The samurai trained hard in the martial arts. Their life depended on it.
Why train in the martial arts? For the Samurai it was a matter of life or death. Their very survival depended on being fit and ready at all times. Nowadays there are many other reasons.
To get fit. Adults join especially for this reason. The martial arts will get you fit in more ways than one. It will strengthen your limbs and build up your heart and lungs. Fitness is a very popular reason.
To learn self-defence. Learning to defend yourself is another big reason to take up martial arts. There is no feeling like walking the streets with confidence, without any worries about your security and that of your family. For a child, protection from bullies is a very common motivation, and it certainly works.
To make friends. Many good friendships are built in the dojo. They sometimes last a lifetime as strong bonds form when you train hard with others.
All my friends are doing it. This is a very common reason for kids to start the martial arts, but probably less so for adults. Very often, if the leader of a peer group joins, the rest of the group will soon sign up.
To be able to do what they do in the movies. Again, this is more likely to be the motivation of a much younger person. In my day, it was Bruce Lee. When I started Kenpo for the first time at 18, this was my main motivation. I thought it would be cool to be able to move like Bruce Lee.
To obtain self-discipline and focus in my life. When I took up Kenpo again at 26, this was my main motivation. I was lacking direction in my life at the time, and the martial arts got me back on track. I have studied Kenpo since.
My kids started it, and it looked like good fun, so I did too. Many of those in our adults/parents classes started for this reason. Others started to help their children out. Some of them are now black belts.
My parents made me take martial arts. Unfortunately some kids start for this reason. Although I don’t support forcing it upon children, I have seen a number of children who, after obtaining black belt level, are happy their parents insisted upon it.
To have fun. Many kids join for this reason, as having fun is the biggest goal of a child.
For whatever reason people join martial arts classes, it rarely stays the same as they progress through the ranks. For me, competition, self-defence, and fitness became the most important reasons as time went on. Also, it became my life’s passion.
Why do you study martial arts? I pose this question to all of you. Let’s make this a fun post and get lots of answers, ok?
Hi Matt, great article.
My reasons for studying martial arts was originally for the fitness side of the sport but the more I learnt the more I wanted to learn and achieve. Training is very easy when you have great instructors and have good people to train with.
Besides the training the social side of our club is great , I have met many people since I started training and consider them as friends not training partners. But the ultimate reason I started training was to see if could obtain my black belt, which I test for the end of this term.
Hey matt, nice idea for a blog post.
I have to admit that i joined at the time due to a mixture of my parents and close friends. Unfortunately, my friends did not follow through, but they made it to yellow belt. I made it to green belt going to one class a week, then i left for 18 months. When i returned, it was due to my parents pushing me, i was very reluctant. However, now I study kenpo for fitness, discipline, but mainly focus. When I have problems, I can train my katas and this causes me to calm down and forget everything else for a time and focus on the true form and grace of a kenpo kata.
Did not realize you were that close Steve. Going to do it at Wenty or Kings Langley? That is a new one for the list, obtaining black belt. I don’t think I started with that intention, but after about six months, I was committed to it as well. It sounds like a lot of your needs have been met–social, fitness, achievement. That is great to hear. Thanks for commenting, and also for being part of our organization.
Wow Grant, would have never guessed that you were ever reluctant about anything martial arts. So you started more for the social aspect, but as time went on you changed your focus, like many others. Yes, katas are indeed moving meditation and can work wonders against sleepless nights, worry, or just plain clearing the mind. It has helped me greatly in this regard as well. I guess it’s worth asking then, are you glad your parents pushed you back into it? Thanks for your comments Grant.
Great article Matt, my main reason for doing karate is the challenge of learning more of the martial arts, and eventually becoming a complete martial artist. oh yea.. and its great fun!
Hi Matt, yes, the martial arts provides a challenge, both mentally and physically. Becoming a complete martial artist is one of the most challenging goals in itself, as we all have our strengths and weaknesses, but you certainly have come a long way. I think it’s great fun as well, especially sparring all the the black belts! Thanks for your input here.
