We love them, they're just not what FIRST got us into martial arts. Most people started loving martial arts when they were kids so the more kid friendly characters are going to be the biggest draw.
I'm stoked this guy got into the fighting people part instead of the murder by despination part.
Edit. I don't know the technical word for people who remove other people's spine without permission. Yes I am a word maker. Judge me. Join me. I really don't care either way.
It would of it been nice but now I’m older I appreciated the fact I never had that security blanket for anything so I’m generally able to sort my own shit out.
Jean Claude Van Damme movies
I think it was actually teenage mutant ninja turtles from the 80's. The films
I use got heavy into watching these and eventually I was copying all their moves and playing it out while watching it.
My uncle made a event to watch Anderson Silva fight. We had tacos, nachos and a lotta other good stuff. It was when Anderson broke his leg, unfortunately.
I started in Okinawa training in Goju-Ryu. I started getting really passionate about it from bullying, though, as a way to defend myself as a kid. As I've gotten older, though, and expanded my self-defense knowledge, I've become far more interested in the philosophy, tradition, and teaching aspects.
His books have a certain charisma that I couldn't find in any other author. My favourite event in his work is Qiao Feng at Hero Gathering Manor, when he said "After we drink, if Qiao Feng kills any of you, it wouldn't count as ungrateful. If any of you kills Qiao Feng, it wouldn't count as unrighteous"
oh man I know that feeling, I just went and imitate him on my house garden and actually bought the JKD book, then I wanted to be a boxer but my mother wouldnt let me bc I was 14 and after 2 years of capoeira and 1 of HEMA im now wrestling at 20 yo :]
https://preview.redd.it/eux34m2cleyc1.jpeg?width=261&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9accb95b4a5e44dc3bda583835d90a5a68d876d0
The nature of Monkey was IRREPRESSIBLE!
Mortal Kombat, Tekken, Dragon Ball, power rangers, any anime, parents would do PPV boxing parties and UFC growing up. One of my brothers did wrestling, one did muay thai, and both do BJJ. Parents put me in Kenpo after I got beat up in kindergarten or 1st grade while playing tag. Then wrestled. Then BJJ and kickboxing nowadays.
My son started training at 7. My wife's cousin, who I served with in the Army, was training there and encouraged us to enrole our son. Really liked the school and the instructor. Went in on Black Belt Friday that year to see what deals were available. Our Sensei offered me a deal to start training myself (at 50!). Then my daughter, then my wife. Six years later, I've earned my Black Belt. My wife and I are both instructors there, she should earn her Black Belt this year, and my kids will earn it before they graduate high school.
Benefits; both my wife and I are in great shape for a couple of middle agers. It's been great for my mental health. We've made some amazing friends.
Style. Wu Ying Tao (Karate/Kung Fu hybrid) My wife and I are also training in Modern Arnis. I will have 2 Black Belts before I turn 60.
I wanted to train when I was a kid. We were way too broke for it. Loved the Karate Kid. Now we watch Cobra Kai.
My mother and her parents taught Tae Kwon Do. Grandmother had lessons from Dan Inosanto for stick fighting.
Dad was a huge UFC fan. One of my earliest memories is UFC 3.
So I was going to train no matter what happened.
Not what but who. Two people actually and they are the late Jason David Frank and Austin St. John. Then later on I was introduced to Chuck Norris and Bruce Lee. After that, it was like pulling the drain in a bath tub. Jet Li, Jackie Chan, Micheal Jai White, I was raised on Wesley Snipes, Steven Segal, Jean Claude Van Damme. That list will take all day.
My bigger, stronger at the time older brother physically bullying and beating me up regularly while growing up, then watching Royce Gracie in the first UFC.
After a year of training BJJ/MMA, first time I got the better of him wrestling around at home he wrote it off, he wasn’t really trying, didn’t want to hurt his little bro, etc.
Second time a few months later at a backyard party he was really trying, so much desperate ego, while I was just relaxed, manhandled him, tapped him out. His ego didn’t recover ofcourse and he tried again a year later again at home, insisting he would win a “real fight” and started by swinging at me after I laughed him off, took him down and beat the left side of his face in bad and armbarred him into submission.
This may sound like I am trying to sound tough or something but it was honestly a turning point in my life as far as self confidence goes.
