--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've been a martial artist since I was a…" description: "\"I've been a martial artist since I was a kid. It's basically who I am.\" — Dillon Danis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a65/dillon-danis-9394_am_i-ve-been-a-martial-artist-since-i-was-a_2545709.jpg" --- # I've been a martial artist since I was a kid. It's… ![“I've been a martial artist since I was a kid. It's basically who I am.” quote by Dillon Danis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a65/dillon-danis-9394_am_i-ve-been-a-martial-artist-since-i-was-a_2545709.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a65/dillon-danis-9394_am_i-ve-been-a-martial-artist-since-i-was-a_2545709.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a65/dillon-danis-9394_am_i-ve-been-a-martial-artist-since-i-was-a_2545709.jpg) > “I've been a martial artist since I was a kid. It's basically who I am.” [Dillon Danis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-danis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Martial arts is integral to identity, shaping personal discipline and worldview. **In simple terms:** Martial arts defines who I am. Key Takeaway Embrace practices that shape you. Themes identity discipline self‑definition Mood proud determined Type inspirational reflective When to use this quote - self‑defense training - personal development - cultural heritage Key Concepts embodiment personal philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How does this practice influence daily life? - Can you balance it with other roles? A Different Perspective Over‑identification can limit flexibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Martial Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/martial-art/) [Martial artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/martial-artist/) [Wrestling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrestling/) ## Related quotes > [I am a professional martial artist, and I am a professional fighter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-shamrock/i-am-a-professional-martial-artist-and-i-am-a-professional-fighter/) [Frank Shamrock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-shamrock/) > [I'm a martial artist and I want to treat the UFC and MMA as martial arts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renato-moicano/i-m-a-martial-artist-and-i-want-to-treat-the-ufc-and-mma-as-martial/) [Renato Moicano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renato-moicano/) > [I see myself as a martial artist. I'm a creative fighter. It's not about hitting the guy and hurting him, it's about scoring points,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/i-see-myself-as-a-martial-artist-i-m-a-creative-fighter-it-s-not/) [Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/) > [What's a martial artist? Someone who respects his opponent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-blaydes/what-s-a-martial-artist-someone-who-respects-his-opponent/) [Curtis Blaydes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-blaydes/) > [My husband is a martial artist, and he thinks it's hilarious that I have a stage-fighting-proficiency certificate. He thinks that's ridiculous. Can't say I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-nicol/my-husband-is-a-martial-artist-and-he-thinks-it-s-hilarious-that-i/) [Lesley Nicol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-nicol/) > [I'm an athlete, but first and foremost I'm a martial artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-hardy/i-m-an-athlete-but-first-and-foremost-i-m-a-martial-artist/) [Dan Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-hardy/) > [I'm a martial artist, and I don't train because I have a fight; I train because it's my lifestyle, and I'll train every day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-st-pierre/i-m-a-martial-artist-and-i-don-t-train-because-i-have-a-fight-i-train/) [Georges St-Pierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-st-pierre/) > [I've got respect for my mom, especially as a martial artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-perry/i-ve-got-respect-for-my-mom-especially-as-a-martial-artist/) [Mike Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-perry/) > [I'm a martial artist, not a fighter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uriah-hall/i-m-a-martial-artist-not-a-fighter/) [Uriah Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uriah-hall/) > [I'm just a big kid, basically. I love to have fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javale-mcgee/i-m-just-a-big-kid-basically-i-love-to-have-fun/) [JaVale McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javale-mcgee/) > [I was a really lousy artist as a kid. Too abstract expressionist; or I'd draw a big ram's head, really messy. I'd never win…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-michel-basquiat/i-was-a-really-lousy-artist-as-a-kid-too-abstract-expressionist-or-i/) [Jean-Michel Basquiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-michel-basquiat/) > [I went to a public school in Oak Harbor, Ohio, and it's a very rural community. I was an artist kid, and I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-bowersox/i-went-to-a-public-school-in-oak-harbor-ohio-and-it-s-a-very-rural/) [Crystal Bowersox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal-bowersox/) > [A good martial artist does not become tense, but ready.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/a-good-martial-artist-does-not-become-tense-but-ready/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [I want to be the greatest mixed martial artist ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-fitch/i-want-to-be-the-greatest-mixed-martial-artist-ever/) [Jon Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-fitch/) > [I don't think I'm in any position to call myself a martial artist. I'm a student of the martial arts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-don-t-think-i-m-in-any-position-to-call-myself-a-martial-artist-i-m/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) ## More by Dillon Danis > [I really want to go against Ben Askren. We should do a cross promotion. I'll put up a million dollars vs. him because it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-danis/i-really-want-to-go-against-ben-askren-we-should-do-a-cross-promotion/) [Dillon Danis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-danis/) > [You could put as much pressure on me as you want. But when you're this good, you don't feel pressure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-danis/you-could-put-as-much-pressure-on-me-as-you-want-but-when-you-re-this/) [Dillon Danis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-danis/) > [There's a lot of people with a lot more problems than me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-danis/there-s-a-lot-of-people-with-a-lot-more-problems-than-me/) [Dillon Danis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-danis/) > [I hate Dagestanis. Not all of them, but a lot if I'm honest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-danis/i-hate-dagestanis-not-all-of-them-but-a-lot-if-i-m-honest/) [Dillon Danis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-danis/) > [I don't understand why no one understands how I make money when my Instagram account is so popular. I get paid $15k a story,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-danis/i-don-t-understand-why-no-one-understands-how-i-make-money-when-my/) [Dillon Danis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-danis/) > [At the end of the day, people are