The details are unimportant, but I've recently adopted the belief that most serious martial artist had a family member, usually the father, who studied some art way back when. Just been talking to some friends and we realized each of us had an martial artist father. So how many of you had MA parents? Or, how many of you were actually the first of their family to embrace the dojo life?

And by the way, my father, who's just entered his fifties, can still put a whoopin' on my college-butt any day. You never understand the physics behind someone who was ready for Vietnam still kicking over your head in the new millenium.

First in my family. Don't know anybody in my extended family that does any martial arts, either.

my father and both my gandfather's were pretty good at boxing each had won their own tournaments and i think my oldest grandpa was a champion in whatever region that he trained in... i guess i'm the first of the new blood to give learning how to "fight" a try. Though at first they thought it was different and a bit weird, they've grown to accept it. LOL oh man i just remembered when i went to visit my grandfather in Peru. I purchased some sparring gear and me and my cousin were tyring it on. Then my grandpa(94) years old came in and saw my cousin and put up his dukes and shifted his weight to the back like those professional boxers who are so good that they can fight with their hands down at times.. I was impressed he could still move fluidly though.

I am the first and only in my family.

Page

Well, I am the first in my family to take on a martial art formally, especially one outside of my culture.

I think it might have a lot to do with having a martial history in one's family as well. I mean, if your dad was an Army man...probably you will be one too.

The martial aspect in my family goes way back. My family has fought in every war in this country (both sides) going back to the 1700's. I have pics on the wall of my ancestors from the Civil War, and xeroxs of commission papers that date to the early 1800's. Before that, well there is a long history of Scots, who when the fishing went bad, went to Europe as mercenaries. Oh, and then there is the Viking blood!

I'm the first in my family to practice any form of MA. That being said, now all three of my sons practice TKD with me and my wife and I do Kendo, so it's a whole family environment. The "new" family tradition.

My older brother was the first. I follow him by about 11-12 years.

My daughter started, and dropped out, so I am the only one in my family doing Martial Arts. The rest all think I am nuts to be doing this at my age, and ask when I am going to quit. (When the sun goes supernova!)

I am the first in my family (started 28 years ago) and am happy to report that all four of my kids also do MA's. Now if I could just get my wife to go we would be all set.

In my family, My cousin in hawaii does Wing chun and Jujuitsu, My Uncle in the philippines does TRACMA........