That's awesome, Dayna. I agree, and I have to say that one of the things that inspired me most in martial arts was getting an early exposure to some of the great competitors out there. I went to a couple of tournaments to watch and I was like, "wow", I really want to be like that. Once I experienced all the various facets of training for my black belt, I realized that each and every part of the journey was amazing. Everything from sparring to self-defense to competition training was incredible to me. Martial arts is my life, and I can't imagine life without it. If I can influence one kid to push themselves to do things that they thought they could never do then that would be great. I still look at my role models like Kalman Csoka, Matt Emig, and Marc Canonizado and they inspire me to push myself harder.

I started the Martial Arts when I was four, because my parents wanted me to be able to defend myself. Right after the first class I took I was hooked. I wanted to just live at the school, I wud go as much as could. My first tournament was when I was a white belt. At the tournament I saw Jeff Spridco, and Nicole Hepermill competing with all of the flips and kicks. I wanted to be just like them! After I got my black belt I started competing full time on the Naska curcuit, this is when I found my true drive and dedication to the sport! I started training even more and harder so I could reach my dreams of becoming a great marital artist! I had many influences when I was younger and still have today such as Jenny Espina, Matt Emig, Jessica Mellon, ALL of the Sideswipe members, and even my friends on the curcuit today inspire me to do new things, and be better. These are the people who help me push, and drive to be a better martial artist! :)

I got was interested in martial arts at a young age. I loved to watch teenage muntant ninja turtles. I would always mimic the moves they did. I always asked my parents if they would sign me up for martial arts classes and they always said we will look into it. So at the age of 9 I started taekwondo. 3 years later I am a first degree black belt. After that I went to alot of tournaments and worked harder than before. I started taking it serously and now I work out 4 hours a day not including class time. Now a year later I am a 2nd degree black belt and training really hard! I love the martial arts!

Taylor D

2nd degree black belt

I was always interested in the martial arts, I later found out that a family member of mine had a dojo of his own and I began training with him at the age of thirteen. I've been there ever since. For me it was a way of being comfortable around new people and being able to feel comfortable doing something I was good at. It gave me a way to come out and really be myself around people.

Jackie chan was my influence! about 5 years ago his movie the medallion influenced me to start!

To be honest, I was always kinda big as a child and was always picked on about it... At around the time I was 5 my grandpa started me off on learning boxing and some stuff he did while he was in Okinawa. When I started 6th grade I went to my first official class, and was very tired by the end of the night 2 hours later... I could barely do 50 punches without a break. 6years or so later... I have a conditional black belt at my original school then a 2nd degree black belt at another school, now when the master says lets go into our horse stance and do 200 punches... I think is that all? When we start doing our kicks and he says lets start then 5 hours later we are done... And I'm standing there... wanting to do more. I originally started because I just wanted to lose some weight... now I continue learning as much as I can through videos and such. Now I continue just to learn more because its so much different from everyone else's habbits, it just makes me smile when people make fun of what I do until they grab my wrist and ask what I do... Oh the things you learn from white belt to black... So the next thing you know, they want to learn from you... So starting from just wanting to do something has turned out to be my life... If I hadn't taken my first class, I couldn't imagine what I would do...

At 9 with my lack of talent and coordination in baseball and soccer I decided to start karate as a physical activity due to a class mate of mine. However I really enjoined it and was hooked. I quickly soared through the ranks and achieved my black belt. By this time I had realized that martial arts was no longer an activity, sport, or hobby for me. it had become a way of life for me. I learn teachings from my instructors, fellow martial artist's and masters from the past and present. I learn and develop mentally and physically with each passing day. training both. This keeps striving on a path to improve my self to be the best I can. Now at 17 and assistant instructor at my studio I know I am on a path that will take me through my entire life. To the grave i know I will be a life long martial artist.

I started martial arts when I was 4 years -old because I want to learn how to fight. When I was young I've been watching whole bunch of martial art videos im been playing whole bunch of fighting games to when was young. I been doing martial arts for my whole life. I just love martial arts I been training every day and I exercise too. Martial Arts is my favorite!!!

I've always been influenced by watching power rangers, teenage mutant ninja turtles, jackie chan, etc. when I was young. I would always ask my parents, but they thought it would be too dangerous for me and I would get hurt. I asked a few years later, and they finally let me do martial arts! Started when I was 12, now I'm 17 going on 18 this Friday and I'm an assisstant instructor at my martial arts school. Martial arts has definitely changed my life physically and mentally, and I don't know what I'd do without it!! I wish I started earlier, and I plan to keep on training after I graduate high school and go off to college. I also would like to start learning how to start tricking after watching a lot of tricking videos online and one of my cousins influenced me.

I used to sit around all day and watch things on utube about it got inspired again n went 4 it. My old years of taekwondo also helped.