[jac]

Great thread and one my girl directed me to. Actually SP we talked a couple of times about martial arts when I was frequenting the chatroom last winter. Anyway, yes I trained in martial arts. I began in 91 and recieved my black in 99. My style is Ukedo, which translates to "The Way of the Defender." Not to be mistaken for Aikido. This is a traditional Japanese art combined with American Sport Fight. The traditional Japanese aspect derived from Wado Ryu. My instructor and his brother trained in both styles and combined the two to create Ukedo.

When I was in the thick of my training, we had anywhere from 200 to 300 students but the system was very traditional and strict and so we only have six black belts and I am the only female of the six. Since I last trained in our system my instructor's brother has passed away from cancer and now my instructor has the same cancer and is beginning chemo soon. I had to stop training because of a nasty leg sweep I received that left me with a torn ACL and Meniscus. Two knee surgeries later and another possibly this coming January, I no longer take chances with my knee. I am, however, am planning to keep the fight going and train in boxing.

I can go on for days about martial arts, my experiences, the fact that it is ingrained in me, and that martial arts IS my way of life. Everything I do in my day to day life always holds some sort of aspect to my martial arts and I always use it to explain my actions or the point I am trying to make or just use it as examples. Always!

I also trained in TKD and only went to yellow with that before moving on to Ukedo. While in Ukedo, I learned from various styles but never fully received degrees in any of those styles. I took what would work for me from those styles to enhance what I already have knowledge of in my style. I also trained in Kempo. I attended many sport fight tournaments and did lots of demonstrations and exhabitions. I've taught women's and children's self-defense and self-awareness courses and helped to assist and personally train with agents from the US Martials, and FBI as well as the local authorities and detectives.

Yes, martial arts is engrained in me and corses through my veins. I talk about it daily... In fact, today one of the kids at the shelter asked, when he overheard another staff and I talking about MMA and Ju Jitsu, if I thought I could take out a member from MMA in a match. I simply said "I would never go against the person to begin with." He understood that to mean that I knew I didn't stand a chance. I actually meant that it was pointless to try and defend myself in that particular conversation because there are so many factors that could turn the tables in that match-up, that niether is garaunteed a win or a loss.

Okay, I will stop for now... lots to share later and learn from others in here. Thanks for openning the thread!

I also was given my Sensei's dojo when I received my black. He was done instructing once he successful got me through the system. I had it for two years before my injury.