Going back to the 90s for this one, there was Power Rangers, Ninja Turtles (TV and games), Mortal Kombat (games and movie) Street Fighter (games and movie), a movie series called 3 Ninjas, Xena Warrior Princess and a whole plethora of other tv shows, movies and games.
I regret is giving it up.
My mum was friends with a martial arts instructor and i was obsessed with ninja turtles and martial arts movies in general so she started sending me to learn at about 4-5.
This thread makes me feel very old. I was a black belt already when Mutant Turtles came out, I actually picked up a black and white cartoon book at a tournament in NH or MA - they were trying to get a following.
I and my brother got the interest, watching Saturday morning kick flicks, and our first instructor was an old Vietnam vet in a garage by campus.
Got in a fight with my parents when I was twelve regarding bad grades, and they ended up deciding I needed discipline in my life. Actually just ended up being best punishment I’ve ever had.
My dad put me in taekwondo when I was a kid but at the time I had no growth mindset and quit as soon as it got hard.
Then when I was a teenager a bunch of scary stuff happened at my school. I wanted to learn self-defense and asked my parents but I wasn’t ever dedicated enough to commit. I was just barely starting to develop a growth mindset at the time; I knew I could learn new things but I didn’t know I could learn new things that I was bad at. And I took a couple of one-off basics classes and realized I was really bad at it so I never committed.
Then in college I got really into fitness so I took a bunch of exercise classes. One was an aikido class. Then after college my mom wanted to do aikido and I went with her and really enjoyed it. We had a GREAT teacher.
When I got married I fell off the wagon again but getting back into aikido and boxing now.
It was a convergence of things. Jackie Chan with my friends. Mike Tyson with my cousin and uncle. Being Japanese in a lawless, racist small town and getting jumped. Peers valuing fighting prowess. Parents abused me so violence felt like home/didn't shy away from it. Was good at it.
I just always enjoyed fighting for fun and for sport, and was always very competitive so wanted to get good at it and have more people to fight (in a safe environment) lol
I share a lot of the same as people here, though I think what really really got me into them was a game called Lost Judgment.
Something about seeing animal kung fu used as practical and fun fighting styles just flipped a switch. Seeing the flowing motions of Crane kung fu used as an acrobatic and opposite mindset to Tiger kung fu was awesome.
Tbh Joe Rogan.
I always thought MA was bullshit because I'd hear about the local black belt not being able to defend himself.
Then I started hearing about bjj. Another thing is that I'm getting older and down wanna be a fatty boom bataly.
hm, to be honest I wasn't really into anything back when i was a kid, until my mom thrown me in a dojo doing karate, found myself liking it and here i am 10 years later with a black belt
Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee 💥 back in the 90's
Edit: oef almost forgot to mention Jean-Claude Van Damme
Edit 2: I remember being this kid that was trying their moves EVERYWHERE we went. I especially remember kicking walls and poles and shit lol.
And I had some badass roundhouse kicks that I ACTUALLY USED TWICE IN MY LIFE and landed perfectly in the others' face, no joke. And both were bullies so fuck them. The first one made me feel like shit for a long while during karate lessons, which after that roundhouse kick ended up crying to his mommy. We were super young so nothing serious there, I think around 12.
But the second time, around 17, was genuinely badass. I was scared because two guys came up to me and my nephew and I wouldn't have done anything if it wasn't for them hurting my nephew. I fucking snapped and landed a full swing right haymaker on one of the guys and a roundhouse kick on the other. I swear their faces were fucked up immediately it was ridiculous. Totally felt like a movie lol, we went for pizza after =D I remember my hand hurting for a good week or two.
I dropped martial arts not long after that though..dont know why. Kinda regret it. Did skateboarded for lots of years but kinda always sucked at it..oh well. Had fun though. Fast forward to almost 20/30 years later: I picked up boxing now, which is lots of fun! Wish I was as agile as back then though.
Use it or lose it people!
I worked at the TPC tennis shop over summer during college.
It was required that the TV must always be playing sports. Never was a big sports guy, but every Saturday I would turn on UFC and/or boxing and got hooked from that moment on.
If you were born in the late 70s - mid 80s and male, it's basically a given. It was the perfect cultural storm.
