"Enter" is to pass the - kicking range without being kicked. This include fast footwork, correct angle to move in, catch the right opportunity, have good timing, ... - punching range without being punched. This also include to pass your opponent's wrist gate, elbow gate, and reach to his shoulder/head gate. "Finish" is as simple as - fist meets face, - ground meets head, - arm meets neck, - ...
Life is a marathon not a sprint Rolling, rolling, rolling.. In school we had some judo lessons, and a friend of mine practiced it as a sport he would drag me around alot. When i was about 15 i started doing aikido, and (sadely) red about a technique to prepare your body & mind for the ¨fight¨: it was telling to clentch the teeth firmly and put the tongue on the upper side inside your mouth. After many years of mindlessly practicing this technique /wich did help me get across the street\ my teeth are kinda worn down and the inner side of the nerves are a bit overexhausted. So beware of what you learn and keep an open mind to other techniques ! dance, wrestle and relax
When I took my very first martial arts class at 5 years old, I wanted to learn how to be emotionally stronger. At the end of the day, I learned how to respect people.
I was really more into developing my reflexes when I started taking lessons. I thought it would help me stop being clumsy.
Personally, the first thing I want to know about is the history of martial arts and how it actually started. This is actually because it is amazing to see that it is popular around the world for several decades now... and the reason why a lot of people are willing to learn it. Well, I understand that it is for the purpose of self-defence. Other than that, I have also notice that there are a lot of people who made variants of it. I honestly think that it is a great way to get healthy and to learn how to protect yourself.
Are you referring to a specific martial art, or martial arts in general? Because if it's martial arts in general, your 'several decades' idea is underselling the length of martial arts quite a bit...123