I started Karate a a young age (12yrs) and that changed my life completely in a very positive way and eventually led me to Kendo and then Iai. I think practising the martial arts does show you how weak and vulnerable you actually are-especially when boxers come to your club and wipe the floor with the highest Dan grades in free sparring! You realise how hard it is to actually overcome someone who is resisting you rather than 'playing along'. You realise how even the hardest punch won't necessarily floor anyone unless you're very lucky! On the positive side though, you also realise that these things aren't important, but its the 'right practise' that is important, you become a calmer person, more reasoned, tolerant and compassionate. Learning the Japanese martial arts introduces you to other arts such as haiku, Japanese art and architecture, Zen, tea, theatre, calligraphy et al. which one grows to appreciate and love. The Japanese fighting arts have had a profound and overwhelmingly positive effect upon my life and not in an obvious way. I can't imagine a Japanese person learning boxing and that leading to getting tuned into Shakespeare or Tennyson-perhaps it does! I thank the day back in 1981 when I saw Karate classes advertised in a local recreation centre and the day I started, Sunday 18th May. I still celebrate this day...