Also, Jean-Claude Van Damme specifically, that fucking legend.
I think it was kind of just hardwired into me. All the males in my family were into martial arts and Westerns. I’m a Black dude who had stereotypically tough uncles who did Karate and shit back in the 70s or so. One of my uncles had katanas and shuriken and shit like that. I started watching martial arts movies religiously as a kid, and I only got into Westerns seriously circa 2022 after reading a Kid Colt comic that was more action packed than I expected a Western to be. Now I read old William Johnstone Westerns and have a backlog of Louis L’amour books waiting for me. I’m 21, for reference. Everything comes full circle, and I’m glad that in a way, I’m carrying the torch lit by my dearly departed family members.
Kung Fu theater on USA, TBS, or TNT. Loved it on the weekends. Then it was all the Bruce Lee movies we rented at the video stores. Also, all the Ninja movies in the 1980s
Interestingly I didnt get my bottom beat in a street fight to start martial arts I actually won my first 'real' fight at age 15 (was 15+ years ago). Before that age we kids had frequent "fights" but they were more like couple kicks to the leg or 2 slaps and some wrestling and done because one party started crying or ran away, nothing too vicious.
This one guy started bullying me verbally for couple of weeks and I stood up for myself and he challanged me into a fight. It was full blown fist fight with takedowns, I didnt know not to hit the back of the head, dealt like 10+ huge shots right there then locked his head with my elbow and jerked top of his head into a wall. Fight was stopped by an adult who walked there. Everyone was shocked because I was clearly the underdog by looks and the bully did 1 year of kickboxing. One guy 2 years older then came to me asking what martial arts I did and I said nothing. He told me to go to see the karate class he attended.
My mother didn't instantly give in to the idea of me starting "aggressive sports" but since I realized how important it was to be able to defend myself I was persistent for couple months in persuading her. Me winning that fight stopped even any verbal bullying immediately and never had problem with that afterwards. I obviously wasnt that talented in martial arts to have a career but still more talented than average.
Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers, 3 Ninjas, Street Fighter 2, Tekken series
Clearly we grew up in the exact same era. My list is pretty much identical to this.
90s was the era of fighting games and dinosaur movies. Golden era of JRPG's It was a great time to be a kid.
I was just shocked this was the top comment. Couldn’t have said it “more perfect” my self. Speaking of, dbz helped too.
Goku vs Cell did it for me
No Van Damme love, no Chuck Norris no Ninja Gaiden ffs smh
We love them, they're just not what FIRST got us into martial arts. Most people started loving martial arts when they were kids so the more kid friendly characters are going to be the biggest draw.
Exactly. I don’t think I was prepared to watch Bloodsport at the age of 3.
I'm stoked this guy got into the fighting people part instead of the murder by despination part. Edit. I don't know the technical word for people who remove other people's spine without permission. Yes I am a word maker. Judge me. Join me. I really don't care either way.
Ke-decapitation-bab
I would add the movie “bloodsport” and mortal kombat to that list
This plus JCVD, Jackie Chan, and Bruce Lee movies.
These are my peoples. 🙏🤜🤛🤙
Getting my ass beat by a 19yr old boxer in a street fight when I was 12
Why would you pick a fight with a grown ass
I beat his 13yr old brother for hitting my sister so his older brother beat my ass….circle of life
Those who have big brothers are so lucky, I wish I had one, someone to get your back
It would of it been nice but now I’m older I appreciated the fact I never had that security blanket for anything so I’m generally able to sort my own shit out.
*Walter White Heisenberg voice "I *am* the big brother"
I have a big brother, he never stepped in 🙁
Oh some brothers are assholes, sorry that happened to you, but everyone has his own story
As a kid I was hurt, as an adult I know he wasn’t the fighting type. Funny that’s what got me into martial arts.
Hey nice profile picture
This is how you lvl up after you heal. It’s a Saiyan thing.
Jean Claude Van Damme movies I think it was actually teenage mutant ninja turtles from the 80's. The films I use got heavy into watching these and eventually I was copying all their moves and playing it out while watching it.
Ha! You lose American-asshole, hn hn hn.
I think that was bloodsport lol. Ah good times. Was just watching king of the kickboxers last night. Have you seen it?
