What do you train in? Currently - Muay Thai
Previously - Boxing, Kickboxing, Kung Fu, Haidong Gumdo, Kendo

When did you start? on and off since high school. Just restarted a club membership last week.
Who inspires you? My Cousin - Shes a Karate Black belt
Biggest accomplishment/ proudest moment so far? Just being able to last through the 2 hour brutal workouts!!

What do you train in? Aikido

When did you start? 1982

Who inspires you? So many different people, but mostly those who just keep keeping on

Biggest accomplishment? Probably getting back on the mat after tearing my ACLU in 1996 or so

I have been out (just practicing off and on) for close to two years with a nagging hip injury which is a real problem in aikido. It is starting to get better with the help of chiropractic work and a lift in one shoe. Going to start again as soon as I can find a mat shoe that will take the lift and give some support.

I train in American Karate
I started in August of 2010
My boyfriend (who is my main instructor/trainer and has been im martial arts since he was 4)
Biggest accomplishment definitely was testing for my black belt in March, it gets tied on in 2 weeks at our ceremony :happy:

HI!
I train in Okinawan Karate, Shorin-Ryu Shorin-Kan along with my husband. I have been at it two years and have a green belt with brown stripe. I currently try to attend 4 nights per week. It is not that close to where I live. I also dabble in weapons, but I am currently not trying to get a belt in that. So far I have not been interested in competing at meets.
I started in May, 2010.
What inspires me varies. I have my ups and downs. But my husband and I are trying to stay at the same level as each other. So that keeps me going so I do not hold him back. (But at least I could fence his butt! Ah, paybacks...)
Biggest accomplishment? Actually starting this while being over weight and doing alright at it - woohoo! I can finally get my top half and bottom half to cooperate! I used to fence when I was skinny. Now I am so self conscious of what I could physically do then and what I feel I can do now. I am also thrilled to be able to spar the guys without doing too bad. Fun! Just gotta get those kicks up!

I now have a lot of muscle under my padding! I would love to "meet" others who are also challenging themselves to martial arts and dealing with weight loss, or lack of.

Anyone else in karate hate how the gi our rears?

If you are a lady who trains either for fitness, competition or pleasure, tell us a bit about yourself.

What do you train in? Boxing
When did you start? 16 months ago
Who inspires you? Being told I couldn't do it because I'm female
Biggest accomplishment/ proudest moment so far? The fact I have lost a lot of weight and I have real stamina and strength. Also I can look after myself if any one tried anything crazy

Hi all, I'm a newbee - great to see there is a martial arts group.

What do you train in?
ITF taekwondo - green belt

When did you start?
1.5 years ago when I turned 40. Probably a response to mid life crisis but a more affordable alternative to buying a red porche

Who inspires you?
My friend Sue who is about 5 years older than me, 2 grades higher and about 20 pounds lighter. Also little people who can spar people with longer arms and legs than them by having the nerve to get really close.

Biggest accomplishment/ proudest moment so far?
Just sparring without running away at the moment - oh and being able to do 20 pressups without collapsing

my proudest moment changed, lol won my first fight round 1, 18 sec tko... I got another fight next weekend wish me luck and more importantly that i make weight

- Aikido
- October 2006
- One of the ladies who's in her 70s and still trains several times a week
- I can't really say a 'proudest moment/biggest accomplishment' as improvement's been pretty gradual -- but I look at me now and me then and it makes me very happy.

What do you train in? taekwondo (but our association seems to be moving toward incorporating "best practices" from other styles)

When did you start? A bit over three years ago

Who inspires you? The instructors at my school! They are a husband-and-wife team and amazing people!

Biggest accomplishment/ proudest moment so far? Earning my (provisional) black belt and watching my kids' progress in the sport.

What do you train in? Brazillian Jiu Jitsu, Tang Soo Do
When did you start? 8/2011 BJJ two stripe white belt, TSD orange- testing for orange advanced Saturday
Who inspires you? My female instructor, and the 6 wonderful females we have at the school. BJJ is a manly man sport that not many women do, but we are totally blessed to have any at all females to train with. Some come more than others, but I always have at least one solid training partner. We all push each other. And I have a silent competition going on with my friend who joined with me. I like beating her
Biggest accomplishment/ proudest moment so far? Proudest moment is when my fiancee's friends find out what I do, and they are just struck with awe. I also felt accomplished when running with two male friends one day: we were stretching before hand, and one was blown away by the fact that my head touches my knees when I stretch. He couldn't even touch his toes! I got to proudly tell him that it took months and months for me to get stretchy, but I worked hard at it!