Martial Arts is Your Life, So what's Your Hobby?

[beauty_in_the_sai]

I was wondering, if martial arts is your life, what's your hobby/hobbies? What other things do you do or are interested in? Sure we all have to work (unfortunately) or we'd all be martial art monks/nuns by now. LOL

I like to belly dance (for any woman trying to find something aerobic that you get to wear gorgeous outfits in, I HIGHLY recommend belly dance). I also like reading LOTR, Harry Potter, and martial art books. I also like play fighting with my husband, mainly the Great Beep the Nose war! Surfing the web aimlessly is fun as is talking to my many martial art friends on messenger. Some of you will pry say playing with or attending to your kids. My kid (other than my husband ofc.) is my 1 yr. old cat, whose goal in life seems to be exploring every bit of the house she can and getting into things she shouldn't. LOL

Becky

[Blotan Hunka]

I will probably get more bad reputation for saying this again.

Please. No offense. But if martial arts is your LIFE then you should do some real hard looking at your life. In my opinion martial arts should at the most be #3 to #5 on the most important list.

But thats just my opinion.

[Navarre]

This was part of my "20 Questions" thread and there was another thread on it too. I've been amazed at some of the things that other ppl are into. (For example, artisan bread baking. That's cool.)

I read comic books. I have been reading them for 31 years. I have about 5000. (Which will someday help pay for my kids college tuition and hopefully give them something to love too)

I play D&D. I've been doing that for 24 years. My longest campaign took 2 years to write and 3 1/2 years to play.

I like to write too but haven't written much. I wrote a script for a comic book but it needs a lot of work. I've also written a few short stories, the context of which couldn't be discussed here.

I'd like to write a serious full-length novel. I know what I want to say but not how I want to convey the message.

My main hobby for the past few months is frantically posting to multiple threads on the Martial Talk forum. That's a kick!

[beauty_in_the_sai]

I will probably get more bad reputation for saying this again.

Please. No offense. But if martial arts is your LIFE then you should do some real hard looking at your life. In my opinion martial arts should at the most be #3 to #5 on the most important list.

But thats just my opinion.

It's not number 1 in my life! My husband is! But as my husband and I do martial arts together, both our lives revolve around it. It's something we can both do together that we both enjoy immensely. Some couples don't have that, which is why they get divorced. My mom and dad are a perfect example of that. Can you imagaine a guy belly dancing? lmao

Becky

[Navarre]

Some couples don't have that, which is why they get divorced. My mom and dad are a perfect example of that. Can you imagaine a guy belly dancing?

I agree that it's very hard to sustain a relationship when you have nothing in common. Sometimes the only thing that sustains it is mutual responsibility, not the sharing of activities and dreams.

... and, no, I'd rather not imagine a guy belly dancing. lol (suddenly I feel a little queezy)

[beauty_in_the_sai]

I agree that it's very hard to sustain a relationship when you have nothing in common. Sometimes the only thing that sustains it is mutual responsibility, not the sharing of activities and dreams.

... and, no, I'd rather not imagine a guy belly dancing. lol (suddenly I feel a little queezy)

We do have mutual responsibilty. Our marriage would've failed by now if we hadn't. We both work and walk to work (saves gas and gives one excercise). I think you are always determined not to agree with me in some way, navarre. LOL Just kidding! We just always seem to share a different opinion on everything, which is ok.

Becky

[OnlyAnEgg]

I will probably get more bad reputation for saying this again.

Please. No offense. But if martial arts is your LIFE then you should do some real hard looking at your life. In my opinion martial arts should at the most be #3 to #5 on the most important list.

But thats just my opinion.

Nah...I think you're right, in general. I think there are situations where MA can be one's life, though.


My hobbies are reading and film. Some model making, too, I guess, though it's been a while. I also play some music. Trombone, specifically.

I play with the kids, entertain the wife and try to help my local family as I can.

[bluemtn]

I like to do a lot of things- I like doing things outdoors, like hiking, snow tubing, walking, and swimming. I also like to play the piano when I have the chance (I'm not the greatest at it, but I can read music and it's relaxing), I like to read, and go to movies.

[Navarre]

We do have mutual responsibilty. Our marriage would've failed by now if we hadn't. We both work and walk to work (saves gas and gives one excercise). I think you are always determined not to agree with me in some way, navarre. LOL Just kidding! We just always seem to share a different opinion on everything, which is ok.

We do? I hadn't noticed any difference of opinion anywhere at all.