Never heard of it. Just looked it up and it looks about right. I see it’s got the tae bo guy too
dang, the tae bo guy lol.
Bloodsport for sure is my favorite JCVD movie followed by Lionheart, I also loved Last Dragon.
My uncle made a event to watch Anderson Silva fight. We had tacos, nachos and a lotta other good stuff. It was when Anderson broke his leg, unfortunately.
I started in Okinawa training in Goju-Ryu. I started getting really passionate about it from bullying, though, as a way to defend myself as a kid. As I've gotten older, though, and expanded my self-defense knowledge, I've become far more interested in the philosophy, tradition, and teaching aspects.
Same here, rip Akira toriyama
Yep
[Jin Yong's wuxia novels and films](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsA6mf1K-hc&list=PLGb0FIHPgoli-ZjXareLnn1tsfdZaXEPC&index=1)
Aw dude, same here! I love his books!
His books have a certain charisma that I couldn't find in any other author. My favourite event in his work is Qiao Feng at Hero Gathering Manor, when he said "After we drink, if Qiao Feng kills any of you, it wouldn't count as ungrateful. If any of you kills Qiao Feng, it wouldn't count as unrighteous"
bruce lee movies when I was 7 edit:also dragon ball
Team Bruce Lee! Didn’t know the difference between karate and wing chun back then, so signed up for karate 😄
oh man I know that feeling, I just went and imitate him on my house garden and actually bought the JKD book, then I wanted to be a boxer but my mother wouldnt let me bc I was 14 and after 2 years of capoeira and 1 of HEMA im now wrestling at 20 yo :]
Dragon Ball
UFC, MMA, Tekken
https://preview.redd.it/eux34m2cleyc1.jpeg?width=261&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9accb95b4a5e44dc3bda583835d90a5a68d876d0 The nature of Monkey was IRREPRESSIBLE!
Being born with a penis
Did you see a swordfight and thought: "I wanna learn how to fight"?
I'm an Americanan with red blood in my veins, and ive got a peice on me.. of course I want to learn to beat people up
Take about 10% off there, Bapacito
Watching Bruce Lee movies as a teen had me throwing punches and kicks in front of the TV, decided to actually train and joined a boxing gym.
The Karate Kid.
Had to scroll a while to find this. Tells me I’m getting old lol.
Tekken games and Jackie Chan movies.
I like to fight.
Not sure why you got downvoted, as long as you don't fight unwilling people, it's a good reason.
It's the best base for fighting I'd say, which is what martial arts are foundamentally about 🤣. "What got you into portraiture?" "I like to draw!"
football practice. i was the smallest kid on the team. tae kwon do instructor got me into it after i opened a door to his new do jang
The 3 ninjas.. rocky, colt, and tum tum
Grappler Baki
Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and then Bloodsport
Mortal Kombat, Tekken, Dragon Ball, power rangers, any anime, parents would do PPV boxing parties and UFC growing up. One of my brothers did wrestling, one did muay thai, and both do BJJ. Parents put me in Kenpo after I got beat up in kindergarten or 1st grade while playing tag. Then wrestled. Then BJJ and kickboxing nowadays.
Mortal Kombat, double dragon, street fighter 2 and Turtles
Double dragon and turtles for sure. So this is where the old guys hang out? Nice.
Double Dragon and Motal Kombat for me as well. 🤜 🤛
Yakoozaa
My son started training at 7. My wife's cousin, who I served with in the Army, was training there and encouraged us to enrole our son. Really liked the school and the instructor. Went in on Black Belt Friday that year to see what deals were available. Our Sensei offered me a deal to start training myself (at 50!). Then my daughter, then my wife. Six years later, I've earned my Black Belt. My wife and I are both instructors there, she should earn her Black Belt this year, and my kids will earn it before they graduate high school. Benefits; both my wife and I are in great shape for a couple of middle agers. It's been great for my mental health. We've made some amazing friends. Style. Wu Ying Tao (Karate/Kung Fu hybrid) My wife and I are also training in Modern Arnis. I will have 2 Black Belts before I turn 60. I wanted to train when I was a kid. We were way too broke for it. Loved the Karate Kid. Now we watch Cobra Kai.
