Martial Arts?!?!!?

Question

i want to start martial arts
i need help

where should i starts?
what are the ups and downs?
can i find time for it?

Answer 1

Hi

Firstly Yoga is not a fighting style, but is awesome for flexibility and concentration.

Start by looking into ALL the Martial Arts schools that you can reach and contact them. Go to each one, check out the place and talk to the teachers and students. Ask if you can try a few classes in a week. Once you have done this you should find a school that best fits your needs. NO style is better than another no matter what anyone may say. The Sensei or teacher makes the style good or bad to their students.

The ups, you gain alot of discipline, self esteem, the ability to protect yourself and great excersice and chances to travel the USA or World if you become a competitor as I was once. I saw half of Europe and AUstralia and most the USA in my fights, next year I go to Japan. IT will become a way of life for you, changing the way you view and look at things, it really opens your awareness levels and also builds on your senses of smell, hearing, taste, touch and sight.

The Downs. If you train too hard and do not watch yourself you can injur yourself. I personally after fighting for 16 years retired due to too many blows to my back. If you do not do your forms and techniques well when you practise you can harm yourself, and if you compete for a long period you can as well. I do suggest that you compete, it is great self esteem and teaches you to control your fear.

Most schools are open 3-5 days a week with several schedules set up. Again look into each one in your area and try each out and see which you like. IMPORTANT: check the credentials of the teacher, do they know who their teacher was, and back to the founding father of the style you choose. Do not be impressed by lots of trophies and promises of a black belt in two years. Each person learns at their own rate and only McDojo;s sell pre contracted black belt promises. In my particular shotokan school I took 6 years for a shodan, another 4 for Nidan and another 4 for Sandan. Plus I put in 8 for a Nidan in Kenpo and 5 for a SHodan in Tae Kwon Do.

With classes being usually spread out I am sure you can find good school in your area, use the internet and yellow pages.

Answer 2

the question of FINDING time should be more about MAKING time because you'll never "find" more time, you have to make it and this is true for EVERYTHING, including Martial Arts.

Start looking in your local phone book for schools in your area (up to a 15 minute drive away, but in your case I'd settle for something much closer).

find (and choose) at least 3 schools that interest you and go watch some of their classes and determinw which one interests you the most, after picking the class you found the most interesting to you; take some trial classes to determine whether or not you're comfortable with the class and the instructor's(s) teaching style.

if after the trial period you still like the class, enroll in the class.

There's a lot of pluses in learning a Martial Art: better health, flexibility, discipline, respect, there's a huge laundry list to rattle off but I'm going to keep this more to the point.

You just need to find a Martial Arts School that will provide a safe "family-like" environment for you. The discipline you study DOESN'T MATTER because there is NO discipline that is better than another, because they ALL have their strengths AND weaknesses

What matters is that you feel comfortable (and like the classes) in the classes and you feel comfortable that the instructor can properly teach you self defense and not have the "smoke and mirrors" aspect.

The instructor should also like to do it more for the teaching aspect rather than "making money" which it is a business after all and making money is a product of running a business, but it should not be the only reason for teaching the discipline.

The biggest problem (and down side) is enrolling in a class that's a "McDojo's" or "belt factory" type of school.

these schools usually do a lot of boasting particularly about how soon their students make their 1st degree black belts (like having several "young black belts" that're usually 9 or 10 yr old kids, which should be a rare thing to see unless the child started learning the discipline when they were 4 yrs old), they'll also talk about students making their black belts in about a year’s time (it should be up to 5 years or better) which often means that they have a high student turnout rate.

They'll also often try to get you to commit to a contract, usually one that's 6 months long or more or try to get you to pay down a large sum of money for that kind of time period. which is a BIG red flag

These schools will also brag about how many tournaments their students have entered and placed in or won a trophy. also another red flag

While Tournaments are good to go to and test your own skills as a point sparring contestantthis isn't a necessary issue in Martial Arts, because competitions are the LEAST important aspect to concern yourself with in Martial Arts.

Long story short, these schools will basically "give" you your belt ranks every few months as long as you are paying the outrageous fees per month, and you won't really learn self defense

Answer 3

Call some schools and ask if you can check out a class. Some schools allow the first lesson for free so you can get an idea if it's for you or not. Always look at the advanced students...if they're techniques are weak and sloppy there's no point in joining. Watch how the instructor[s] teach. Do they get their point across effectively? Are they overly aggresive? Do you see signs of unresolved anger? If so I'd recommend going elsewhere. I've met a few instructors who I believe are psychopathic and are running cults more than martial arts schools.
I also don't recommend joining any school that makes you sign a contract...the art and school should sell itself.
I hope this helps and I wish you well.

Answer 4

Yes you should. Find the time. There are many benefits, both physical & spiritual from studting a traditional Martial Art. It's far more important to find a good instructor than it is to pick a particular art.

Answer 5

Start with grappleing of some sort. I suggest Ju Jit Su. After starting to become familiar with that learn a stand up. I suggest Muay Thai. These to martial arts will make you a very effective fighter.

Avoid soft style Kung Fu like Tia Chi and Korean styles like Tae Kwon Do unless your more worried about art then fighting. These can be effective but it takes years before you become comptetent enough to use them.

Answer 6

I have dabbled in many styles. The answer is depends on what you want to do with it, and how fit you are now and age.
Yoga or Chi Kung for meditation
Tai Chi, Pa Kau, or XingYi for older or less fit individuals.
Kung Fu if you like art forms, speed, and flexibility.
Jiu Jitsu, ninjitsu, or JKD if you want to defend yourself.
Various Karates and Kung Fu for Sport
Can you find time for it? Again depends on what you want. Most martial arts require an investment in time so you need to ask yourself what you are willing to do to achieve your goal ... weight loss, health, art, sport, or self defense.

Answer 7

Yoga is probably better but since 85 % of all fight end up an the ground judo and wrestleing would probably be best Tae Kwon Doe is not real good too many fancy kicks and blocks are too extreme but good for balance master one or two good low kicks and an offense against the most common types of attacks with a friend and take yoga.

Answer 8

Keep an open mind. Check out the "dojos" in your community. If they are going to nickel and dime you over guis and belts and try to lock you down to year a long contract think twice.

Ask to watch a training session. I believe you will make a wise decision with patience grass hopper.(reference from Kung Fu with David Carradine) no disrespect.

Answer 9

you can start @ the beginning level for adults the benefits completely outweigh the downs against it. check with your local chamber of commerce or phone book. it usually has classes @ night for working adults convenience.

Answer 10

Oy. www.sansoo.com Watch the videos.