The importance of Martial Arts to build someone’s character.

Today I am going to talk about how martial arts can play a huge role in your life. Especially in your early age.

I was 8 years old when my mother put me in karate classes.

The decision came after several bullying attempts.

At first I thought that it would be fun, however I had no idea of how it could build my character as a human being.

After sparring, we had to read the “Dojo-Kun", where it was written four phrases:

• Sincerity in the first place
• Be honest with yourself
• Go against brutal acts
• Others in the first place

Self defense was one of the best things that ever happened to me to prevent bullying and more: how to avoid an unecessary fight. Whether as a kid or an adult.

After 8 years of practice, I gave up Karate (at the age of 14) and began pursuing other types of Martial Arts.

I started to think it as an hobby in which I could rest my thoughts and clear my mind of any (at the age of 24).

I found out that I was correct.

Embrace a martial art that can fill your spirit and let you self secured of who you are and what you really can achieve through inner knowledge of one self.

I will name several martial arts, so that you can be aware of which fits better for you:

• Karate-do: Japanese martial art, Empty hands, quick attacks, punch as an iron bar.
• Taekwondo: Military Korean martial art derived from Karate, focusing on quick and powerful kicks, basically all kinds of kicking.
• Kung Fu: Chinese martial arts focusing as a chain of fancy stances and powerful spirit to launch attacks usually based on animals such as praying mantis.
• Boxing: Western martial art. Effective against most of Martial arts and probably the one with zero philosophy. One-two punch ends the battle.

I could come up with more and more styles, but the focus of this article is about how martial arts can really change someone’s life.

At the age of 33 (today) I can say I am the luckiest man on earth to have had the opportunity to live karate kid experience in the 90’s.

I dedicate this article to my mother, which gave me everything I needed to be the best in whatever subject I was about to experience.

Best,

André Pena