martial arts and tri's

Dawn,
I too am training for my first triathlon. Congrats and good luck. I haven't taken any martial arts since college and have been thinking about rejoining a school. What discipline do you study?

I used to take karate in the late sixties and early seventies. I haven't done any in many years but I do yoga which I find has many elements in common with tai chi. I am also doing my first tri in May. You are right about showing up...I did not even want to get out of bed this morning let alone go to the gym and do stationary cycling...but I did and I feel great! I'm going back for seconds at lunch!!

I study a progressive blend on Jujitsu and TaeKwon Do. I love it, but I find sharing the mental space between Tri and Martial Arts is difficult. Did ride yesterday and felt better and ran some speed work today. I am wondering if I am fighting getting sick. Wednesday is my usual brick day and I am wondering if I should push it or not. Guess I will decide that in the morning.

I studied Judo for a number of years. I did both for two years. The flexibility of Judo helped me in triathlons, but the occational shoulder pain, or twisted ankle did not. I am thinking about starting up again with Judo, but I want to get my first Ironman in. If you have time and enjoy both, great.

Interesting, I was thinking about starting a MA class in August after my tri.  I was thinking about either taekwon do because the kicking looks cool, or aikido because the movements look cool.  I have zero experience with any of these, so I can only base it on what they look like.  I was following rec.martialarts usenet group for a week or so, but the posting was mostly pretty lame.  How does doing, say, judo compare with taekwon do?  I'd like to get into it partly for the mental and partly for the physical.  I don't care about self defense, but competition would be fun.  What did you folks get out of studying your martial arts?

Judo is almost more like wrestling then most other martial arts. We throw eachother around, do hold downs, and joint locks. The best thing that has helped me in life and Tris, is the ability to stay calm and relaxed, even durning extreme physical activity.

I've studied a little Akido in college and it really pushed me into the spiritual aspect of MA. No black belt or anything major but since I've studied a little Jeet Kune Do, Escrima, Juijitsu and Copoiera (not only can I not spell it I have forgotten it all anyways!) Early on I got into the Zen behind it all. I read a lot about breathing and mental focus, etc. that I now use everyday, especially in this endurance training stuff I've signed up for. Whenever I get bored with my "routine" training I think back to the moving zen of it all, re-focus on my movements, concnetrate on my breathing and start counting the black lines at the t bottom of the pool again....