Self empowerment through self defense

[Mike T]

Hi,

This is Mike from the Cape and I have been reading the site for week and this is my first post.

I want to thank everyone for being forthright about their convictions and beliefs and I'm compelled to tell you a story about me over the several months.

I'm 45, I was a go-getter out of college. I landed my first job on wall street (well it was actually more like a boiler room, but what did I know?) Getting up for minimum wage only to make 100 to 150 cold calls a day. After about 2 years of that and no money, by boss never endorsed me for the series 7 exam, I was lucky enough to connect through my first wife, yes I said first, to someone who would employ me and sponsor me.

My 20's were a blurr, job, house, divorce and BAM, I'm in my 30's. Consequently I gained weight, was completely miserable and on the verge of a second divorce.

Well you all know, the last few years haven't been great for the financial industry. In fact, I was laid off with a pretty good severance thanks to the 90's.

So there I was out of work, not knowing what to do. I knew physically I was in bad shape, but who has time when you need to find a job?

I don't know what possessed me, maybe it was because I was feeling vulnerable. Maybe I was tired of feeling like I was powerless and out of control.

I enrolled in a train at home self defense program. Now I know what you're thinking...SO. Well, I did it without any expectations. I got the first month and it sat for a week until I finally opened it and watched it and thought, I could do that. So I got one of those training dummies and set up a little spot in my condo.

It was seriously aggression therapy. I got to hit something and literally focus all of my negative energy on to that dummy. After 30 minutes I was spent. Dripping sweat and exhausted.

Let me tell you, that one physical act started a series of "comebacks" in my life. I am now managing a moving company. Hey, it's not wall street, but it pays the bills. I still train in the program.

YES, there have been times I fell down along the way, but my knew found faith in myself enabled my new found faith in God. I never thought something violent would lead to peace.

I guess that's just it. When I work out, I focus on what has gone wrong in my life. The pain I have caused and I have felt. I let it pour out of me all over that poor, poor training dummy.

I don't know how, I don't know why...I don't care. Doing that train at home program was the small tipping point I needed to get me back on track.

Mike T

[SilverWolf]

Thats beautiful. Im happy for you Mike. I find martial arts great therapy/ager management too. The way I see it is if you store up alot of negative energy like anger its going to come out on someone else one day and then that person will probably pass that negative energy to someone else. It kind of like a chain reaction and if you take out all that negativity on a punch bag, then it breaks the chain in a way.

Things got even better when my coach started practicing meditation straight after the workouts. I recomend that you try it my friend.

[Mike T]

I have a friend in TM, I should start looking into it... a little yang to my yin so to speak. Do you have any suggested reading on the subjext?

BTW,
In the mean time check out Martial Arts Training, Self Defense Training, Mixed Martial Arts.

The head of the company is Damian Ross (he's also the head instructor). Really nice group of guys despite the rough and tumble edge. They have a forum and several connected resources.

[SilverWolf]

haha ok man. This website should be useful to you
Meditation, Home, what is meditation, types of meditation, meditation and alternative medicine, meditation as a complementary medicine, integrative medicine, mind-body medicine, holisticonline.com
peace

[Mike T]

Thanks I'm on my way...

[timothydrake]

Congratulations MikeT! I also have done something similar to what you have done, although I have been in martial arts for about 15 yrs now.

Working out in any fashion be it at Lifetime fitness, martial arts, or yoga. It is a physical activity that trains your body to be fit, strong, and not get accustomed to lying around doing nothing. When I was young I was an active guy who had a tight body with all the features women like, I was really cut, had a spectacular 6 pack, and rock solid booty. Some of it was a contribution of martial arts but most of it stemmed from just getting out of the house and doing things outside.

When I got married my parents passed away 1 yr after and my family fell apart. It was very very tough to handle at 18 yrs old but after a while I became the wiser and let the past go. During that time (about 10 yrs) I grew fat and lazy because of what happened. Just recently in the beginning of this year I took my bro-in law to Ballys and got a membership and now we go at least 4 times a week. My bro-in law recently got divorced so I figured it be good for him to do something rather than mope around.

Now I am getting my body back and better. I have my old energy back, and am stronger than I ever was. I run 5 miles, do 100 pushups in 2 mins, and 100 situps. I can run the 2 mile in under 13 mins now. I no longer sit around the house anymore and am always doing something because I have this abundant amount of energy from working out.

[joelr]

Not that a home training system is bad but I think this is spam. You did say being forthright about convictions and beliefs is a good thing!

M Arts are a great hobby at any rate I've been in MMA for years. If you don't want to ever get slammed on a mat or avoid bumps and bruises I'd recommend a traditional art like karate. Or maybe a at home CD? Never tried it so I can't say.