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I've been studying Martial Arts for almost 19 years. (Not 19 years straight) I was 15 when I first began studying American Freestyle kickboxing. By the time I was 17, I had earned my first Black Belt and was tournament fighting, full contact kickboxing, all over South Carolina. (I was 27-4 with 23 K.O.'s). During that time, I was also studying an Okinawan style called, Goju-Ryu. The traditional aspects and the Kata was something that I fell in love with and after quitting the American Freestyle school, I continued with Goju-Ryu for another year, earning my second Black Belt.
Wound up moving to Atlanta, Ga shortly after my Black Belt test and was on hiatus for a few months until I found T.M. Kim's Tang Soo Do school. Grandmaster, (a 9th degree black belt), was the most awesome Martial Artist I had ever met. Such a friendly man who was always smiling. I studied with him for about a year and earned a Green Belt. (Kinda didn't like all of the high, flashy kicks, but it was cool)
Had to take another hiatus, got married, settled down with a new wife and a cat...and focused my energy on my job.
Finally, after about 2 years, we moved back to my home, Dallas, TX. and I began studying the Korean styles of Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido, eventually earning a Red Belt in both.
Time to move again...
We moved back to Georgia and I began studying an Okinawan style called Yoshukai. It had all of the elements of a fully rounded "hard style" of Martial Art. We worked on Kata, Self-Defense, Sparring, Weapons, and tradition. It was wonderful and I absolutely loved it and thought I'd found "the one"...
Around the time I was supposed to take my Brown Belt test, I blew out my knee, (Wrestling...Professionaly, but that's another story), and had surgery. It was enough to keep me out, and here we go again...Back to Texas.
Been here now since '96 and have worked hard...Had a debilitating back injury, a divorce, College to re-train for a different career, and finally...back in October, I began studying Aikido, "the way of peacful Harmony".
After so many years of striking arts, I have had to re-learn or, as Bruce Lee said, "Empty my cup"...Aikido uses an attackers energy against them. Where I was taught that when someone threw a kick or punch, (or even a weapon for that matter), my response was to block or deflect that attack and follow up with a forceful attack of my own.
Now, the energy is deflected and the opponent is "controlled' with a take down or some sort of joint lock...and then given the opportunity to walk away without a dislocation or a broken bone...
Very cool indeed, and I have now found the Martial Art that I will study for the rest of my life.
The Philosophy is similar to Christ's teaching of peace...turning the other cheek, etc. and I truly enjoy it. O'Sensei, (Morihei Ueshiba), taught love of humanity, peacful resolution to conflict, yet a style of Martial Art that can be potentially deadly if needed, and I like the Yin-Yang balance of it.
That's it for now.
I tested last week for 6th Kyu, (second Yellow Belt), and passed! I'll be receiving my new belt tonight and I'll post a photo of it. 
