How long do you think it would take me to get really good at martial arts?

Question

i'm 12 and i wanna start training in martial arts. genetically, i should be able to get kinda good cuz my grandma when she was younger was really good at it. i dunno about my mom cuz she didn't show much interest in it. but i like it alot and i wanna start training so how long do you think it would take for me to get good at it. and how should i start?

Answer 1

I would say that your attitude is the number one thing that will determine if you will be good or not. I see some students that are good athletes but don't apply themselves as hard or seriously as some not-so-talented athletes. The not-so-talented will usually progress faster and better if they give a 120% effort and come to class three times a week. So I would put off to the side the genetic thing and take the above approach. If you go to class four or even five times per week that is even better when it is coupled with a 120% effort and a good attitude. On the other hand if you go to class and only put forth 75% effort you are spinning your wheels.

Shop around and look for a good instructor and school. Look under martial arts in the yellow pages-also check out the local parks and rec and YMCA programs. They have some excellent instructors sometimes as well. With a good attitude, good effort, and a good instructor you will become good in several months-but that is just the beginning. There are different levels of good so don't stop there at the lower ones. Really good martial artists continue to train and develop their skills, abilities, and knowledge even after becoming good. To develop these things to the highest level of "good" that is possible you will be striving and training for many years.

Answer 2

Listen kid;
If you have that much drive and determination to become "really good" at martial arts why don't you direct that energy towards good school marks, then university, then becoming a Doctor or Lawyer or Scientist first.
Take an honest look at yourself and see what areas of your life would benefit from extra attention rather than training in martial arts.

If you are already top of your class, have lots of friends, and a loving family - then start martial arts. But very very few individuals ever become so good that they get fame and fortune through it. Think about it.

Answer 3

There is a jujitsu teacher who runs a club my son has gone to for six years. He turned sixty the other week. He runs an adult club two nights a week too. I've watched the adults a few times. He still practises and gets stuck in. I would accept that his reaction speed is not as good as it might have been but he is so well drilled and the reactions appear so instinctive and his anticipation so good that I would definitely bet on him if half a dozen men tried to mug him in an alley. If you want to google him he is Brian Cheek. I took up the judo again at 38 after 17 years off. Yes the mind can remember the moves but the knees are not as supple and the speed has gone but you can see it in the footballers as much as in any sport with experience comes anticipation and the older better players don't chase the ball around as much but anticipate through experience where it is going to go next. Age and experience can defeat youth and enthusiasm more often than you may think. Get back to the karate but why not join a club where there are more vets, because there is another aspect to the maintenance of your physical capacity. If you don't use it you will lose it. Good luck

Answer 4

Speaking from experience, some of you are right in certain things, but it doesnt take 25-30 years to become good at martial arts.

I train in tae kwon do and have done for about a year, but with dedication and rigorous training, Ive been able to learn to the point of being able to defend myself, which I have proven on multiple occasions.

Also, there are people I know who have only been doing it for 8 years and they are very fluent.

Just be dedicated and you'll acheive the result you desire, just be patient.

Answer 5

It depends on the quality of your training. Even if you're training for 8 hours a day, 7 days a week, for 30 years - if the quality of that training is poor, you're still going to be a poor martial artist. I would advise you to find a top quality coach (one recommended by others, not by his or her self - avoid self proclaiming instructors at all costs!) and focus on getting the basics right from the very start. This will turn out to be invaluable on your journey to perfection.

Answer 6

it depends on the martial art that u pick,some martial arts especially the chinese ones as well as karate and tae kwan do take longer while martial arts like krav maga and muay thai take a little less but u will have to be in good physical condition all the time

Answer 7

It depends what you mean by good. Do you mean being about to punch through bricks and kick a fly off a friend's nose without touching him? Or do you mean being about to fend off attackers who mean to do you harm? Or do you mean that you gain the knowledge and wisdom to teach others? Or do you mean that you can "live the do?"

Martial arts is so multi-faceted and the physical stuff is such a small part of the overall picture that you will probably always be "good" but you'll always want to be better.

Answer 8

It depends on what you mean by "very good". I've been in Tae Kwon Do for 15 years & am still learning. Martial arts are a journey, not a destination.

Answer 9

as the add says just do it

im no master but i do know it takes a very long time to be good at martial arts that one dude that said 25-30years probably had a good point but i guess it all depends on how hard you train

Answer 10

Well martial arts does not just come to u in one class..u have to keep practing and it has to be something u want to do. U have to continue with it and not give up on it if it does not come to ur needs... What martial arts are u looking into?