Why did you start training in Taekwondo?

Note: I did a quick search but didn't see it in the results, feel free to merge if I missed it.

I was talking with another student at class recently and we got round to why I started training in Taekwondo - and then why I stopped and re-started and it got me thinking about the many reasons people train.

In my case I'd always been a fan of Bruce Lee but my dad didn't want me training until I was old enough to understand the consequences of what I was learning. He'd teach me in the garage from about 7 years old but my first class wasn't until I was 1 month shy of my 12th birthday. I mainly wanted was intrigued by the martial arts and by that time I'd started to go through a rough time at school (bullying) so was just the perfect timing for me. My dad had trained at the local Taekwondo school in the past so that's why we chose Taekwondo versus Shotokan or Judo.

As to why I stopped and started, stopping was driven by injury, relocation (Scotland>Zakynthos>Thessaloniki>New York > London > Santa Monica > Palm Springs) and pure laziness. Started again because a) I missed it and b) I now have a family and weight was spiraling out of control along with my ability to protect them.

Interested to hear your stories.

Thanks!

 

Started my M.A. because I saw/heard about Bruce Lee and Joon Rhee ads for traing on the local Saturday morning cartoons. Took classes at my local community college when I was 18. Shotokan as a free after school class and Tang So Do as a paid p.e. credit.

Stopped the Shotokan to take private Kung Fu lessons for a year.

No structured training for several years but lots of self defense stuff as a L.E.O.

Started back training when my son invited me to join him in his TKD training. Did that until 6 years ago. School changed owners and I was recovering from surgery. Back now and just promoted to Red belt 2nd Kup.

 

For me, it's the most varied and fun martial arts style. Boxing is too one dimensional, while Karate schools are truly good for discipline, but less entertaining. Not as much flashy moves to practise next to more applicable stuff.

 

I was a little brat so my folks stuck my 4-year old ass in TKD classes to burn off some energy.

 

I was abandoned by my family at the age of fourteen, I was adopted by a martial arts instructor, although I was suffering from a deep wound I found that Karate gave me the ability to focus my thoughts and calm my emotions.

 

Why I started martial arts is a complicated one. Why I started taekwondo is relatively simple. It was the local "karate school." End of story really.

Not that I have any regrets. I've always been grateful for the foundational stuff I learned in taekwondo, even if I moved away from it pretty thoroughly after about 5 years.

 

Ooops! I really Should stop scan reading!!

 

I remember attributing kicking to be the highest degree of difficulty in martial arts techniques and was always amazed at this ability some people had.

This challenge further motivated my choice of Taekwondo.

 

I was impressed by the instructor and the school was close. After I studied under him for a bit, I realized what an amazing person he is and how lucky I was to have such a good instructor. 20 years later, I am still with him.

 

I've started in high school, for 3 years, to build my self confidence. After high school I've stopped training because of work and more studying. And now I'm back after 17 years to finish my second blue belt in WTF.

 

I dabbled in karate when I was in my 20's, only for a couple of gradings before having to stop due to buying a house and lack of funds. Fast forward time 15+ years and when my son was born I wanted him when growing up to study a MA to look after himself so when last October 2013 at age 5 he told me one of his school friends was starting TKD at a local class and he wanted to give it go we took him along. I managed 4 months of standing outside watching him before I gave in. Next week for the first time we'll be grading together, looking forward to that, being a dad and son thing.

 

There wasn't much to do in Swindon in the early 90s.

 

Alcohol and tress pretty much sums up my childhood, I see no problems there lol

 

Was out of the game for nearly 20 yrs. Off and on agian kind of thing.
My wife wanted the kids to train a MA so we put them in tkd mostly because of the convenient location. My oldest son asked me why mom and I don't do it. The next week the entire family was in tkd. Several years later only my 2 youngest still do tkd but we all still train and spar together

 

WTF TKD was on the PE classes on my 3rd year of high school, and I didn't want to look like a dork when that happened, so I took TKD classes beforehand.

Continued on for two years until I got mugged.

 

I was going to say something funny, but thought screw it. I'm off to the park with a bottle of White Lightning .

 

It's quite interesting how many of us have stopped and re-started again at some point. Not sure about anyone else but looking back I definitely regret stopping when I did.

I think we've all got excuses as to why we stopped - injuries, money, kids - but the reality is I wish I'd at least continued performing my patterns for the small amount of time it would have taken each day - wouldn't have cost a penny.

Anyway, I'm delighted to be back training now and I absolutely love it, even with all the extra pounds and reduced flexibility!