I am so out of shape, yet want to do MA. Advice in starting!

[TheAnimal]

just do it

[SBN Doug]

So I visited the Olympic one, and here is what I saw:

- The head master is an ex-olympic competitor and coached on both the south korean and nigerian teams...

Yeah that's what I figured.

- The costs seem expensive, but I have nothing to compare to, 140 a month for 3 classes a week, 160 for unlimited classes a week.. and like 200 bucks for just ONE private lesson.

Seems expensive.

- The class I saw was small and they gave the students a lot of individual attention. (It was a class of basically all yellow belts and one older black belt guy helping. 3 teenagers, and a mom and her young young daughter).

Always nice to see.

- They started with 20 minutes of stretching, then some blocks and strikes, then did kicks, then strength stuff.

- All the instructions and counting and stuff were given in Korean basically.

- The guy said they would be doing self defense and stuff, I dunno.

Pretty typical.

You can't let us make your decision. It quite expensive compared to my fees, but he may be quite good. It sounds as like if you're interested in learning competetive TKD, then it will be a good one, but expensive.

Visit a couple others, and compare what you've seen. Usually a gut instinct is the best call. See if one has an introdutory rate, where you get a cheaper price to try it out for a month or two.

[jaymac]

I think that really is kind of expensive too. Really though, you should call around. See what dojos will offer free trial memberships and try them out. Take a friend along. Maybe the two of you will find a school that really fits you. If you have a friend to practice with and advance through the ranks with, it makes learning that much more fun. On a personal level. I have trained in a couple of different styles. I have stuck with Shotokan karate. It provides a great work out, good self defense, awesome kata, sparring, and is traditional. I try to avoid schools that there main focus is on earning points in a sparring match, unless you plan to fight in the olympics, then that school would be awesome.

[SBN Doug]

Yeah, but I don't think he has a shotokan dojo nearby.

He posted a list of is choices on the first page.

[Shazkar]

Okay, I know this is slightly tangential, but two questions:

What are peoples opinions on American Kenpo? I e-mailed a place to ask their prices, 80 a month for 4 classes a week, but I haven't gotten to check it out yet.

I'm gonna check out another TKD place tomorrow.

Also, what about diving right into MMA, like at this place: http://www.homestead.com/prosites-jmjkd/jmnewhome.html

That place is a good 20+ minutes away though, but I was just wondering about what people think about it. 90 bucks a month for 16 classes a month.

[SBN Doug]

To answer your question on Kenpo, I will say AGAIN to rent The Perfect Weapon with Jeff Speakman.

MMA is an interesting topic. Esspecially considering the site you linked to. It seems as though they are teaching a well diversed set of MAs. My only concern is that typically a MMA school will be taught by a guy that has taken the quick battle effective portions of different MAs and combined them together so that they compliment each other. Very little tradition or focus on the aspects of the MAs that are not directly related to hands on combat.

The school I see in your link has a different instructor teaching each different martial art. So, it's no different than taking all those different MAs from different schools at the same time.

If that is the case, then I advise against it. IMHO, you should go with one and get the basics down before you consider mixing them. Unless I'm wrong and they teach you how to mix them as part of the training.

[Shazkar]

I have a TOTALLY NEW DILEMMA!

I took a BJJ class. I loved it. It was so fun... but I still want to take a stand up art... At the moment I don't think I have the time or money to do both at the same time. Well, I found a TKD place that also has BJJ... but the BJJ place I found seemed a lot better and I thought it was great.

So, if you were going away to college in 6 months more or less... hm, what would you do?

I could do BJJ starting now, or TKD starting now, and pick up the other one once its summer and I have more time and a job... but the second one I picked up I would only be doing for 3 months before I went away to college. So... opinions? It seems like TKD would give me more of a cardio and flexibility workout, especially with all the stretching, and then I might not own myself doing BJJ, but it's not like I wouldn't get in shape doing BJJ. Hmm...

[SBN Doug]

Take what you like, because it's important for keeping you motivated.

Take the BJJ now and work in the standing art when (if) you have time at school. You'll be able to pick up enough BJJ in 6 months to actually utilize it if neccessary (but certainly not become expert at it). I'm not sure you could say the same for TKD. I wouldn't say it about KSW.

WHo knows, you may feel comfortable enough with what you've been taught in 6 months that you can switch completely to a standing art at school.

[marie curie]

I'd say go with the BJJ because you can get into shape slowly, then when you are a little more in shape from the BJJ, start your standing art.

[ravenzoom]

I'd say join BJJ. It will be good for your cardio plus it will be great for self defense. However, if you really seek a stand-up art and you love the kicks in TKD well join it. You should practice what you like.