I’ve always been interested in the martial arts.
If it involves flipping, kicking, or bouncing off the walls, I’m there. I think most kids have great enthusiasm for those things, and I’ve tried to keep my inner ten-year-old alive and well.
I was 13 when my parents first enrolled me in karate, and I’m glad they did. I spent the next five years learning cool things and making new friends, while getting (and staying) fit. I learned that becoming adept in a martial art can have a big impact on your self confidence and sense of personal accomplishment. When I was awarded my black belt in 2002, I had the satisfaction of knowing that I had achieved something that most people never will, and I was only 18! That accomplishment made all the other challenges in my life seem a little less daunting. I have no doubt that the success I’ve had since then, in all facets of life, is due in large part to the confidence I built during that time.
Nowadays I’m studying tae kwon do, and once again enjoying the camaraderie and sense of mutual accomplishment you get from attending a martial arts school.
I believe the best fights are the ones you avoid, but martial arts is about far more than just learning how to kick and punch. Of course, knowing how to defend yourself is important and something I think far more people should be invested in.
But my real passion stems from my desire to maximize my potential in life. Great martial artists have trained their bodies to a standard most will never attempt to reach. They have honed their skills to a remarkable level. They have pushed the limits of the human body.
And I want to be able to say I have done the same.
Comments