just looking to hate on me for anything, so that's just how it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-danis/at-the-end-of-the-day-people-are-just-looking-to-hate-on-me-for/) [Dillon Danis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-danis/) > [I say the truth and people get upset about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-danis/i-say-the-truth-and-people-get-upset-about-it/) [Dillon Danis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-danis/) > [I honestly think I can go my first fight in the UFC, and I think I would dominate. I say that 100 percent being fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-danis/i-honestly-think-i-can-go-my-first-fight-in-the-ufc-and-i-think-i/) [Dillon Danis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-danis/) > [I'm on my own path and I do it my own way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-danis/i-m-on-my-own-path-and-i-do-it-my-own-way/) [Dillon Danis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-danis/) > [Conor's been one of the best jiu-jitsu guys that I've ever rolled with, like MMA-wise since I started training with him. His jiu-jitsu is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-danis/conor-s-been-one-of-the-best-jiu-jitsu-guys-that-i-ve-ever-rolled/) [Dillon Danis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-danis/) > [I'm real, I don't hide it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-danis/i-m-real-i-don-t-hide-it/) [Dillon Danis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-danis/) > [At the end of the day, I say what I want, I do what I want. And no one's going to stop me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-danis/at-the-end-of-the-day-i-say-what-i-want-i-do-what-i-want-and-no-one-s/) [Dillon Danis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-danis/) > [For legacy, I want to be a world champion in MMA. That's what's going to make me rest easy at night. I won't be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-danis/for-legacy-i-want-to-be-a-world-champion-in-mma-that-s-what-s-going/) [Dillon Danis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-danis/) > [I think Conor's the Muhammad Ali of fighting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-danis/i-think-conor-s-the-muhammad-ali-of-fighting/) [Dillon Danis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-danis/) > [MMA is not wresting, it's not jiu-jitsu, it's a different animal. You've got to be smart, and you've got to be tuned into everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-danis/mma-is-not-wresting-it-s-not-jiu-jitsu-it-s-a-different-animal-you-ve/) [Dillon Danis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-danis/) [Explore all 73 Dillon Danis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-danis/) ## More Am quotes > [I don't own designer clothes, or a sports car, or a huge house, but I am seeing the world, experiencing amazing things, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-savage/i-don-t-own-designer-clothes-or-a-sports-car-or-a-huge-house-but-i-am/) [Roz Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roz-savage/) > [I think I am against stereotype. Generally, Asian guys are more quiet - they study and have a good work ethic. Generally, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lee/i-think-i-am-against-stereotype-generally-asian-guys-are-more-quiet/) [Bobby Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lee/) > [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [Any incarnation of 'Batman' I am delighted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-west/any-incarnation-of-batman-i-am-delighted-to-do/) [Adam West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-west/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [I am confident when I take the penalty otherwise I would pass for somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-fernandes/i-am-confident-when-i-take-the-penalty-otherwise-i-would-pass-for/) [Bruno Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-fernandes/) > [I am on sabbatical as of right now, been too busy to think of about my OWN needs as of late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-diamond/i-am-on-sabbatical-as-of-right-now-been-too-busy-to-think-of-about-my/) [Jim Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-diamond/) > [I am strongly opposed to any form of amnesty, including, especially, executive amnesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/i-am-strongly-opposed-to-any-form-of-amnesty-including-especially/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [I am no different from a lot of people. I am concerned for the future of my children and concerned for the future of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/i-am-no-different-from-a-lot-of-people-i-am-concerned-for-the-future/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [I won't be managing the Mets. I am closing the door on managing the Mets and probably everybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/i-won-t-be-managing-the-mets-i-am-closing-the-door-on-managing-the/) [Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/) > [I know who I am. I know what I represent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cora/i-know-who-i-am-i-know-what-i-represent/) [Alex Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cora/) > [I am fortunate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/i-am-fortunate/) [Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/) > [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/) Darlene Senger > [Acting is what I do with who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-walter/acting-is-what-i-do-with-who-i-am/) [Harriet Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-walter/) > [I am a big outliner. For my adult book, 'The Visibles,' I did not outline, and it took me two years to write because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-shepard/i-am-a-big-outliner-for-my-adult-book-the-visibles-i-did-not-outline/) [Sara Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-shepard/) Browse all 9,589 Am quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've been a martial artist since I was a kid. It's basically who I am.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dillon Danis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-danis/i-ve-been-a-martial-artist-since-i-was-a-kid-it-s-basically-who-i-am/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Am" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-danis/i-ve-been-a-martial-artist-since-i-was-a-kid-it-s-basically-who-i-am/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a65/dillon-danis-9394_am_i-ve-been-a-martial-artist-since-i-was-a_2545709.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a65/dillon-danis-9394_am_i-ve-been-a-martial-artist-since-i-was-a_2545709.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a65/dillon-danis-9394_am_i-ve-been-a-martial-artist-since-i-was-a_2545709.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I've been a martial artist since I was a kid. It's basically who I am.” — Dillon Danis", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Dillon Danis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-danis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I've been a martial artist since...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-danis/i-ve-been-a-martial-artist-since-i-was-a-kid-it-s-basically-who-i-am/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-danis/i-ve-been-a-martial-artist-since-i-was-a-kid-it-s-basically-who-i-am/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```