The Benefits of My Experience in Martial Arts

I was born the second child in a family of four, with one older brother, and for all of my life I have been either the shortest or one of the shortest kids in my class. Thus, it naturally follows that I have been picked on and would want to be able to "fend for myself." For this reason and because I felt I needed another source of athletic conditioning, I took up the study of a martial art called Aikido a little over a year ago. My training has since done more for me that I would have even hoped, both in body and mind. So in this essay about martial arts I'll describe my experiences and how it will help me when joining the college community.

Aikido is a martial art that focuses not on the practitioner's strength and size but on the manipulation of his subject's strength. Through my training I have learned a great deal not only about the art in general, but also about other areas of my life. I have improved my ability to become serious when necessary and to keep from getting too excited or angry over everyday issues. Some may say Aikido has made me more "easygoing," but I would say it has simply improved my overall temperament. Truly, the practice of Aikido has benefited my body and my soul.

I believe the experience of my training in Aikido would bring a great aspect of diversity to any college community in which I join. In my experience, the dojo (place of training) is a small community to which all practitioners contribute, and as I was one of the first members to join our relatively new dojo, I have a deeper connection to the dojo community than most others.

I expect that my experience in the dojo community will help me adjust to the college community as well, and that my experience with Aikido will help form a more diverse and interesting association of students.