I originally started training Arakan Martial Art out of curiosity back in June 2010. I was new to the Gold Coast, had always wanted to try a martial art and saw the sign for the office just around the corner from where I was living. 
Previously I had spent years at various gyms and had sought costly personal trainers which kept me reasonably fit but i decided I may be better spending the money to learn how to defend myself should the situation ever arise.
What I discovered from Arakan Martial Art was so much more. Of course it provides all the fitness and conditioning one would expect from a martial art however it is the "fight logic" that really differentiates the art. You are taught to assess your environment and use it to your advantage. This includes not only aspects such as where to position yourself in a certain situation but also how to deal with obstacles a situation may possess. There are a multitude of different locations where the art is trained that cater for everybody e.g.. nightclubs, home invasion, In your car, dark alleys, wide open areas, parks, beach etc.
Another important aspect to the art is the culture within the club. Ego is left at the gate. All of the instructors are very humble which stems from the top and is evident throughout the club. As everyone's journey is their own, you are only asked to do what you are capable of and you are only challenging yourself.
On a personal note I have found Arakan Martial Art gives me a release from the day to day pressures of work, which in turn has allowed me to become a calmer person and think more rationally. 
It never matters how bad my day has been walking into a lesson, I always walk out exhausted, full of knowledge, relaxed and with a smile on my face.