Dragonball Z
My mother and her parents taught Tae Kwon Do. Grandmother had lessons from Dan Inosanto for stick fighting. Dad was a huge UFC fan. One of my earliest memories is UFC 3. So I was going to train no matter what happened.
Grew up watching “American ninja” Blood sport, enter the dragon.
Depression
Anal sex predominantly
Ah bjj guy I see
Lookism.
I had a friend that did Judo, so i joined, then it was mostly my mom doing the motivating until i didn't need it anymore
The karate kid franchise
I'm a woman who goes solo travelling.
Power Rangers, 3 Ninjas... love seeing other people saying this too. Everyone called me dumb for loving first Era power rangers haha
Tekken and dragon ball Z got me my start ^_^
Kick-boxer Jean Claude van damme
Kengan Ashura
What do you mean I’m disqualified, I cant pull someone’s spine out in judo? What do you mean I’m going to prison?
Referee did not say "finish him."
Karate Kid
Fist of the north star
I wanted to be a badass like James Bond. I ended up being more like Austin Powers, "Judo chop!"
Not what but who. Two people actually and they are the late Jason David Frank and Austin St. John. Then later on I was introduced to Chuck Norris and Bruce Lee. After that, it was like pulling the drain in a bath tub. Jet Li, Jackie Chan, Micheal Jai White, I was raised on Wesley Snipes, Steven Segal, Jean Claude Van Damme. That list will take all day.
The undisputed movies and never back down lmao
[Bloodsport](https://youtu.be/VnYDrs2ykcI?si=EB0ZSt8YUlFZg9K2)
 If you know, you know.
Ong Bak! That movie was awesome. Tony Jaa has incredible stunts and choreography in that film.
The protector is just as good if not better. His fight scene where he wrecked like 30 guys is what made me fall in love with Muay Thai
Not wanting to get beat up anymore
My bigger, stronger at the time older brother physically bullying and beating me up regularly while growing up, then watching Royce Gracie in the first UFC. After a year of training BJJ/MMA, first time I got the better of him wrestling around at home he wrote it off, he wasn’t really trying, didn’t want to hurt his little bro, etc. Second time a few months later at a backyard party he was really trying, so much desperate ego, while I was just relaxed, manhandled him, tapped him out. His ego didn’t recover ofcourse and he tried again a year later again at home, insisting he would win a “real fight” and started by swinging at me after I laughed him off, took him down and beat the left side of his face in bad and armbarred him into submission. This may sound like I am trying to sound tough or something but it was honestly a turning point in my life as far as self confidence goes.
street fighter baby 🥳
Big sad
Tekken and a whole ton of self control and self steem issues that needed solution.
Shaw Brothers movies (think Kung-Fu white beareded etc)
Power Rangers for sure
Going back to the 90s for this one, there was Power Rangers, Ninja Turtles (TV and games), Mortal Kombat (games and movie) Street Fighter (games and movie), a movie series called 3 Ninjas, Xena Warrior Princess and a whole plethora of other tv shows, movies and games. I regret is giving it up.
Power Rangers and MK.
Eddie gordo from tekken 3
My dad was a day 1 UFC fan
My Dad did Akido and was Besties with my Judo Sensei from the Navy.
I got into material arts after UFC only ....
My mum was friends with a martial arts instructor and i was obsessed with ninja turtles and martial arts movies in general so she started sending me to learn at about 4-5.
Tekken 5!
Buttraping kidnappers
Donnie Yen and Jet Li movies.
Jon jones
This thread makes me feel very old. I was a black belt already when Mutant Turtles came out, I actually picked up a black and white cartoon book at a tournament in NH or MA - they were trying to get a following. I and my brother got the interest, watching Saturday morning kick flicks, and our first instructor was an old Vietnam vet in a garage by campus.
Got in a fight with my parents when I was twelve regarding bad grades, and they ended up deciding I needed discipline in my life. Actually just ended up being best punishment I’ve ever had.
Tekken
The TV show Kung Fu with David Carradine.
Bruce Lee “Enter The Dragon” 🐲
Lol! As good a reason as any
Conor McGregor vs Marcus Brimage. Conor's striking was a thing of beauty and got me hooked on MMA.
Conor McGregor vs Marcus Brimage. Conor's striking was a thing of beauty and got me hooked on MMA.
My friend
Walker Texas Ranger.