Perhaps we just aren't communicating well. I didn't suggest that you and your husband don't share responsibility. In fact I was admiring that you shared common interests on top of that.

My statement was that many marriages aren't lucky enough to have all you do. For them they may only stay together because of the responsibility but suffer otherwise from lack of common interests.

I was actually meaning to imply a compliment toward your marriage in comparison to my own. I'm not sure why you feel we disagree on this or other things but I'm sorry you feel that to be so.

[beauty_in_the_sai]

Just the impression I got, navvare (sorry pry didn't spell your name right). No hard feelings. The points of a martial artist thread sorta touched a nerve with my husband and I and I've felt certain people have been out to get us ever since. We haven't even looked at that forum anymore as the posts were getting increasingly insulting. Nah it's all good between us. Didn't mean to offend you.

Becky

[Navarre]

I'm not offended, Becky. I'm just concerned that you mistook my remark as meaning something other than what I meant.

My only relevant comment in the "Different Points" thread was:

"Well, all I can say is one has to decide for themselves what works for them. If you feel your approach is giving you all the understanding you need of each art and allows you the opportunity to advance in The Art, then that is good."

This is my approach to most everything. As long as a person is conducting themselves in a way that is not harmful to themself or other people then they should be free to choose the path that makes them happy.

I certainly apologize if I have said anything where my intent has been mistaken. This is a perfectly fine thread, as was the other one, and I wasn't aware that anything I said was ever in disagreement with you.

But, as you say, it's all good between us. I'm glad that is so.

[Navarre]

Oh, and let me say again how good I think it is that you and your husband share a love for The Art.

I wish very much that I could share it with my wife. I didn't realize for difficult life would be because of that lack of sharing.

But, like you, martial arts cannot be my priority over my family. I am glad you are able to integrate both. I am envious.

[green meanie]

I like to read, I play a little chess, and lately I've been involved in a project with my 8 year old daughter where we've started creating our own little world with its own pantheon of gods and goddesses. We decided the myths and fairy tales that we've been making up and telling each other need a place of their own if they're really going to come to life. :)

[Drac]

"Little" theatre..Acting or directing...

[Sam]

I will probably get more bad reputation for saying this again.

Please. No offense. But if martial arts is your LIFE then you should do some real hard looking at your life. In my opinion martial arts should at the most be #3 to #5 on the most important list.

But thats just my opinion.

I still dont understand this. Martial arts is MY life, and I have no reason to think there's anything wrong with me. I wanted to take some karate lessons. I cleared out my bank account. I wanted to keep taking them. I got a job. I hated high school. I dropped out. My instructors were dissapointed in me. I got my GED and go to college. I got kinda good at karate. I wanted to compete nationally. I got another job. Now I have a decent income for a 17 year old, hold down two jobs, and am working towards a degree, keeping sane and doing it because of, martial arts. My whole entire day is spent towards the persuit of martial arts - directly or indirectly. And I'm one of the most grounded 17 year olds I know. I've examined my life, and I like it just fine.

[Bigshadow]

I will probably get more bad reputation for saying this again.

Please. No offense. But if martial arts is your LIFE then you should do some real hard looking at your life. In my opinion martial arts should at the most be #3 to #5 on the most important list.

But thats just my opinion.
I think you have mis-understood what people mean by Martial Arts being their life. The martial arts is a metaphor of life. It can be a sparring of words (word-jutsu), or sparring of thoughts (thought-jutsu). Even things that seem mundane such as having a gentle conversation with someone is still a dance of words, an interplay between two or more people. Martial arts when taken seriously provides lessons that guides our lives by giving us the ability to make decisions about how we interplay with others on every level of existence. So Martial Arts can be one's life or path but not occupy all of their time. I think you should look deeper into what they mean.

Just my thoughts.


As for my hobbies.... Which ones? The cheap ones or expensive ones? Actually the cheap ones would be easier, there are far less of them. LOL Here is a list of a few hobbies of mine in no specific order or level of importance.

Flying
Hunting
Camping
Paintball
Geocaching
Jeeping
hiking
biking
archery
Genealogy

[Bigshadow]

I wish very much that I could share it with my wife. I didn't realize for difficult life would be because of that lack of sharing.

But, like you, martial arts cannot be my priority over my family. I am glad you are able to integrate both. I am envious.
Navarre, I can sympathize with you! There is very little my wife and I have in common other than maybe camping.

[Blindside]

My whole entire day is spent towards the persuit of martial arts - directly or indirectly. And I'm one of the most grounded 17 year olds I know. I've examined my life, and I like it just fine.

