I was thinking for the past few days about my health, and over the years I've really packed on quite a few pounds. If I can't get myself onto a treadmill, ill force myself to do so because I would LOVE to get back into martial arts again =D
I started as a martial artist quite a few years ago believe it or not, I think I started around 6, and continued for 6 or 7 years, but then I had to quit because we were moving. It was a positive experience, it gave me confidence- and opened my eyes to different cultures and customs.
Tae-Kwan-Do is the art of korean martial arts- it is a respected discipline focusing directly on the martial artist striking calmly and cooly. The ranks included uniform, white, yellow, green, blue, purple, red, red striped, brown, and black belts. I finished up to brown belt status, but then I had to quit because I was moving.
One thing I took from the program was the added bonus of weapons training. People I have talked with are shocked that I can handle weapons. I have been trained in the art of nun-chuka, bo, sai, kama, tonfa and a tiny bit of kendo (swords). I enjoyed all of the weapons training, and went on to earn a bronze for weapons at a local tournament. I became very nimble with the kama and staff. I remember clearly (although my memory is growing hazy) sitting down in a group with other students learning to care for weapons. I asked the instructor "Is that sword real?" He replied "stand up and come hold it" (of course now I own a live blade ^^). I definetly could tell the sword was real. From then, I trained with a shinai (I know this is weird, but I DID say all of this opened me to different cultures [IE Shinai and Kendo are Japanese, not Korean]). I only got a little kendo in, but I really enjoyed it.
I also remember for my brown belt test, I did have to demonstrate my knowledge of weapons. I remember dueling other students (blades were made of rubber and were not sharp) and skillfully dodging and lightly tapping folks in the stomach to signal a blow. The Si were awesome too. They are a stabbing weapon, but as a young one I was able to flip those things in and out and around. Kama were all about spinning and the amount of force spent in the swing. Kama can be very dangerous, especially when used with a chain- that is called a kunai (which is Japanese). Dueling my partner with a shinai was fun (only X number of students could pass per exam, but there were many exams) and it lasted, if I remembed a goot 10 to 15 minutes. I remember the deadlock I had on his eyes, we were in that gaze and had a truly great fight.
I was a lot more fit than I am today back then. What I mean to say is, my weight to height ratio was a lot smaller back then than it is now. I really want to change some of my habits and start eating healthier, but I want to lose weight- which means exercise. I would absoloutly love to start martial arts again, because that is the perfect motivation. Not only that, I would think it is a great place to make some new friends- and talk with knowledgeable instructors about weapons, form, techniques, and just general stuff. After 5 years of depression and being alone, I really need some of that. Who knows, maybe if I meet someone we can both work towards a healthier being.
One thing I should mention though- karate is martial arts. Martial Arts are an art form, an ancient way of fighting that has some application today, but not a lot. If you were to fight someone who knew how to street fight, and you knew a martial art, but no grappling skills, you are as good as cooked. Kung Fu is all jibbilibob, it is all for show, but REALLY gets you fit (I have always wanted to flip in the air like those guys). More Martial Arts programs now offer grappling techniques, etc on how to deal with actual weapons. I would definetly be arrested for carrying my trusted katana in public! Yikes I would get years for that. =)
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