What is your PRIMARY reason for training (clarifications of choices in first post)

[Matt Bernius]

To be a competitive sport fighterTo be a non-competitive sport fighterTo be a non-competitive fighterTo be a weapon based fighterSelf Protection/Self DefenseFitness/HealthCultural/Historical reasonsFun/ComraderyOther

[Jerry_Sizzler]

i suppose i can touch on all of those reasons to some extent, but my primary reason, if by process of elimination, is to be a competitive sport fighter (i train in judo exclusively, and compete when healthy). i have no real goals as far as competition goes--i'm not trying to win any specific tournament/title.

i believe there is self defense application, but i know nothing about striking and do not supplement my training accordingly.

it keeps me in great shape (minus broken bones and torn ligaments) and i love the camaraderie.

blah blah blah

[UpaLumpa]

I don't give a crap about 'sd'. I grapple because it is fun and I compete because that's part of the package, fun and the best way to improve.

[MEGA JESUS-SAMA]

Competitive sport (shooter). I have an archery competition this Friday and Saturday. And one planned for February. And then the outdoor season starts.

[Matt Bernius]

Thanks for the feedback, I appended the description for competition to indicate that this includes competing to compete (namely get better) without having the intention of being top of field.

MJS,

CRAP! I was originally going to have a "competative weapons" category and then dropped it with the 10 question limit. I figured it was cool since there wasn't a huge weapons comp scene (showing my FMA bias). Thanks for proving me wrong.

- Matt

[Gezere]

Primary is definitely Self Defense but I touch on other areas as well. Sport fighting is fun but I see it as a training tool. Helio made a statement recently that I do agree with.

Competitions should be a means for you to polish your self-defense skills in a safe enviorment.

This had been a topic of discussing at my gym. It started when I said I don't get into alot of the gimick gaurd variatons because I wouldn't use them. I don't see ever using X guard in a fight so I don't spend alot of time working on it.

[Teh El Macho]

I chose non-competitive sports fighting. My work precludes me from making the time to compete and stuff now or in the near future. I'm very competitive in nature, a testosterone driven perfectionist (which sometimes makes me an ass...) The allure of competing is great, but I need to be pragmatic if I keep my job and pay my bills. LOL.

There are also historical reasons. I did judo when I was a kid, but had to stop due to asthma... and I always wanted to go back :)

I don't do it for self-defense since I think I know enough to defend myself from most situations... plus I always do my best to avoid stupid situations. That doesn't mean, however, that I haven't learned anything useful.

Last but not least, I don't do it for fitness reasons, though I have to acknowledge the warmups at my BJJ class are more explosive than anything I've done so far.

*** edited

think I know enough to defend myself from most situations

or so I f*ing hope :icon_thum

[Matt Bernius]

Great responses, thanks for taking the time to clarify your answers!

- Matt

[Moleculo]

I train because I have a deep abiding love of expressing myself through combat arts.

Pretty straightforward, really.

[Aesopian]

Gimmicks. Irony. Hilarity.

[JKDChick]

I kinda have to. I get sick and all my old injuries start up when I'm not training. I'm an addict; I call my instructor my "dealer".

[Tom Kagan]

I kinda have to. I get sick and all my old injuries start up when I'm not training. I'm an addict; I call my instructor my "dealer".

LOL. When people ask me why I do such things to myself, I've always said my reason was "Habit."

My teacher used to say MA was a stronger drug than crack.

[Teh El Macho]

I kinda have to. I get sick and all my old injuries start up when I'm not training. I'm an addict; I call my instructor my "dealer".

Yeah, something like that happens to me if I don't train or work out. I get cramps on my legs, feel restless and can't sleep well unless I work out... I wonder if that's normal :icon_tong

[PirateJon]

can't pick.

I want to beat on people, I want to get in shape while beating on people, I want to beat on people with more skill, I enjoy hanging out with others that like to beat on people, and one day I'd like to enter a full-on MMA comp to beat on people.

Also I wanted to see how much punishment I could take.

[JKDChick]

The ego boost of making people tap in tournaments = also a factor. ANd I like being able to defend myself. And I have a Red Sonja complex, so I need to be a good fighter, to ensure that my eventual mate will make strong, warrior babies.