Martial Arts
Hello, you knowledgable people!
I'm writing a pre-Hogwarts AU; at this point in the story it's 1989 and Harry is nine. What resources would have been available for Harry to learn (the rudiments of) Martial Arts, the kinds that emphasize mental discipline, not just the mechanics? I say "resources" because while lessons would be best, it seems pretty unlikely that the Dursleys would pay for private lessons for Harry. Would there be school clubs, or school electives? Would there be suitable books in the public library, and how much could he learn from books anyway?
Edited to Add: I'm actually more interested in the self-discipline aspect of Martial Arts, rather than the self-defence aspect. This is because I want Harry to be able to learn calmness and self-control, so that he doesn't have so much trouble with his Accidental Magic. At this point in the story, he's just done something which freaked him out (he doesn't know that it's magic, but he does know that he caused it) and he's motivated to learn "how not to panic"... if there is some way of learning that!
I'm writing a pre-Hogwarts AU; at this point in the story it's 1989 and Harry is nine. What resources would have been available for Harry to learn (the rudiments of) Martial Arts, the kinds that emphasize mental discipline, not just the mechanics? I say "resources" because while lessons would be best, it seems pretty unlikely that the Dursleys would pay for private lessons for Harry. Would there be school clubs, or school electives? Would there be suitable books in the public library, and how much could he learn from books anyway?
Edited to Add: I'm actually more interested in the self-discipline aspect of Martial Arts, rather than the self-defence aspect. This is because I want Harry to be able to learn calmness and self-control, so that he doesn't have so much trouble with his Accidental Magic. At this point in the story, he's just done something which freaked him out (he doesn't know that it's magic, but he does know that he caused it) and he's motivated to learn "how not to panic"... if there is some way of learning that!