I've never been trained in a dojo or studio. Instead, I was home-taught by my father from age 5 to age 14. He moved away when I was 14, and I've practiced and studied at home on my own since then. I am now 19 years old, and I have sparred with several traditionally-taught martial artists on my college campus, who are impressed at my abilities to best them.
My father is a practicioner of Silat Knife Fighting, Muay Thai boxing, and Krav Maga, as well as good old-fashioned western-style boxing. Officially, he has black belts in both Judo and Karate. While in the Navy in the 1970s, he learned Navy CQB. My grandfather was a member of the Secret Service under Gerald Ford, and my great-grandfather was a member of the early FBI. The combat training my great-grandfather received, my grandfather received. Whatever my grandfather received, my father received. Lastly, whatever my father received, I received.
I make sure to educate myself further on the morals, ethics and history of martial arts and self-defense at least once a week. However, I have always been insecure about actually referring to myself as a martial artist. I feel that while I am skilled, my lack of experience in a traditonal setting strips me of the right to define myself as such, and would even be potentially disrespectful to those who have climbed the ranks. I've wondered if this is simply the same as one being
"homeschooled" instead of going to a public high school.
What are your opinions?
Read more: Should I still consider myself a martial artist?
