New to MA - Looking for advice

[Darkranger85]

I've been interested in martial arts for a long time but never pulled the trigger on it. I've been doing web design for a bjj school and decided I wanted to try some martial arts.

In the area I live in the options are limited. The closest school is Makatos School of Martial Arts in vt.

They teach Goju Karate and one of the instructors also does Jiujitsu, both Hapkido and Brazilian.

My goals are fun and fitness but I also wouldn't mind some minor competition.

So my questions are:

Does this seem like a decent school? (I know I don't have a ton of info yet)

How can I prepare myself to preform well when I do start?

How long does it take to start sparring on average?

[Wastelander]

Welcome to the forum!

Honestly, unless someone here on KF has personal experience with that school, we won't be able to truly tell you if the school is a good one. Even then, everyone is going to have different criteria and a different perspective. You'll really have to go there, ask lots of questions, and watch some classes to see what you think, personally.

As for preparing yourself to perform well when you start, the best thing you can do is lower your expectations for your performance! As strange as that sounds, the hardest thing for many new students is to come in thinking they are going to do great, and then they don't. That can make people give up to soon. All you can do is do your best! Go in with an open mind, try your best, and recognize your limits. Everything will get better in time.

Your final question is one you'll have to ask the instructor at that school, since everyone is different. I've heard of schools that have you spar in your first lesson, and schools that don't let you spar until you've trained for a year! I don't have any clue what the average would be.

[Darkranger85]

Thanks for the reply!

I'm not to worried about doing worse than expected, I in no way think I'm going to be then prodigy of martial arts lol. I expect to not even be able to keep up at first.

How about I rephrase question 1?

I've been watching tons of videos, reading articles, and surfing forums for information on different martial arts and styles.

Grappling doesn't really interest me. But, I've seen that in virtually every match I've watche, the bjj guy puts the other on the ground and then sits on him for the rest of the match without breaking a sweat.

So I wondered if the fact that there is a hapkido/bjj instructor there if I might be able to learn how to stay on my feet and how to put up a challenge if the fight does go to the floor.

[Judodad_karateson]

If their main focus is karate, then yes, you will be staying on your feet. Also, while JJ and Hapkido do have ground components, they are still standing-focused arts.

Honestly, BJJ is the only commonly taught Martial Art that focuses on the ground. Unless you are going to a full BJJ school, you're probably going to spend most of your time on your feet learning standing techniques.

[sensei8]

I've been interested in martial arts for a long time but never pulled the trigger on it. I've been doing web design for a bjj school and decided I wanted to try some martial arts.

In the area I live in the options are limited. The closest school is Makatos School of Martial Arts in vt.

They teach Goju Karate and one of the instructors also does Jiujitsu, both Hapkido and Brazilian.

My goals are fun and fitness but I also wouldn't mind some minor competition.

So my questions are:

Does this seem like a decent school? (I know I don't have a ton of info yet)

 

How can I prepare myself to preform well when I do start?

 

How long does it take to start sparring on average?

To the bold type above...

*I too, don't have a ton of info on that school, other that that schools website, and you'll need much more info than what a website can provide. Having said that, visit the school often until you get the feel about the school. Speak with the CI, students, and those who are just watching class.

**Have an open mind; no preconceived notions!!

If you don't, the road will be quite rocky and unsatisfying, and then some. Be prepared that you'll have to train hard, possibly harder than anything that you've ever done before. Please put rank out of your mind, be that sponge for the CI, and for that style and for that governing body. Don't be a robot, but be that student that seeks and finds that which improve their MA betterment. Things take time, therefore, allow time to take time!!

***Sparring rules greatly vary from school to school, and style to style, and governing body to governing body. Some won't allow sparring until they reach the intermediate level, while other schools will allow sparring from day one with or without safety rules. That means that students will train up to Jiyu Kumite [Free Style], having to first do the perquisites of Jiyu first. I don't believe in delaying sparring training; the best time is now!!

Train hard...train well!!