| Martial arts practitioners exist all over the world in | | | | everyone's limbs in what seems very precise and |
| every country and region. It is a human need to | | | | familiar ways. |
| perfect ourselves through combat and exercise | | | | This has led to inaccuracies in the facts regarding |
| and the fighting arts satisfy this need in many | | | | how martial arts are practised and what sort of |
| ways. Through studying martial arts men, women | | | | people they attract. It is not uncommon to find |
| and children can learn self-discipline and | | | | people who would like to learn a certain style but |
| determination, self confidence and assurance and | | | | are apprehensive about doing so because they |
| focus and concentration - all qualities that have | | | | are worried about being thrown around by an |
| immediate and long term impact our character | | | | unsympathetic instructor or sneering classmates. |
| and daily lives. | | | | This, thankfully however, is not the norm. Once |
| Martial arts or the "arts of war" may seem as if | | | | you begin to explore the truth about learning |
| they are overly connected with fighting and | | | | martial arts you realise that most participants are |
| aggressive action and their foundations were | | | | well balanced and respectful of their fellow |
| usually prompted by a need for personal | | | | students. What the arts teach most of all is |
| protection or defence by a group or community | | | | respect and self discipline as well as a decent |
| of people. This is not the case today but due to | | | | amount of good manners. Everyone was a |
| an overwhelming portrayal by movies television, | | | | student once and everyone had to start |
| cartoons and other media, the arts have the | | | | somewhere. |
| reputation of being used for violent and criminal | | | | In fact the real battle and fight is with yourself |
| ends. It is very difficult these days to find an | | | | once you begin training - overcoming your own |
| action film where the bad guys are not flying | | | | weaknesses and negative attitudes will keep you |
| around high kicking, punching and breaking | | | | far busier than anyone else could. |