Getting started?

[LokiMori]

Hello, my name is Eric. I'm 15 years old and would like to start training in martial arts. I'm not very athletic, but this has been a goal and now by reading some of the storys on this website I've finally got the inspiration to take a step twords my goals & dreams. I'm silightly overweight (5'9 190) well actually a bit overweight, but I've heard that you can start out small and once your in shape you can move on to bigger stuff. I have no interest in competing, though. My goals are strictly to be more confident, and have peace of mind (or so to say) every day. I'd like a program that I could do out of my own home... Atleast for now, I'd feel like I'm intruding at my age with no training if I went to a class.

Any suggestions/links?

Thanks a million.

-Eric

[isshinryu5toforever]

go to dojo/dojangs, find one you're happy with. I have had students begin when they were 40. They had no experience either. Don't worry about your age. If you want to do martial arts, you can.

[pineapple]

Just DO IT!! Join a class NOW!

It'll be one of the best decisions that you ever made!

[tkdBill]

The most difficult step in anyone's martial arts journey is the first step out onto the mat. All of us have had to take that step, so we all know what you are feeling. That is one of the reasons that no one will think you are intruding. An instructor wants to teach. Without people like you who want to learn, there would be no one to teach.

I have students of all shapes and sizes ranging in age from 4 to 57. Find a dojo or dojang you like and try a few classes. Do it today, don't wait until tomorrow.

--

[gheinisch]

All good advice so far. Go check out some of your local dojos and see what they have to offer. All dojos will have a place for you to start so don't feel like your infringing and someone else's training. We all had to start somewhere. I'm going to move this thread to the "Getting Started" section. Good Luck with your quest.

[LokiMori]

Most of the Dojo's In the Indianapolis area I've been to seem strictly about competition. Anyone have any suggestions?

I would try to train in one of these dojo's, but even my friends who go to seperate ones (which I checked both out) say that they really try to push the competition thing.

Winning a medal is not what I'm in it for, if you know what I mean

[Menjo]

All exellent points, id just like to say however i find if you just train hard and do what your sensei instructs you, if you ever do enter a tournament youll do alot better than you expected. I know i did, got 1st in kumite and 1st in kata and 3rd in team kata, plus it makes you feel alot better. Sometimes breaking the comfort barriers are really rewarding. But other than that, id follow the advice of what other people said.

[y2_sub]

Don't be affraid of competion , if you do not want to compete , no one is going to force you .

[ERPMISTER]

Although it would be cool if you found a dojo, there is nothing wrong with studying martial arts from the comfort of your own home. I remember reading about a really good instructor today who started his training at 30 by reading a lot of books and watching a lot of videos for maybe five years before he decided to head to a dojo. Do whatever is most convient for you. But let me tell ya, a dojo would definatly help in training where there is a lot of constructive critisism to help you improve fairly quickly. Somethings that hard to do by studying through books.