What to expect in a martial arts class?
April 21, 2018 6:16 PM Subscribe
I've been interested in taking some form of martial arts or self-defense class for a long time, but a couple of things hold me back: 1) the idea of grappling with strangers 2) fear of getting punched or falling a lot. I'm past 40 and falling is something I feel more and more cautious about. And 3) I'm not in great shape.
I'd like to hear from people who have taken classes to get an idea of what to expect in beginner level classes, and if any specific discipline is less likely to leave me explaining a black eye in the office the next day.
I'd like to hear from people who have taken classes to get an idea of what to expect in beginner level classes, and if any specific discipline is less likely to leave me explaining a black eye in the office the next day.
Best answer: This will depend a lot on the particular martial art, as well as the particular instructor or organization. For example, it seems clear judo is not what you're looking for--it's grappling and throws. I've been doing shotokan karate for the last few years, mostly of a particularly traditional* bent, which means little contact until you're quite experienced. Obviously, mistakes happen and there's the occasional bruise or scratch, but a black eye would be a freak occurrence. Class does occasionally involve touching or interacting with other people's bodies and being touched (think like scenes of dancers training in documentaries or films), which obviously can be a dealbreaker for some people.
So what do we do in class? It basically breaks down into thirds: basics, sparring, kata (forms). Basics is practicing, well, basics. We usually do some punching in place, followed by some kicking in place, followed by combinations moving forwards and backwards. (Something like this.) Sparring is generally prescribed (something like this), though depending on who's there, we might edge closer to free sparring. If one were really good, kata looks something like this. (The woman on the left was world kata champion. If you watch closely, you'll notice that they're actually from two different styles of karate and have slightly different versions.)
Where I train now skews heavily towards highly experienced adults, meaning someone will work with beginners one-on-one for a few classes before throwing them in the deep end. Other places I've trained have had much more of a spread of experience and can actually support a beginner class.
I have something of a bias against MMA and BJJ, as they seem to be particularly susceptible to cultures of toxic masculinity (of course, I have a perfectly decent coworker who does BJJ), and I think martial arts/schools strongly oriented towards self-defense or "practical applications" are susceptible to it as well. But beyond that, look at what's available where you are, google it and pick something that seems appealing.
*There's something of a division between "traditional" karate and "sport" karate. However, shotokan was formalized less than 100 years ago, so "traditional" here doesn't mean "has existed as a style for centuries".
posted by hoyland at 7:13 PM on April 21, 2018 [2 favorites]
So what do we do in class? It basically breaks down into thirds: basics, sparring, kata (forms). Basics is practicing, well, basics. We usually do some punching in place, followed by some kicking in place, followed by combinations moving forwards and backwards. (Something like this.) Sparring is generally prescribed (something like this), though depending on who's there, we might edge closer to free sparring. If one were really good, kata looks something like this. (The woman on the left was world kata champion. If you watch closely, you'll notice that they're actually from two different styles of karate and have slightly different versions.)
Where I train now skews heavily towards highly experienced adults, meaning someone will work with beginners one-on-one for a few classes before throwing them in the deep end. Other places I've trained have had much more of a spread of experience and can actually support a beginner class.
I have something of a bias against MMA and BJJ, as they seem to be particularly susceptible to cultures of toxic masculinity (of course, I have a perfectly decent coworker who does BJJ), and I think martial arts/schools strongly oriented towards self-defense or "practical applications" are susceptible to it as well. But beyond that, look at what's available where you are, google it and pick something that seems appealing.
*There's something of a division between "traditional" karate and "sport" karate. However, shotokan was formalized less than 100 years ago, so "traditional" here doesn't mean "has existed as a style for centuries".
posted by hoyland at 7:13 PM on April 21, 2018 [2 favorites]
Best answer: I started karate a few years ago in a mixed-level adult class. The class started with a few minutes of calisthenics and stretching, then we'd do a mix of drills, kata, and self-defense.
Any partner work starts with the maxim, "Take care of your partner" - you're not trying to incapacitate them, you're trying to help them learn the technique and vice versa. Any technique involving throwing should not be done unless both parties know how to breakfall. If a higher belt is working with a lower belt, the higher belt is expected to not use advanced techniques on the lower belt.
The dojo I go to doesn't allow contact sparring till students have passed several belt tests, and again, if a higher belt is sparring with a lower belt, the higher belt should be allowing the lower belt to practice techniques, not to use as a punching bag.
I've been training for almost six years and I've had a few bruises on arms or legs; I think someone noticed a bruise on my leg once in the summertime, but that was it.
