Here we go..

First pictures of me, hope you like them

What you see is a litte demonstration of my number one and real passion, since the age of about 7. That's the only thing in the world, which is more important to me, then my snakes are.







I started at the ago of 7 with Shotokan Karate, then I decided to train Taekwondo because it was faster, more leg and flexibility orientated and made much more fun - in this martial art I reached the brown belt level and changed to American Kickboxing because it gave me better self defence abilities, now after years of searching I finally found a coach, mentor AND friend with my Shihan which is a 5th Dan black belt and teaching fullcontact Kyokushinkai Karate and Krav-Maga in Switzerland.

So you can see, the time I am not cleaning out the cages and do not kiss my Bitis, I am probably in the Dojo to kick some asses

So that's it so far, hope you liked the Pics - now everyone knows how I look like.

Greetings from Switzerland
Marco

nice - martial arts are a very good way to develop a great personality. here in asia, self-control and spirits are some of the most important things.

i personally have done some Judo, way back - as a kid, but i stopped as i went to university. ever since, ill got no time no more...

thanks for sharing the pics!

cheers
Mario

Hi Mario

As a child at the age of 7 I was skinny and had no muscles at all, and my lack of confidence made me assailable. Because of my Interest in movies from and with Chuck Norris, Steven Seagal and J.C.-VanDamme my mother decided to put me in a Karate Class......yeah. What can I say, I liked it and developed unanticipated skills and talent there.
Teakwondo brought me to the next nevel, it was much faster and more athletic, and I have learned to move much faster and to become more flexible especially with my legs (Splits etc).
That was a great time, but one thing I was missing: strength combined with pure power
So I changed to semicontact Kickboxing, here I was allowed to use everything I have learned before and had the chance to build up some extra muscles.....that was great.
But one thing I was missing very soon, also here - it was the asian spirit and soul.....that's something you'll never find in Boxing or Kickboxing, because it is to western orientated and has no traditional history at all. So I was seeking for a long period a good Dojo, with great people and the best trainer and coach you can find in this part of Switzerland. Finally I found him, and for the first time I got everything I needed, and wanted the whole time before.
This really is the next level now, and currently I am working on Kumite (Fight) Lessons for the Swiss Championships in fullcontact Kyokushinkai Karate this year - hope to take a medal at home. We will see....;-)

That's the short version of the story, and be the way, I also was very very happy to have that good response times, while working with my adders and cobras in the past.
So it also is a very good training for venomous snakes keepers, maybe I should make the suggestion to the politicians in Hessen (Germany), that Beginners of keeping venomous snakes should have at least 5 years experiences in keeping non-ven snakes and 3 years of intense martial arts training ;-) lol Probably the safest combination..hehe

By the way Mario, Judo is cool, it is especially a very good start for Boys and Girls. As soon as I have my own Kids (if that every will happen), I will try to start and train with them as soon as possible. For me it is the completest, and most meaningful sports you can do - it's training for your body, your soul and your ego.

Cheers
Marco

wow awesome place to make the practice.
i hope the water was warm
(hopefully you don't train in wintertime in a lake in switzerland, FREEEEEEEEEEEEEZZZZEEEEEE!)

greetz Ben