When I moved back up north, I gave up cause my family still wants to get involved. It's one of those things I wanted to keep to myself. For my own reasons.

I can understand that. When I was younger I used to envy all the kids my age who started when they were 4 or 5 years old. Many of them either had parents who trained or who sat through their classes and cheered them on. Don't get me wrong, my parents have always been very supportive of me in everything I do, but they had no interest in my studying of martial arts. For a teenage beginner though, that's probably the best thing they could've done for me to tell you the truth. I had to get a part-time job to pay for classes. I had to figure out how to get to class before I could drive. I'd catch rides or buses, or even bicycle (which is about a 15 mile round trip from my parents' house).

Almost all of the people my age whose parents got them into karate quit before adulthood. I think I stuck with it because from the very beginning it was my decision and mine alone to train. Making that decision on my own was, I think, the first adult decision I may have ever made. And what's more so, choosing to keep training day after day made me aware of what a privilege it is for me to even have the opportunity to train.

I agree. And I'd rather be spending my own money because that way if after a certian time, I decide it's not for me, I can just say thank you and be on my way.

Until I went to Arkansas, I had a heck of a time finding any place that even had an Adult class. Let alone for anyone in thier mid 20's. Most of the adult classes I found were for people in thier 30's or 40's, and paces according to the age groups.

" You must understand. Most of the people your age taking martial arts are atleaste brown belts, and started early in thier teens."

You should try joining a college club sometime. The age group there is usually 18-28 with the occasional older person (sometimes teachers or non-traditional students train). Also, many people start right from the beginning in college, so there are many beginner classes.

That's actually where I started ^_^ (though I didn't tell anyone that I was actually a freshmen in high school at the time .... <_<)

Well, when I went to college, there were a number of diffrent martial arts clubs on campus. But it became odvious to a few of us who came to meetings, that experience was Strongly Preferred.

bleh. That's no good. I hate it when that happens. I trained at a college dojo once where that was the case... or actually... it was more like competition experienced people were preferred. They asked the question of "kumite or kata" and I said "Well both of course." lol. I ended up training alone. ;_;

Combat based sports have always had this Insiders only thing going on. None of them are immune to it really.

Oh, the worse in college was having to do a month of Tai Bo as part of my required P.E. courses. And as always it's never tape 1 " Beginner". It's like Tape 3 " Advanced ". Lets just say Experience Highly required. Thankfully a friend came to my defense.

P.E. Teacher : No one Else is having trouble.

Friend: Well... *points to diffrent people* Black Belt, Black Belt, Judo, Tai Kwan Do, etc.

I decided to start martial arts almost at the end of high school, I didn't spend that much money on food and wasn't going out with friends so I could afford the fee by saving up from my allowance. My parents didn't even know until they saw the Gi hanged up in my room to dry XD . It wasn't too close to home but I still had 2 or 3 hours to waste after I came back from school.

Now I'm working 9 to 5, literary 5 minutes by foot from the dojo, and every single time I leave work on a practice day I start trying to convince myself "But I am sooooo tired ... and sleeeepy ... It wont hurt if I miss this one, right? *puppy eyes* ". And I loose this battle with my laziness way too often -_____- so I'm always re-learning the basics over and over and over again

As for the Dojo, I have no complaints, I was serious about learning martial arts so I choose a good full-contact karate club.... and boy do I regret it every time I'm in a kumite ;_; (but that regret only lasts from the first punch I take to the end of the practice )

lol YES! I know what you mean. I too give in to it more than I should. This is the hardest part of training imo. I think it's something every martial artist struggles with on a daily basis.

I know the feeling. Ive been job hunting for a while, and the drive is just gone.

Also I have a splinter in my foot under one of the toes, where it bends.