Do you study/practice martial arts?

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Hello All,

I was just curious about whether any of you practice a form of martial arts, and what you like/dislike about it.

I'm also curious to know if you think that it helps you in any way - making you calmer, more confident, etc.

Lastly, I would also like to know if practice a martial art that can sometimes give you tools that can make you harmful to others - like learning to punch/kick/chop etc. and break things - has made you want to be a more *peaceful* person or not as willing to get into fight.

For myself, I used to be in Chinese Karaho Kempo Karate, but have recently switched to Aikido. A good link to information on Aikido is:
http://www.aikidomissoula.com/What%20is%20Aikido.html

mentalman

I'm not in Tae Kwon Do anymore due to financial/time constraints (although I'd like to start again in the future), but I was in it for two years and made it to the level of Brown Belt. I loved it! I wouldn't have too much trouble with forms, kicking, punching, and sparring, but I had trouble with the two and three step techniques and hapkido holds, which make you use the concepts of left and right a lot, which I have a lot of trouble with. Also, I'd have difficulty imitating my instructors. They were really patient and understanding though, and always willing to help until I got it. It did make me calmer and more confident. When I had a bad day, I would really look forward to class. Once when we did meditations, I almost cried because all of the tension from the day was being released. I was also really amazed and proud at what I could get my body to do. It helped me focus better and want to be more self-disciplined too. I've always been a pretty peaceful person, but I would say it can definately make you feel more peaceful, because of it's calming effect and confidence boost, and because non-violence, self-control and respect for others is such a huge part of what it teaches-it makes you look at aggressive violence in a new way-as being wrong and cowardly. I'd definately recommend martial arts to other aspies-it might get a little frustrating at times if you have motor/coordination difficulties, but it's definately worth it.

I did shotokan karate in middle school. This improved my coordination and awareness of assailants positioning etc, and so was very useful to me in terms of my confidence when dealing with bullies. I was a small child (I started growing very late) and found that being able to fight back effectively made physical bullying a very rare event - a good deterrent. Sadly, they quickly worked out that ostracism and public humiliation were much more effective tools for destroying my self esteem than trying to beat me up ever were.
Martial arts is a fantastic anger release though, and really helped focus me as well as keeping me fit. I keep meaning to take up karate again, but I need to lose a bit of weight first or I'll probably injure myself...

Dunc

I've read a bit about martial arts...

Nothing serious...

I practice Kung Fu. Well, I used to until the lessons became too expensive. Karate, Tae Kwan Doe, Etc. I would never do. Those martial arts will destroy your joints, b/c they emphasize full extension. Kung Fu is designed for life-long practice, therefore you do not do full extension. It would take a person 3 lifetimes to learn all the different moves, blocks etc., b/c it is both circular and linear, as opposed to Karate, which is strictly linear movements.

I know how to break someone's legs and arms and elbows. I could seriously hurt someone if I wanted to. However, the focus is self-defense. You learn how to disarm an attacker, and to get your self out of prone positions. You focus on getting yourself out of a situation, while not creating a bigger one. I love it.

I feel better about being around strangers, b/c I am confident I can disarm them. I learned my first self-defense movement in under 5 minutes. I learned how to get out of a situation in which someone is grabbing my hand and/or wrist.

It's my favorite martial art.

Tallgirl.

I have started to learn qigong.

I've found it really helpful for reducing my anxiety levels, and generally making me feel better.

My university offers karate lessons. I might join if it's not too late.

I took an art called "tang soo doo" when I was younger, I was two ranks away from black belt, but then I quit cause I lost interest. I was thinking about taking it up again.

I would love to learn Iaido-the art of using the samurai sword.

Let's see...... I always start and continue a lot of childish, pointless blazing arguments that result in me not talking to someone else for days at a time afterwards..... I always leave the toilet seat up..... I like to have lots of mistresses if possible (yeah, right ).... I'm overweight..... I'm a bad listener...... I only ever think of my own needs..... I can't even talk to women to begin with anyway..... I have a lot of old fashioned sexist attitudes.....

Basically, I'd have to say that no, I'm really quite bad at marital arts all things considered.....

I used to do Tae-Kwon do, after that I did Capoeira, and after that Muay Thai. Right now I'm not doing anything because of university but I'd like to start again either capoeira or muay thai this summer.

I do tae kwon do and cuong nhu (vietnamese eclectic martial art). martial arts is one of the very few things that i can learn in a school because of the constant repetition. i have been doing it for 8 years.

still, sometimes it is very hard. the testing is completely overwhelming in so many ways. i have some big directional problems, especially left/right things. i often forget things that i've known for years, until i run through them a couple of times. i can't really pay attention when there are instructions and explanations, and often have to ask someone in class what we are doing.

on the other hand, i love it There are many occasions where no thinking is involved at all, especially once you know something pretty well. i like to spar because there is no time to think, so i don't get so confused. if i think too much, i get kicked alot. once i learn a kata (form), i can do it without thinking too much.

it's a great way to be around nice people and interact without 'talking' being the main form of communication.