How I Started Martial Arts

I’m going to tell you the story about how I got into the martial arts. Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. Put the kettle on etc.

I was 19 or 20. I’d done bits and pieces as a younger guy. Boxing, I think I did a week of Judo, and I actually went to a Taekwondo class or 5, but it didn’t take.

But I was strong and fit from lifting weights and taking care of myself and boxing a little in college, and I wanted a challenge. I was going to box but I couldn’t find the right place. Then I thought about playing football again but I wasn't all that keen. And then my friend Fiddler (don’t ask) had started training Taekwondo again after a break, and he was a black belt already. He wanted me to come train with him.

But I didn’t fancy it. Pyjama dancing, that’s what I called it. Nope. He and I would hit my punchbag and lift some weights in my garage. He showed me some kicks, and I got more curious, but more importantly, HE WOULDN’T SHUT UP ABOUT TAEKWONDO.

He was relentless. I was belligerent. But eventually, I tried a session.

And it was, okay. I know lots of people say things like "I was hooked from the very first session", but I've never experienced that. I liked it a bit, but not so much to go back regularly. So I rocked up now and then, did a bit, then might not go back the next week.

But of course, every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, Fiddler was in my ear asking me to go. Relentless pressure. It got so that I would just show up to shut him up. But I wasn’t sold. Not yet.

One evening, I went, but decided I’d hit the weights instead of training. So while the Taekwondo club were mustering up in the sports hall, I was warming up on the running track that was on a balcony above it, getting ready to lift. Fiddler and me were exchanging one fingered salutes as he tried to "encourage" me to train.

Then in walked a stunningly beautiful girl to train in his class. And I had a massive change of heart and immediately stopped running and ran down the stairs to enthusiastically train Taekwondo (in as close proximity to that girl as possible without being creepy) and I didn’t stop until I got a 2^nd degree black belt and moved on to Jiu Jitsu.

A significant aside- I am married to that girl.

That’s another story. This story is about my relentlessly enthusiastic mate. Without his pestering, I would never have started on the road to where I am today. It would never have occurred to me to get into that “Pyjama Dancing”. He just wouldn’t let up. He was the best advertisement for the martial arts lifestyle that there ever has been. And once I started to train regularly, I fell in love with it.

A guy who wouldn’t shut the f*ck up about Taekwondo, and wanted to spread it around to anyone who’d listen. That's why I train martial arts.

You might be that guy, or girl for someone. Drag them along. Kicking and screaming if necessary.

I cannot, I repeat, I cannot guarantee that they will meet your future husband/wife here. I think that one was more or less a freak occurrence.

But you might change a life!

See you on the mat!

Barry

*Fiddler is in fact James Farrell who runs the Airport Taekwondo school. Going since the 1990s. You’ll find him here https://www.instagram.com/dublinairporttkd/ He’s still relentless, and spreads the martial arts in a unique way through his work with the elderly as well as coaching kids and adults.