Great post. It’s making me think and reflect on what motivates me. I started out after watching my husband and sons gradually rise through the ranks in jujitsu over about 3 years. I thought, “that could have been me as well”. That prompted me to look for a martial art that suited me – I chose karate – and have never looked back. I loved it from the first lesson and have trained 2-3 times a week ever since. I love the physicality of it, feeling my body strengthen and become more supple. I love the technicality of it too – working on different self defence techniques or kata. I also like the social side and doing some teaching. And of course I like writing about it too. In fact, I love everything about it!
Hi Sue. Thanks for helping us in adding a new one to the list. You must have seen the positive changes it was making in your husband and sons lives before you joined, not to mention the fun they were having. Do they still train in jujitsu? There are lots of women in jujitsu now. Have you done any cross-training training in it?
Hi Matt,
I wanted to learn how to fight. When I was a kid, boxing and wrestling was around and I used to read black belt mag in the 1960’s. When I had the chance – I jumped on it.
By the way wrestling and fighting karate style has been a great foundation for self defense, boxing and kick boxing.
I’ve never wanted to be the aggressor but as you know sometimes self-defense requires aggression (if there are multiple opponents or weapons). Thats why I’ve always considered myself a fighter first and foremost.
Great perspective John. Every boy is intrigued by combat. It was the same for me. It is in our genetics. But to take the next step and learn how to do it properly takes a sense of adventure and more than a little courage. Wrestling was my first taste of it, and although I lacked the stamina to be a top wrestler, I can see now how powerful it is in the UFC. Like yourself, I never am the aggressor, but like Kenny Rogers said in his famous song, “Sometimes you gotta fight when you’re a man” (and sometimes when you’re a woman). But like he also said “Son, you don’t have to fight to be a man!” Thanks for you comment, John.
Hi Matt, unfortunately the jujitsu club my husband and sons attended started to fall apart for various reasons and they joined me in karate instead. However, my husband and I crosstrain in kobudo which is part of a jujitsu club and so we do both get to do a bit of jujitsu as well which has improved my grappling skills no end.
Hi Sue, I am also a big advocate of grappling. Our black belt syllabus is loaded with it. It is a top workout–I am sure you can vouch for how tiring it is! Glad your family found a place to continue their training. Thanks again for stopping by.
I don’t study martial arts, but am considering it down the track:) A great list of reasons here
Hope you can at some stage Hear Mum Roar. It has certainly changed my life. Thanks for visiting again.
makes me want to drink alchoholic beverages
Probably because you are a moron, jimmy “spambot”
Jimmy don’t look for the CHI through the bottom of a Schooner glass because you will never find it and with out Chi your life will never be complete, in other words bro go check out AA’s website I think it is more your style. Cheers 🙂
Martial Arts has been a massive part of my life for my whole life, growing up in an Asian household with a very traditional asian Father. We started Kung Fu from an early age, as soon as I could walk in fact; I learnt early along with the physical aspect of Kung Fu it was drummed into me that What You do with your body is nothing compaired to what you will have to do with your mind. “It takes more skill to know when to throw the punch than knowing how to throw a punch”
Merry Xmas & a Safe and Happy New Year To All from the crew at Mona Vale DoJo Ho Ho Ho!!
Thanks Shandor, it is interesting to see how people with an Asian background are brought up. I have always been impressed with their manners and respect for others. Most martial arts originate in Asia and you can see the influence this region has made on our mentality–respect for all others is the foundation of martial arts.
I study simply because I believe that I have a calling for it. I know this sounds weird, but I’ve always had the passion to learn martial arts. I’m interested in all styles, yes all styles, because I just love it.
I also love to teach it! I like it when I’m able to get students out of the comfort zone and achieve results they thought they could never get. I love explaining how to perform a kata, how to make the kata look better, the proper footing, and how to transition between stances. I can be very technical at times, but that’s because I love the detail in the art.
Martial arts is part of who I am and I can’t wait for the day till I open my own school. I’m ambitious, but I love teaching the art and practicing it.
You and me are the same with regard to passion for the martial arts, Elmer. When not doing it, I am thinking about ways to improve my skills, and the skills of my students. And yes, all styles. Like I am very fond of saying, “It’s all good”.
Teaching is one of the most rewarding jobs on the planet. In fact, it is so much fun for me I look at it as play instead of work–even though the subject is dead serious.
If you are passionate, the rest of it will take care of itself and your school will be a big success. Good luck and don’t wait too long.