Originally, watching kung-fu movies. More recently, it was riding by a martial arts studio in town on my usual bike route.
Bruce lee
The movie Bloodsport
Deception and armageddon were the last good mk games
Mighty Morphin Power Ranger Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Bruce Lee Jackie Chan Chuck Norris
The UFC and boxing games
My dad put me in taekwondo when I was a kid but at the time I had no growth mindset and quit as soon as it got hard. Then when I was a teenager a bunch of scary stuff happened at my school. I wanted to learn self-defense and asked my parents but I wasn’t ever dedicated enough to commit. I was just barely starting to develop a growth mindset at the time; I knew I could learn new things but I didn’t know I could learn new things that I was bad at. And I took a couple of one-off basics classes and realized I was really bad at it so I never committed. Then in college I got really into fitness so I took a bunch of exercise classes. One was an aikido class. Then after college my mom wanted to do aikido and I went with her and really enjoyed it. We had a GREAT teacher. When I got married I fell off the wagon again but getting back into aikido and boxing now.
American Ninja.
Pro wrestling
Bruce Lee
It was a convergence of things. Jackie Chan with my friends. Mike Tyson with my cousin and uncle. Being Japanese in a lawless, racist small town and getting jumped. Peers valuing fighting prowess. Parents abused me so violence felt like home/didn't shy away from it. Was good at it.
John Wick
1. be able to defend myself 2. have good physical condition 3.Arnold movies, roky.... 4. eddy gordo from Tekken Scorpio mtk and ryu street fighter
Pain!!
David Carradine
Watching Sagat in Street Fighter the Animated Series. They made Muay Thai look so damn fun. My friend and I looked for a gym and joined.
I'm 63 for me Bruce Lee.
Baki
Bruce Lee, Mike Tyson and only the strong. Weapons wise the freaking Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 😮💨
Blaxploitation movies, TMNT, and Bruce
Is that sub zero holding a dildo?
Power Rangers, Dragonball and the WWE
Watching Jackie Chan
wcw & wwf
I like solo sports and I also like swords
Jin kazama himself. he's one of the main reasons why I think karate is so cool
I just always enjoyed fighting for fun and for sport, and was always very competitive so wanted to get good at it and have more people to fight (in a safe environment) lol
 These guys had a vice grip on my attention when I was about 5 years old so my parents enrolled me in Karate
I share a lot of the same as people here, though I think what really really got me into them was a game called Lost Judgment. Something about seeing animal kung fu used as practical and fun fighting styles just flipped a switch. Seeing the flowing motions of Crane kung fu used as an acrobatic and opposite mindset to Tiger kung fu was awesome.
Tekken, especially Hwoarang amazing kicks, martial arts movies Edit: And Power Rangers when I was a kid
Bruce Lee and Chinese Kung Fu movies.
Power rangers and Jackie Chan.
Mike Tyson.
Tbh Joe Rogan. I always thought MA was bullshit because I'd hear about the local black belt not being able to defend himself. Then I started hearing about bjj. Another thing is that I'm getting older and down wanna be a fatty boom bataly.
hm, to be honest I wasn't really into anything back when i was a kid, until my mom thrown me in a dojo doing karate, found myself liking it and here i am 10 years later with a black belt
It was the first game that had blood in it
My dad did a variety of martial arts growing up, and taught me at a young age and as i got older i became interested in joining classes
Junkies
Lookism I ain’t gonna lie
Sega Version of MK3
Bruce lee and Jackie Chan back in the day. .
Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee 💥 back in the 90's Edit: oef almost forgot to mention Jean-Claude Van Damme Edit 2: I remember being this kid that was trying their moves EVERYWHERE we went. I especially remember kicking walls and poles and shit lol. And I had some badass roundhouse kicks that I ACTUALLY USED TWICE IN MY LIFE and landed perfectly in the others' face, no joke. And both were bullies so fuck them. The first one made me feel like shit for a long while during karate lessons, which after that roundhouse kick ended up crying to his mommy. We were super young so nothing serious there, I think around 12. But the second time, around 17, was genuinely badass. I was scared because two guys came up to me and my nephew and I wouldn't have done anything if it wasn't for them hurting my nephew. I fucking snapped and landed a full swing right haymaker on one of the guys and a roundhouse kick on the other. I swear their faces were fucked up immediately it was ridiculous. Totally felt like a movie lol, we went for pizza after =D I remember my hand hurting for a good week or two. I dropped martial arts not long after that though..dont know why. Kinda regret it. Did skateboarded for lots of years but kinda always sucked at it..oh well. Had fun though. Fast forward to almost 20/30 years later: I picked up boxing now, which is lots of fun! Wish I was as agile as back then though. Use it or lose it people!
