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Why I Enjoy Martial Arts
I remember the first time I watched The Karate Kid. This was back in the 1980s, so I saw the original film, which quickly became a favourite for many Gen Xers.
It was such an inspirational movie to me at the time, but I also thought those Karate moves were awesome. However, I was not allowed to learn martial arts. Instead, I learned to dance, play piano, and take German language lessons. Dancing was fun, and for a brief time, I tried out competition classes but quickly lost interest after that. My interest in martial arts grew out of fascination, not competing with others or winning. It was about learning something that would boost my confidence.
As I grew up, I put those aspirations of learning Karate, jiujitsu, Taekwondo, or any other martial art on the shelf. However, I still enjoyed action films featuring skilled fight scenes, whether realistic or not. It was just satisfying to watch!
At 33, I was married with three kids, aged six years, four years, and six months. My two oldest were registered for swimming lessons at a local community center, where there were other activities, sports, and lessons, including a gym. When we passed by a taekwondo class for kids, my oldest immediately showed interest. Within a short time, I registered two kids, and later my youngest, once they were old enough to start.
