I got up this morning and started with my normal routine, digging through my clothes, looking for something to wear. As I’m rooting around lo and behold what do I find… a sweet t-shirt sporting my old pals, The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT).
You know who these guys are right?! I would guess that if you grew up in the 80’s, like me, you know all about the TMNT’s. Or, maybe you don’t and right now you’re saying:
Danny Ives…what in the god’s name are you talking about?!
If you don’t know what I’m talking about no problem. I promise, I’m going somewhere with this story. Some background info on the Ninja Turtles and why it’s such a big deal, to me and many others. TMNT’s started out as a comic book back in the mid 1980’s.
That comic book was so good it got made into a cartoon TV show. I think that was in ’88. The show was aimed at little kids, me being one of them. From there it blew up into movies, toys, video games and all types of other things.
What that show did for the world of martial arts.
The TV show was a huge hit. Everyone loved it, and since it was so heavily centered around martial arts, every kid in town wanted to take up karate lessons. It brought a whole new generation to the martial arts world. Kids everywhere wanted to be like The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and to do that, you had to take karate classes.
I remember watching the show back in 1988. I wanted to be just like the turtles, you know a ninja and all. My favorite turtle was Rafael (the one who wore red). He was super skilled and totally down to rumble.
I begged my mom to take me over to the local rec center for Karate classes. Thankfully, she took me (thanks!), and here I am today, teaching kids and adults in the Annapolis area of Maryland.
TMNT’s Changed The Game For Martial Arts in the 80’s
That comic, which turned into a TV show, and then a bunch of movies, changed the martial arts game. They’ll forever be known as an iconic force in the modern martial arts world.
So yeah, when I dug up that shirt I started to think about the impact it had on me. I must admit, I really owe a lot to these turtles. They pretty much got me into martial arts. If it wasn’t for TMNT, Ivey League Mixed Martial Arts might have never been.
I’m forever grateful and that show is near and dear to me because of the path it led me to, a life of martial arts.
So, I’ve Now Got a Question for you…
If you’re reading this blog you either train in martial arts or you’re thinking about it. What got you interested in martial arts lessons? Was it a TV show like TMNT? Was it a UFC event?
I’d love to hear everyone’s answers! Put them in the feedback section below and give me and all else reading this blog your story.
Below I posted two videos. Thought they might be fun and worth checking out. One of them is of course, focused on the Ninja Turtles. It’s a youtube video of the trailer for the remake of the TMNT. It looks good…Check it out!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-KhoSo9Xh0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvowMXlPn4o
