Monday at 06:32 PM by Furinkazan

[bushido_man96]

On 12/15/2025 at 6:43 AM, Revario said:

How much of your mental health are you willing to give up for martial arts? Where it is something supposed to bring people together and build communities of like minded people, I have found that it caused more divisions and isolation especially when people have opinions and dont wish to just join to be a mindless follower. 

For one, you should not give up any of your mental health.  What kind of divisions and isolation are you speaking about?  What kind of opinions are you bringing, in what kind of settings, etc?  How many years of training do you have, and what rank do you have currently?  By being a mindless follower, are you talking about certain organizations, or organizations as a whole?

On a side note, have you seen how many different MA organizations are out there?  Division is kind of a thing in the Martial Arts, for better or worse.

On 12/15/2025 at 6:43 AM, Revario said:

At what point does one decide that Martial Art is costing them too much and isolating them more then it brings joy to their life, is that the moment they should call it quits, or betray themselves and just continue while joining the group and hiding their true feeling? 

I would say this; if you enjoy training, keep training.  That's what I do.  I'm splitting time in three different styles right now, each very different from the other, and I am enjoying it very much.  I always see things that I don't necessarily agree with, but I don't bang my head against a wall to get someone to agree with my point-of-view.  I take in what they say, work with it, play with it, decide if I like that aspect or not, and if not, I'll move on.  If it happens to be something that's a testing requirement, so be it.  It's just another thing.

If you derive no joy out of it at all, then you should either stop doing it, or approach it like something that is necessary, like taking your medicine (if it is that important or you believe that it is so necessary for self-defense or something like that).

On 12/15/2025 at 6:43 AM, Revario said:

Idk, at this point I truly wonder WHY do people practice martial arts, I think most people have interest in health benefits and looking at nice forms or competitions and making money via martial arts.

For me, it was first and foremost to learn how to defend myself.  As I've spent more time in the Martial Arts, I've learned that there is so much more to go along with it.  I enjoy the physical challenge, the technical challenges, the camaraderie built between training partners, the community of a school, things like that.  If you can make money doing what you love, then power to you.  Something like if you love what you do, you never work a day in your life...

 

On 12/15/2025 at 6:43 AM, Revario said:

I am highly thinking of quitting all and make my life less stressful and more happy. I dont see a reason to keep hitting my head on a wall of unacceptance. I tried to make something else/ different. It was in vain. 

 

Good continuation to those who choose to keep Martial Arts alive, I dont think I have more to give in that aspect, Ill focus on other areas in my life. 

So, speak to us about this.  I'll propose these questions to you:

What did you try to make that was different?

What was your approach?

Your thoughts on why it had to be different?

What did you not like about what you were doing?

How much experience did you have before you decided things needed to be different?

Did you approach others with your thoughts on it, and if so, what was their reaction?

Now, I will advise that answering these questions will bring about more conversation on the subject, and to be prepared for all spectrum of replies, as everyone has different experiences.  But I think it can lead to a good conversation and help to flesh out your concerns more.  I'd love to see this conversation open up.  I'd love to see you continue you Martial Arts journey.