Hi Sam,

This is probably going to sound condescending, but you are young and that allows you the time to focus on your passion. I used to have the same focus, but now that I'm older and married, martial arts has taken a distinct second to my family. I would seriously question to priorities of a person who places a hobby above the responsibilities to their family, I would call that obsession.

Lamont

[Navarre]

Navarre, I can sympathize with you! There is very little my wife and I have in common other than maybe camping.

Well, at least you have camping...even if you have separate tents. lol

Thanks for the empathetic gesture.

[arnisador]

Martial arts is my main hobby; after that, reading and languages.

[Navarre]

Martial arts is my main hobby; after that, reading and languages.

Do you study languages, learn languages, or both?

If the second, which languages do you write and/or speak?

[Sam]

Okay, so I'm obsessed.

[arnisador]

Do you study languages, learn languages, or both?

Both (as a hobby), but no fluency yet. My French and Italian are functional, and my (koine) Greek is coming along nicely.

I've just always found languages interesting. My daughter shares my interest, so we do some of this together.

[Navarre]

I've just always found languages interesting. My daughter shares my interest, so we do some of this together.

That's interesting. It's nice you share an interest with your daughter.

I want to take my children to Europe someday. I've never been there nor do I speak any language other than English.

My daughter will have to go by her middle name when we're in France I guess. They would probably think it's stupid that her name is Paris.

[Gemini]

This thread is more schitzo than I am!

I LOVE to race. I'ma 1320 guy.

[TheBattousai]

Other than MA, watching movies and cartoons/anime, reading comics and manga, video games, traveling, studying history, writing fiction stories, studying science, and listening/writing music.

[Aikikitty]

Besides being at the dojo I like.... (not in any particular order)

Reading books, comic books, manga, martial art forums, LOTR fanfiction
Playing video games or surfing the net
Listening to music while exercising
Watching TV, martial art movies, comedies, anime
Sometimes I cross-stitch or draw
Talking/being with my friends
Buying new things for my collections
Sleeping
Attacking my kitties with hugs, kisses, & pets until they're forced to purr!

I'm sure there is more, but those are the things I can think of off the top of my head.

Robyn http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/tiere/animal-smiley-025.gif

[Navarre]

Hmmm, more comic book readers here than I imagined.

[CuongNhuka]

Well I’m kinda with Sam, in that I’m a little obsessive (no were near as much as her though). Lets see…weight lift (so I can hit harder, even if it doesn’t help to much), chi-kung (why does any one do chi-kung), draw, write poetry, piano, and sing (all connect my body to my spirit, and have got me a few followers, give you get me [mostly a joke]). Pray (so I’m religious), read, write stories of varying length, meditate (for mental strength). I also dance (footwork), Zen calligraphy, Tao yin, and do-in (forms of Chi-kung that I forgot). So as you see a lot of what I do for fun, helps my martial arts. And I’m sure that if you look at what you do for fun helps yours in some way.

Sweet Brighit Bless your Blade,

John.

[tshadowchaser]

Lets see i enjoy:

carving wood and stone
reading
comic books
playing D&D
camping
walking in the woods
gem hunting
gold panning
writeing (not spelling)
diablo. Dungon siege, and few others
any activeities my wife , and family do togeather

[mrhnau]

Lets see i enjoy:

carving wood and stone
reading
comic books
playing D&D
camping
walking in the woods
gem hunting
gold panning
writeing (not spelling)
diablo. Dungon siege, and few others
any activeities my wife , and family do togeather

Oh gosh... gold panning... still have a pan and pick sitting back at my parents place :) Lots of fun! I need to go visit Reeds Gold Mine again. Lots of fun!

[Navarre]

camping
walking in the woods
gem hunting
gold panning

If the gem hunting and gold panning work out for you maybe you won't have to camp or walk in the woods anymore. You can finally drive your used Chevette to a luxurious Super-8 Motel. lol

[muffin_cup_of_death]

Great topic becky. I think between me and her we have our marriage as #1, and will always be that way. My job comes #2 because that is what feeds us, puts a roof over our heads, and buys our toys. LOL. So yeah, Martial arts would be my # 3 life priority, but not a hobby. I dont do it occasionally, it is in my mind 24-7-365. Before I was married, I was an obsessive martial artist, all I did was train, teach, work my job, and sleep...and eat every now and then...thats about it. I cared for nothing else. But Marriage will change anybody. ANd it sux when you are used to training so much, then all the sudden, so many responsibilitys come ahead, and you have to accept it. But I wouldnt change it for the world. My wife brings me happiness and peace as nothing else ever has, I even closed my dojo, after working hard labor jobs for about 4 years trying to open it. It was operational for 1 1/2 yrs. before I closed it to go get married in Beckys hometown state. But anyway, my REAL hobbies include:

Hiking, climbing, rock jumping!, reading, writing, video games, board games, running, web surfing, warhammer 40,000 table top battling, lifting weights, poetry, writing, and making hip-hop/rap songs with friends.

