“We martial arts addicts are a strange bunch, I’ll be the first to admit that.From an outsiders perspective, we train over and over how to beat someone up or respond to a violent situation. Of course to us ‘insiders’, our training is much more than that. We are training our bodies and forging our spirits. We are concerned not so much with winning or losing but about learning and deepening our understanding of the arts that have been passed down for decades and in some cases centuries.
It was thinking along these lines that got me wondering. What motivates some of the long term practitioners and instructors to keep training day after day, year after year?
I put this question out there to 4 people that I admire and respect: Ellis Amdur, George Ledyard, Joe Thambu and Seishiro Endo. Here are their replies:”
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This article, titled “Morihei Ueshiba and Sokaku Takeda,” has been selected from the 
“Last week, I went to a workshop on engaging area youth. It was sponsored by a local agency that hosts after-school programs all over the school district. The facilitator was awesome – excellent ideas, very engaging and energetic – but sadly, the group he was there to engage – youth workers and teachers who work the after-school homework and activity programs – was none of that. Some of the folks there boasted of many years of actual classroom teaching experience, but used the same breath to detail how horrible this kid or that kid was in their program. Too many of the attendees sat with their arms folded across their chests and ‘I’ve tried that and it didn’t work!’ scowls across their brows. Their lethargy was hard to watch.”
“I have been studying martial arts for nearly two years now, practicing for the most time sanda, which is chinese kickboxing. I really love the martial arts world and I really think studying a martial art is one of the most rewarding thing in life.
“Are you aware that you’re eight times more likely to be involved in a home invasion attack than you are to be involved in a house fire? When intruders enter you house forcefully, whether for the thrill of it or to rob you and take your family hostage, this is considered to be a home invasion. Don’t make the mistake of thinking home invasions only take place in high crime areas. There are stories of home invasions taking place in suburbs and rural areas. These attacks are more common than most people think. Now is the time to plan a home defense strategy that will keep you and your family safe if you’re ever faced with a violent home invasion attack.”
“One of aikido’s top instructors, and the son of Morihiro Saito Shihan, will come to Florida, USA on March 12-13, to conduct a must-attend seminar packed with essential information to enhance your understanding of the art. Hitohiro Saito Sensei is a superb teacher, equally skilled at taijutsu and the Aiki Ken and Jo. Attend this seminar and energize your commitment to aikido! – Stanley Pranin”
The article below concerning the late Morihiro Saito, 9th dan, has been selected from the 
“Every problem presents us with an OPPORTUNITY to come up with, or develop, a solution. Every Time we ‘tap’ on the mat, we have an OPPORTUNITY to ask ourselves how it happened and to come up with preventative measures. Every time we experience negative feelings we have an OPPORTUNITY to test out ways of thinking that might steer us toward feeling better about ourselves or our situation.”
The biographical article below on Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba has been selected from the