For the Adult Beginner in Martial Arts

      It is common to have adults take martial arts classes at most schools.  While some people feel self-conscious about it, it is common (at least in any of the schools I've worked in) for roughly a third of the student body to be over the age of 30.  And why not?  Martial Arts training is fun, a good workout, and is a good way to learn a new sport or how to defend yourself.  However, here are some ideas to keep in mind that should help steer you away from some of the pitfalls I've seen many others succumb to in their journey.

1. Know what it is your want.  If you're looking for cardio, then make that a goal and share that with any potential school.  Likewise, if you're looking for self-defense, make that clear as well.  Do some research on how each style has developed and be an aware consumer.  Know that every school owner is passionate about what they do because they've dedicated their lives to it.  Know what your goals are, read up a little, and then move from there.


2. Realize that study in martial arts for an adult is a lifestyle change.  You're not going to do this for a weekend and get anything useful out of it.  People with black belts study for multiple years to learn these things.  Walk in recognizing that this is going to require some devotion from you.


3. Empty your proverbial cup.  Maybe you took martial arts as a kid or maybe you saw something in a movie.  That's great - and it's ok to have your opinions about how something should work or questions about "what if."  However, you're in a class with someone that has dedicated many many years of study to this.  Let this person do his or her job and teach you what they know.  See that through and then decide how you will assimilate that information.  Surgically remove the phrase "I know" from your vocabulary while in the school if necessary.  If you truly knew, you'd have a school of your own.  You're at that school because you don't know and want to change that fact.  Bear that in mind in whatever you do there.


4. Know that life will test you.  You'll have distractions to your training.  You'll want to stay home and do nothing from time to time.  This is normal, but it's important to know the reasons why you started.  If those reasons haven't changed, then get off your rear and see it through.


5. Balancing the last point, remember that there will be times when you'll do a lot of good to take a break.  If you're studying a more aggressive style that can be rough on the body, then you may need to take a day or so and heal.  Along those same lines, it's common to get injured a little bit when trying something new.  Giving yourself adequate time to heal isn't laziness.  At the very least, tweak your training.  If you have a wrist injury, work your legs and cardio more.  If you have a knee problem, then dial back the jump techniques and work on upper body.  If you have a cold, then just stay home.  The other students could do without that little gift!


6. Just like in music, hair styles, and dances, martial arts has its share of trends that come down the pike all the time.  I've seen cardio kickboxing, the rise of MMA, Israeli Military training... all come in and out of the collective consciousness of martial arts.  That's not to say they don't have something to offer; at their core, each of these has added something valuable to the conversation.  However, remember that human beings have been doing martial arts in some form since before there were settled civilizations (early cave paintings show standardized hunting and tribal defensive techniques from those time periods).  Unless human beings start growing tails or extra limbs or new types of joints, these variations are going to be really more about approach and narrowing in on goals of practitioners.  Revolution probably isn't going to be in the area of technique.  At the same time, don't be closed off to these new things either.  Just remember to keep them in context.


7. Every so often, you'll find a school that has some unhealthy elements in it.  I've spent a lot of time doing Tai Chi along with some of the other styles I've studied (it helped rehab a goofy hip joint I have).  During that time, I came into contact with some places that gave me a few red flags.  I have always loved meditation along with Tai Chi and still practice regularly.  However, it's important not to study with a teacher that wants to inform a student of what his or her's spiritual level is, what is appropriate in one's private life or relationships, or what religious views one should have.  Being a martial arts teacher has its weight - people come to me (or someone like me) and ask for advice and input outside of the scope of class all the time.  That's ok; If I can help someone out by talking with him or her, then I'm happy to do it.  However, realize that there are always going to be people out there looking to take your money or, worse, to pull you into something that can only be described as a cult.  It's not common, but it happens.  This goes back to my first point - know what you want out of the class.  If someone is trying to push you into something else, then find one of the exits and move through it quickly.  Those situations never end well.

    So, here are some things to mull over as an adult student looking into a martial arts school.  Remember to have a clear understanding of what you want out of the school, that you're going to need to make some life changes to really do it right, keep your preconceptions in check, stay motivated, balance hard work with recovery time, keep trends in perspective, and avoid places that are pushing unwanted opinions about your personal life on you.  If you navigate these things, then you'll have many years of enjoyment out of your martial arts study and be a credit to any school with which you work.

How Do I Support My Young Martial Arts Student?

    Many times, I get asked by parents about what they can do to help their son or daughter in their martial arts practice.  Indeed, a parent can set the tone of their child's martial arts practice.  In my experience, I've seen parents help motivate their kids through tough patches in their training as well as parents that have ruined their child's study.  Here are a few ideas that can help along the way.

1. Be sure to bring the child on time.  Too often, parents show up late and their kids have to rush to get changed.  Their practice starts off with them rushing in, interrupting class (exhibiting the emotional state that I playfully refer to as "walking around like an unwashed dog"), and then stretching poorly and risking injury.  Show up 5 to 10 minutes early for a class.
   
   
2. Be involved in the martial arts school.  In the case of my school, we're located close to a grocery, dry cleaner, and lots of other errand-type places.  We're more than happy to have your children practice with us while you do what you need to do.  However, know the instructors' names!  These people are going to be leaving a life long impression on your kids.  Be a part of that.
   
   
3. Only allow your child to progress through the ranks if his or her behavior has been acceptable.  Don't feel pressured by your child or the school to approve and pay for a test if you don't feel your child has earned it.  When you pay and sign for the test, you're approving of what's going on.
   
   
4. If you have a problem with something or someone at the martial arts school, be sure to handle it in a way that doesn't cause problems for your child.  Sometimes, you may have a problem with an instructor or another parent - these things happen.  However, the concerns with the business should be handled with the school owner after classes.  If your child is present during the conversation, be sure to speak in a tone that will allow the teacher to maintain credibility with your child.  Set a good example for your child in the appropriate way to handle problems with others (i.e. without name calling and rude behavior).  Use this as an opportunity to teach your child how to deal with issues that come up in life.  In this way, your child is still going to learn and grow no matter what.  Be the example you want for your kids.
   
   
5.  In the rare instance that there is an injury, don't panic.  Bruises on the body (and even on the ego) are common in martial arts training.  As long as there is no abuse occurring, allow the child to brush him or herself off and try again.  It's important for the students to see that failure is a great teacher.  Failing doesn't make you a failure; it simply makes you human.  Some of the most accomplished people could write volumes on all the projects that didn't work.  Those earlier failures shape a person's abilities and hone his or her's attention and skill.  Injuries are failures as well - failures in safety procedures, failures in technique execution, or just good old fashioned failures of skill.  Learn and move on.
   
   
6. Sometimes, your kids are going to be grumpy about coming to class.  Even a really great school that motivates kids well will have students that occasionally don't want to go.  Take a look at your own exercise schedule; do you feel equally motivated every day to exercise?  While it shouldn't be a constant tug of war to get them to go, it is common to have to motivate your child from time to time.  If it's a good school, then your child will come out of class feeling a lot better.  Point that out to them!  Teach them the importance of working through the rough patches to get to the better parts of life.  They will learn the virtues of being devoted and tenacious young people that aren't afraid to do what it takes to get the things that are important to them.  That alone can be more empowering and liberating than any technique I could ever teach.

Keep these things in mind and you'll be a great asset to your child's martial arts experience.  Be on time, have a relationship with the instructors, stay involved in the process, be a role model, and be there for the tough times.  With a parent doing those things, any kid is bound to have a great start in his or her martial arts journey.