Martial Arts Discussion!!!!!!

I have been taking Tae Kwon Do for a little more than 6 years. My instructor is Master Je Kyoung Kim, undefeated 8 time World Champion and 1992 Olympic Gold Medalist.

I am really lucky that he moved in our area because not only is he a godly martial artist, he is an amazing teacher as well having been a former Olympic Team coach.

Anyways, I hope to get my 2nd dan Black Belt very soon and have participated in quite a number of tournaments. Glad to see so many fellow martial artists here

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by kiseki

This question is going to look dumb in a martial arts thread, but for the people who practice martial arts, why do you practice martial arts?
I'm just curious, nothing else.

I took it for really two reasons:

Mentally: It helped my patience, my focus, my self discipline, my self control, my respect, and it helped me to relax. Martial arts isn't just fancy and flashy punches and kicks, it is a very mental activity as well.

Physically: Martial Arts helped my flexiblity as well as helping me get in shape. I took Tae Kwon Do because I wanted a way to defend myself if I were to get in a position (slim but possible) where I would need to be able to fight back.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by kiseki

Man_of_Pie ~ Jeff135
I know that you will lose your title if you use your skills on the street (if somebody tells the "Sensei" that you used it), but have you ever used your martial art skills in a daily fightings or something like that?
I'm not talking about those official matches, I'm talking about the fight that you might have between your friends or somebody from the streets.

I've seen some fights, but all they did was smack and grab each other like little kids do. I know that those people did not had an experience with martial arts, so I just wondered whether you all do something nice/clean/cool when you have a fight.
Again, just curious.

Well, we would lose our title if we used it irresponsibly (ie. to bully or to attack etc) but in a self defense situation then it is ok to use it. And in fact yes there has been a time when I was required to use Tae Kwon Do for self defense. It was a year ago so my memory is kind of hazy, but here is about what happened:

This big bully guy was hitting on my friend so I told him to **** off (at the time I was kind of upset). Well, the day after one of his friends told me that he wanted to fight me. At the time I thought nothing of it and thought of it as an empty threat. Then one day I had to stay after to finish a project for my art class. When I walked to the parking lot to drive home sure enough he and his goons were there, waiting.

So the guy who was hitting on my friend told me to go over there and fight him. I refused, and proceeded to my car. Suddenly, I heard him charging at me. Without hesitation I jumping back kicked him sending him backwards and stunned. When he got out of his daze he tried to punch me, but I spinning hook kicked him in the face knocking him to his knees. Then to prevent further attackes (he didn't look like he was quite ready to give up) I round house kicked him twice in the gut. After this he was bleeding and moaning.

After this I helped him up and helped to get him medical attention. In reality it is NO fun to hurt somebody this bad, even if you had to. I felt really bad about this even thought it was his fault.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Man_of_Pie

(Even though I think it would be an exhilerating experience I try to avoid that type of thing.)

Sure, my adrenelaine was up, but in the end you really feel like s***.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?