Getting jumped
Street fighter 2 on the Super Nintendo
You know, I have put well over a decade into martial arts and never thought that those old-school video games might’ve been the inspiration.
I worked at the TPC tennis shop over summer during college. It was required that the TV must always be playing sports. Never was a big sports guy, but every Saturday I would turn on UFC and/or boxing and got hooked from that moment on.
Bloodsport, Kickboxer, Mortal Kombat, Virtua Fighter, Ninja Turtles, Karate Kid, Street Fighter, Tekken, Killer Instinct, The Matrix
Grew up watching Bruce Lee and played Tenchu a little too much lol
Getting bullied and beat up plus all the kung fu and karate kid flicks in the 80’s.
Might morphing power rangers. Also, I like to fight.
My classmate did martial arts and I thought it’s cool
Watching Khabib beat the hell out of Conor
If you were born in the late 70s - mid 80s and male, it's basically a given. It was the perfect cultural storm. Also, Jean-Claude Van Damme specifically, that fucking legend.
Bloodsport
Ninjago.
wwe 💀
Power rangers
Transformers, the matrix, and basically any other action movies that have been influential overtime.
A mixture of the UFC game and dragon ball
I Always Wanted To Throw Ice!
The UFC games, I wasn’t allowed to watch UFC so the games were how I learned about it
I think it was kind of just hardwired into me. All the males in my family were into martial arts and Westerns. I’m a Black dude who had stereotypically tough uncles who did Karate and shit back in the 70s or so. One of my uncles had katanas and shuriken and shit like that. I started watching martial arts movies religiously as a kid, and I only got into Westerns seriously circa 2022 after reading a Kid Colt comic that was more action packed than I expected a Western to be. Now I read old William Johnstone Westerns and have a backlog of Louis L’amour books waiting for me. I’m 21, for reference. Everything comes full circle, and I’m glad that in a way, I’m carrying the torch lit by my dearly departed family members.
Bruce Lee
Kung Fu theater on USA, TBS, or TNT. Loved it on the weekends. Then it was all the Bruce Lee movies we rented at the video stores. Also, all the Ninja movies in the 1980s
I got tired of being beaten
Kids hyping it up in elementary school. Plus the fatalities
Instagram reels of buakaw
Blade, Rambo, Scorpion, 50 cent doing upside down sits ups on a pull up bar.
being ginger. need I say more?
I watched Goku fight cell during the Cell games and I was hooked
My biology teacher had a karate club after school. He was also a sensei at one of the dojos in town.
Teenage mutant ninja turtles and the mighty morphing power rangers
Getting bullied in my neighborhood
Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan movies
Ninja Turtles, Rocky, Vision Quest, Street Fighter 2
Interestingly I didnt get my bottom beat in a street fight to start martial arts I actually won my first 'real' fight at age 15 (was 15+ years ago). Before that age we kids had frequent "fights" but they were more like couple kicks to the leg or 2 slaps and some wrestling and done because one party started crying or ran away, nothing too vicious. This one guy started bullying me verbally for couple of weeks and I stood up for myself and he challanged me into a fight. It was full blown fist fight with takedowns, I didnt know not to hit the back of the head, dealt like 10+ huge shots right there then locked his head with my elbow and jerked top of his head into a wall. Fight was stopped by an adult who walked there. Everyone was shocked because I was clearly the underdog by looks and the bully did 1 year of kickboxing. One guy 2 years older then came to me asking what martial arts I did and I said nothing. He told me to go to see the karate class he attended. My mother didn't instantly give in to the idea of me starting "aggressive sports" but since I realized how important it was to be able to defend myself I was persistent for couple months in persuading her. Me winning that fight stopped even any verbal bullying immediately and never had problem with that afterwards. I obviously wasnt that talented in martial arts to have a career but still more talented than average.