Ballinger’s Bushido Karate

When someone asks me why I spent over half of my life studying martial arts what have I gained from it. To be honest the answer to this is not a quick answer. Sure I could reply with the expected response; because I love all it encompasses, it’s given me something to do in my free time, and I simply enjoy it moreso than anything I may have done. Yadda yadda. Yaaaa… But the answer is way more complex.

When I was in Jr High school. I was looking for something. I played baseball and ran field and track. But I needed something more. I got into several fights in school not because we hated each other. But I think moreso bc it was just what we did at that age. Funny most kids I got into it with in those early school years. I’m good friends with still today. Yeah that’s how we did things back then. Fight today. Friends for life tomorrow. Kids today could learn from that. Nevertheless, one of my still today best friend actually got me into Karate in 1984 after we got into a schoolyard fight. Yeah I know right. How did that even happen. That’s another Long story. I’m trying to keep this one somewhat short. When I got home after that day. I asked my mom if I could do Karate with my friend John. After some discussion and what not my brother and I began our journey. Little did I know that day Sept 10th 1984 would be the day I’d never forget. 42 yrs later. So to answer the question why do I study and what have I gained from martial arts? I’ve gained a life long passion in something I’ll never learn in its entirety. I’ve gained a lot of closest and best friends a man could ever ask for. I’ve traveled far and wide. State, national and Internationally for Martial Arts education, training, and prestige. state and national championships competitions. Etc. It got me into law enforcement, a trainer in Police Defensive Tactics, it gained me a position when I worked in Corrections, I’ve taught many seminars and self defense workshops. It brought me out from being a shy teenager to an outspoken adult. I raised my son in Martial Arts to his Black Belt and watched him be great at it and he had the same passion. Mostly what I cherish most. The one thing I never I’d ever be or wanted to be. A Sensei to adults, but mostly to the youth. A mentor, giving them the same passion I had at their age. That means more to me than anything else. It’s hard telling where my life would have turned had I not had Martial Arts as my navigator.

I’ve never focused on having a lot of students, or being a big commercial dojo type. I’ve never wanted to make teaching Karate a business. I’ve taught for free way more than I’ve ever been compensated for teaching, sharing and giving anyone who wanted to learn Karate an opportunity to do so. Est. 2005-current.

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