What was your original reason for taking up martial arts?

I wanted to be a Power Ranger, and be like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Oh yeah, and Batman. LOL

Sad thing is, I'm not lying. I was like 7 when I started and had those in mind at the age of like 4.

I was 10. I never started fights. I was an inventive little git when I had to fight in the school playground. I was the type of kid who would swing around a pole so I could kick you with both feet at the same time but I had never saw or even heard of martial arts. Came home one night and Enter The Dragon was on. Bruce Lee was the reason I started doing it. I felt like I related somehow to what he was doing, seeing his obvious mastery of this I decided I wanted to get the same skills and be like him. My interest in martial arts and Bruce Lee never went away. At 38 it's still the same.

I was picked on a lot growing up because of my physical and other health problems. Then opportunities arose in college where I was able to start martial arts classes, and I gained experience in two different arts.

I kept calm when a couple guys on my hall were picking on me for being in Tang Soo Do, then one day a school athlete (considerably bigger than me at the time) kept trying to test me, and he started pushing me.

** Long story short, after he did a lot of jumping, blocking, and dodging, it ended when I threw a ridge hand instead of another punch with my right. He didn't expect it, but instead of moving away from the strike, he looked to his left, and dropped to the ground less than a second later. -- I never had a problem with someone the rest of the semester.

*** prior to that I always had an interest in martial arts, but never had the opportunity (or parental permission) to start classes when I was younger.

mine, 2 b da best martial artist. It was at the start and still is an aim...but there are more now. I want to represent my art and country. Wanna be a mighty fighter :)>- B-)

Well I watched a lot of Bruce Lee movies and old kung fu or other martial arts movies. I wanted to be like Bruce Lee and be able to fight.....lol

My goals have changed, but I'm glad I began to train and I'm still training.

Self Defence And Mental Peace.

As a kid I always dreamt of learning karate...then one day after I moved to Australia I saw a flyer and just told my parents that I was going to start karate. They laughed at me for a while but eventually (and not very happily) agreed to let me do it. I am after two years a purple belt in goju ryu karate and haven't regretted starting at all.

I always had an intrest in combat, and sports. I wanted to be a great athlete, so I started wrestling. I also took up karate, and jiu jitsu because my dads co worker invited me to his dojo. I still train there to this day.

Family Expectations.

Yes, it's a little complicated.

Self defence