Martial Arts and Friends?

Ihave found that thru martial arts I have made many long term friends, some for over 30 years. Training together has led me to train with their children as well. How many also have experienced this?

Martial Arts and Friends?
When I was a kid, my first instructor was kind of like a big sister - pushed us hard, but did so with compassion.





When her teacher came back from overseas, he reintegrated the kids and adult classes. That man became the first person I called 'Sensei' while actually meaning it.





That class was like a family on some ways, but like an academy in other ways. I was probably too young at the time though because at 8 to 16 years old, I didn't attend the get together outside of class. On the other hand, there were 4 of us kids that had all started together and were the only ones that were still with it after 8 years. I lost touch with 2 of them after I moved away at 16, but the last one, my best friend - we started class together because of our existing friendship - and I are still close.





Now, I'm training in a different art at a different dojo. The atmosphere is very family like. The Dojo-Cho is like the patriarch and his wife, just as experienced and with the same rank, is the matriarch. All the senior students are like uncles and aunts. All the students of around the same level are like brothers and sisters. All the beginners are like nephews and nieces. This is all regardless of age - just kind of a general feeling regarding the art itself.





Since I'm older, I do attend the outside of the dojo functions. For instance, last year, my family did Thanksgiving a little late to accommodate my sister's work schedule. That left me with the option of going to orphan's thanksgiving (something my Senseis do at their home every year). I was certainly not going to turn down a double dose of turkey or the chance to hang out with my friends and family over two separate days.





I think there are kind of 3 different families in my life - biological, social and dojo. There are pretty much the same thing, just different reasons for being and consisting of different individual people. My biological family is also my social family. My dojo family is also my social family. Being a social animal, suits me fine.





Side note:





Interestingly, one of my fellow students started at my current dojo a number of years after I did. Turns out, he has been training with my old Sensei and is one of his senior students. He calls me Sempai because I am his senior at our shared dojo. I call him Sempai because he is my senior with respect to the other art we share even though it was a different times.





We get a good laugh out of it but it goes to show its a small world and eventually, all these different families we are part of intersect. In the end, its all one big family - we just haven't had a chance to get to know all of its members.
Reply:me for one and i know lots of ppl have.


EDIT.hey saint where you been mate?
Reply:yes. I too have experienced this.
Reply:I don't know, but you said "and then, and then . . ." to my question. And then along came Jones?





Tall thin Jones


Slow walking Jones


Slow talking Jones . . .
Reply:Martial arts has given me a lot of friends and I have always enjoyed it.
Reply:I have become good friends with a handful of my Instructors over the years and have done many things outside the class room.
Reply:i have experienced this as well, as you meet people and share the same goal. People who get into martial arts also tend to be health-contious, and learn to respect other people. These and many other traits will be a good base to create friendships, as you have common grounds.





I respect MMA practicioners, as they train several aspects of the game, stand up and grappling, praticing MMA doesn't mean that you will create violence or beat up, trash people. TKD or Karate black belts don't go around kicking people, do they? having the skill or power to do so doesn't mean that you should or will do it, and martial artists (true ones anyaway) usually walk away from a street fight, mma practicioners are no different. I have friends who practice mma so I can vouch for them.





Making friends is another perk of practicing martial arts, and as you have experienced some can be long-term.
Reply:Yes. I have made many lifelong friends through the arts.


Our school is very close. We all hang out together. When one of us is in trouble we all come to help. When one of us does something commendable we are all there to celebrate.


We are a very tight pack.
Reply:My experience have been similar. Martial arts gave me a person that has been a mentor and almost a father for me together with some good friends.
Reply:I have met many people from around my state that are fantastic. We look forward to every meeting.