Oh,and Navarre...No hard feelings man, the "points of a MA" thing was stupid, and I hope we can be cool from now on. I have a problem with being a bit outspoken sometimes, but Im working on that.
Great topic, keep em coming.

[Rich Parsons]

People watching. No not voyeristic, because they are out to get me. :rolleyes:

Riding my Motorcycle

RPG's

Miniatures and board games

online video games ** WOW **

pretending I am human ;)

[Blotan Hunka]

I think you have mis-understood what people mean by Martial Arts being their life. The martial arts is a metaphor of life. It can be a sparring of words (word-jutsu), or sparring of thoughts (thought-jutsu). Even things that seem mundane such as having a gentle conversation with someone is still a dance of words, an interplay between two or more people. Martial arts when taken seriously provides lessons that guides our lives by giving us the ability to make decisions about how we interplay with others on every level of existence. So Martial Arts can be one's life or path but not occupy all of their time. I think you should look deeper into what they mean.

I see what you are saying. I still think one has to be careful or you either wind up being some geek walking down the street acting like you are in the Matrix or you become so obcessed that you neglect your real life.

Either way I respect what you said and will think about it.

[MJS]

I was wondering, if martial arts is your life, what's your hobby/hobbies? What other things do you do or are interested in? Sure we all have to work (unfortunately) or we'd all be martial art monks/nuns by now. LOL

I like to belly dance (for any woman trying to find something aerobic that you get to wear gorgeous outfits in, I HIGHLY recommend belly dance). I also like reading LOTR, Harry Potter, and martial art books. I also like play fighting with my husband, mainly the Great Beep the Nose war! Surfing the web aimlessly is fun as is talking to my many martial art friends on messenger. Some of you will pry say playing with or attending to your kids. My kid (other than my husband ofc.) is my 1 yr. old cat, whose goal in life seems to be exploring every bit of the house she can and getting into things she shouldn't. LOL

Becky

While I enjoy the arts very much, I do have my priorities. Family, health and work have to come first and foremost. Personally, I don't see how someone could put the arts before the other things in life and still be able to survive.

Mike

[MJS]

Hi Sam,

This is probably going to sound condescending, but you are young and that allows you the time to focus on your passion. I used to have the same focus, but now that I'm older and married, martial arts has taken a distinct second to my family. I would seriously question to priorities of a person who places a hobby above the responsibilities to their family, I would call that obsession.

Lamont

I don't take this as you being condescending, but instead bringing up some very good points. When I lived at home, I had no bills, so I was able to put forth a good portion of my time towards training. However, there came a time when I needed to step out of the part time work force and enter into the full time world. Of course, being married, having a home, and those never ending bills, things definately change.

Mike

[Lisa]

Lets see i enjoy:

carving wood and stone
reading
comic books
playing D&D
camping
walking in the woods
gem hunting
gold panning
writeing (not spelling)
diablo. Dungon siege, and few others
any activeities my wife , and family do togeather

Wood and stone carving. Sounds fascinating. I am envious, I have absolutely no talent for that kind of thing. Any chance of seeing some pics of your work? :)

[Dalum]

Anime (Watching and importing to do fansubs)
Drifting (Watching and doing)
Watching Rally (SCCA and WRC)
Tournament Paintball
Import video games
Knitting (Newly acquired, digging it too!)

None of this is in any particular order. :)

[jdinca]

Martail Arts is my hobby/passion. Work and raising teenage boys is the main focus of life. I also do a lot of cooking and reading when I get the chance.

[IcemanSK]

Martial arts certainly isn't my life, but it's a big part of my life. I started when I was 14 (I'm 38 now). I started taking my faith in God seriously at the same time. My buddies I trained with in college all had both in common, also. It might sound odd to some folks, but speaking about God's love & fighting skills at the same time (with folks who understand both) comes naturally to me. (I don't have those conversations with the blue-haired gal in the pew in front of me on Sunday morning.:) )

I read & watch movies as hobbies. I'm a big fan of comedy. From smart British humor to the 3 Stooges...I love to laugh.

