I have to thank my father for a lot of the skills I've retained for all the sports I've done--informal teaching. I've always had very good balance. When I was a baby, I used to balance standing on both of his palms up over his head, then both my little kid's feet on one palm. He taught me nunchukas when I was about 6 years old. I remember just catching it, and catching it, until I could go from one hand to the other. We used to throw knives at targets, and he taught me some wilderness survival, how to escape a headlock, how to parry a punch, and the front snap kick before I was 8 years old.
He enrolled me in a karate school for a year when I was about 9, but I got sick of it.
I took Middle School and HS wrestingly (2 years). At the same time I started TKD at our company health club. The TKD changed my whole life--then we moved to my teacher's commercial school when he started one (didn't last long).
Then I took Praying Mantis Kung Fu at a commecial school, along with a little Tai Chi. Didn't stick.
I took Aikido at a very nice commercial school, then at the Y, then in college at another Y-type place (gyms on the university campus).
After all that nonsense, I tried training by DVD (To-Shin Do). I asked my girlfriend's brother to help me train. He has 5 years experience in Vunak's RAT system. We still meet in the park, but we've dropped the To Shin Do, and focus on RAT, Fillipino stick fighting, and BJJ. At the same time, I did Western Boxing at my gym with an Olympic boxer (bronze 1988). Out of all of what I've mentioned, I enjoy working with my "brother in law" in the park the most. We can do whatever we want, when we want, as long and hard as we want. And it's out in the fresh Australian air--how do you beat that?!
I lift at a gym twice a week, and most recently go to BJJ twice a week and one MMA class all at Ground Zero Gracie JJ club in Melbourne. I love it! Very hot, sweaty, stinky, and macho. When I walk out of there, it's like my clothes have been soaked in water. I learn something every class, and the people, underneath the BS machisimo, are very encouraging and fun. I still manage to go to the park to work on RAT, but now it's only about once every 3 weeks, miss it! (Only so much time in a week for playing!)