Martial Arts – Hrishikesh Iyer, 3rd grade
Hello, I train in martial arts. Martial arts is the art of self-defense or how to protect yourself with weapons and bare hands and legs, not to become a fighter. I have been training in the Zendoshiki martial arts club for the last one year. Zendoshiki means mixed system. Zen means meditation, concentration. We train different styles of martial arts like Taekwondo, Kungfu, Jujitsu, Escrima (Philippines style of fighting with sticks) and Kickboxing.
My teacher’s name is Jama Johnson. He is the founder of the Zendoshiki Martial Arts Club. We call him Sensei, which means teacher. Sensei Jama has been training and teaching martial arts for over twenty-five years. He holds three black belts, a 2nd degree in jujitsu, 2nd Dan in Taekwondo and black belt in kenpo karate. He was born in Jamaica and likes children, building things and chess. He likes spicy foods and wants to learn about new cultures. I like and respect my Sensei a lot.
Power is an important in martial arts. The order of things to be learned to get ‘power’ is to learn discipline, techniques, timing, accuracy and speed. Timing is important because if you are not in correct time, you can get hit. If you are not accurate, and don’t hit the right place and also if you don’t hit with the right part of your body, you can get hurt. You need Speed to do things fast before the opponent gets you down. Power = timing + accuracy +speed. ‘Ki’ means inner strength and is located deep within you and you have to learn to bring it out to master this art.
Some of the things you learn by training in martial arts are self-discipline, inner strength, perseverance, self-confidence, self-control and self-defense. You are showing self-discipline when you get your homework done before you play with your friends.
There are two kinds of strength; one is when you can carry the whole week’s groceries in for your mom. The second one is when you are strong on the inside, like when you tell your friends, ‘NO’ when they ask you to smoke a cigarette. Perseverance means to stick to your math problem until you figure it out. Not showing perseverance is quitting something you don’t succeed the first time. Self-confidence is you know what you are doing for sure. Self-control is when you control and focus on your goal. Self-defense is to protect yourself and your family and your country.
I love to train in Martial arts because I know it will help me to be a good citizen.