[terryl965]

My hobbies are
gambling
Camping
gambling
remote control cars
gambling
spending time with the family
gambling
fantasy books
gambling

terry

[KenpoTess]

Terry, I betcha I know one of your hobbies ;)

[Bigshadow]

I see what you are saying. I still think one has to be careful or you either wind up being some geek walking down the street acting like you are in the Matrix or you become so obcessed that you neglect your real life.

No doubt there must be balance. That is still training.

[tshadowchaser]

QUOTE]You can finally drive your used Chevette to a luxurious Super-8 Motel. lol__________________
[/QUOTE]

No super 8 last time I stoped at one a accidently bumped the horn and was immdiately suonded by drug dealers trying to sell me something


Any chance of seeing some pics of your work
I keep trying to get some good photos of the wok on a digital camera but have yet toget anyhing goo enough to show hee. i'll try over the next wek to cet some of my cane jheads and a few things I made for friends (no promise but i'll try)

[bMunky]

Well, I can see how martial arts can be someones life, just how rollerbladign or skateboarding can be someones life, the way I see it, if youw ant to perfect something as in depth as martial arts or extreme sports you have to make them your life. I've gone as far as realizing if I want to be where I want in martial arts I'll have to train everyday and become a teacher so I can continue to train and not let work get in the way and plus why wouldnt I or anyone else want to teach something you love. But what I do when I want to get away from martial arts is aggressive inline skating, I'm 20 been skating since 6th grade. I'll never stop skating, probably not untill I cant anymore. And then if I cant make martial arts a living as in if I open a dojo and it sucks and I go bankrupt I'l fall back on my graphic design and photography certificates.

[terryl965]

Terry, I betcha I know one of your hobbies ;)

Yea camping right!!!!!

[Drac]

Hmmm, more comic book readers here than I imagined.

Been a reader and collector for years..I love them...

[beauty_in_the_sai]

The only "comic books" I like is Calvin and Hobbes. They are hilarious!

Becky

[mrhnau]

The only "comic books" I like is Calvin and Hobbes. They are hilarious!

Becky

That, old Garfield and The Far side.

[Drac]

The only "comic books" I like is Calvin and Hobbes. They are hilarious

I agree..I own 3 of the complied works. "There is something drooling under the bed" is my favorite..

[Navarre]

Calvin and Hobbes is one of the best comics ever written.

(See Becky, told you we could agree on something. lol)

[Bigshadow]

But what I do when I want to get away from martial arts is aggressive inline skating, I'm 20 been skating since 6th grade.

Now that is something I want to learn how to do (inline). :D

[bluemtn]

Calvin and Hobbes is one of the best comics ever written.

(See Becky, told you we could agree on something. lol)

I LOVE Calvin and Hobbes!!! It's a shame they're retired.:waah:

[arnisador]

It's been fun having them re-run recently!

[Eric Daniel]

I was wondering, if martial arts is your life, what's your hobby/hobbies? What other things do you do or are interested in? Sure we all have to work (unfortunately) or we'd all be martial art monks/nuns by now. LOL

I like to belly dance (for any woman trying to find something aerobic that you get to wear gorgeous outfits in, I HIGHLY recommend belly dance). I also like reading LOTR, Harry Potter, and martial art books. I also like play fighting with my husband, mainly the Great Beep the Nose war! Surfing the web aimlessly is fun as is talking to my many martial art friends on messenger. Some of you will pry say playing with or attending to your kids. My kid (other than my husband ofc.) is my 1 yr. old cat, whose goal in life seems to be exploring every bit of the house she can and getting into things she shouldn't. LOL

Becky

Besides Martial Arts I like to serf the web, play catch with my brother (I have eight bro's so and we all live in different places so I only play catch with them when I see them), watch pro. Wrestling, watch football and baseball (MY favorite teams are Seattle Sehawks and Seattle Mariners, what's your favorite team?) and I like to read all kind of books, play my PS2 my father bought me last christmas, and I also like to watch action and drama and comedy (almost any) kind of movies.

[FearlessFreep]

I've memorized most of Calvin's memorable lines, I've read them so much

Other than TKD I also write software for a living (and hobby) and am a pretty serious amateur/semi-pro musician and wanting to become more pro

[Laborn]

Number one thing in my life is Jesus Christ, Martial arts is my second. Beside martial arts..i dont really do anything else lol, school, church, sometimes i go skating, but i cant go back now lol. I also have a habbit of drawing, im kinda good at it, and like meditating, drawing just helps ease my nerves.

Laborn