You don't have to be in great shape to start training; some classes will be more intense than others, but it's a good mental as well as physical workout.
posted by mogget at 7:14 PM on April 21, 2018
Any partner work starts with the maxim, "Take care of your partner" - you're not trying to incapacitate them, you're trying to help them learn the technique and vice versa. Any technique involving throwing should not be done unless both parties know how to breakfall. If a higher belt is working with a lower belt, the higher belt is expected to not use advanced techniques on the lower belt.
The dojo I go to doesn't allow contact sparring till students have passed several belt tests, and again, if a higher belt is sparring with a lower belt, the higher belt should be allowing the lower belt to practice techniques, not to use as a punching bag.
I've been training for almost six years and I've had a few bruises on arms or legs; I think someone noticed a bruise on my leg once in the summertime, but that was it.
You don't have to be in great shape to start training; some classes will be more intense than others, but it's a good mental as well as physical workout.
posted by mogget at 7:14 PM on April 21, 2018
Best answer: I can recommend Tae Kwon Do/Hwa Rang Do. The school I teach at offers it as a weekly sport for the students and I have joined in a number of times. Great stretches and warmups, a decent cardio workout and kicking, striking, blocking and handholds.
I also really appreciate the philosophy behind it - integrity, courtesy, perseverance, self control, and indomitable spirit.
posted by robotot at 7:42 PM on April 21, 2018 [2 favorites]
I also really appreciate the philosophy behind it - integrity, courtesy, perseverance, self control, and indomitable spirit.
posted by robotot at 7:42 PM on April 21, 2018 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Thanks for the answers! As far as what I want to get out of it - I'm a kind of small woman, easily intimidated physically. I'd like to feel stronger and more confident and more able to take care of myself in a pinch - if necessary.
posted by bunderful at 7:55 PM on April 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by bunderful at 7:55 PM on April 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
Best answer: If you want practical self-defense I'd look into a women's self-defense class instead of more general martial arts classes. Or I know some women who have found krav maga to be very practical and empowering, but I think there's a fair amount of grappling and close contact.
posted by TwoStride at 8:01 PM on April 21, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by TwoStride at 8:01 PM on April 21, 2018 [3 favorites]
Best answer: I took krav maga for a year and really enjoyed it but it is nonstop grappling and close contact. I definitely got bruised up and never took a bad hit but I did get punched in the face once or twice. There were people of all age ranges in the class and the instructor took care to partner us up with people on our own level, so for the most part I felt like I was never given more than I could actually handle (one face punch was received when I was paired up with a Level 2 person during testing).
I'd recommend it generally but it would definitely give me pause if I was looking to avoid a lot of close contact.
posted by caitcadieux at 9:17 PM on April 21, 2018
I'd recommend it generally but it would definitely give me pause if I was looking to avoid a lot of close contact.
posted by caitcadieux at 9:17 PM on April 21, 2018
Best answer: I took Akido for a few years and loved it. I’m a smaller women too and found that since the discipline was focused on using your partners momentum to restrain it worked well for me. There was a lot of grappling but it felt almost dance like to me, and after a few classes I knew the people I was learning with. I was terrified that I’d accidentally hurt someone, and I did twist people incorrectly a few times, but never enough to keep them out for more then a few minutes. I on the other hand managed to injure myself when my dojo decided to do a hell week and ask everyone to practice as many hours as they could. I pushed myself too hard, couldn’t even sit up for a week afterwards. But that was the worst of it.
Hope you find a great class!
posted by lepus at 9:28 PM on April 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
Hope you find a great class!
posted by lepus at 9:28 PM on April 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
Best answer: In the short run a woman's self-defence class from the Y.
In the longer run, try shotokan karate from one of the non-"mcdojo" places, or aikido. Aikido is very much not "pick them up and drop them" and more "when the assailant grabs your arm like _this_, you shift your stance like _this_.
And 3) I'm not in great shape.
No worries - there's some progressive physical training so that you get into ok shape.
posted by sebastienbailard at 4:01 AM on April 22, 2018
In the longer run, try shotokan karate from one of the non-"mcdojo" places, or aikido. Aikido is very much not "pick them up and drop them" and more "when the assailant grabs your arm like _this_, you shift your stance like _this_.
And 3) I'm not in great shape.
No worries - there's some progressive physical training so that you get into ok shape.
posted by sebastienbailard at 4:01 AM on April 22, 2018
Best answer: I started tae kwon do (ITF style - female at 40) two years ago and it has been life changing. The general structure of class includes warm ups, barre work, pattern and/or drill work, and finishes with stretching. I won't lie the first few months of class were tough, I probably should have taken more advil on the morning after, but it was tough in a way that made me push myself to do things I thought I could no longer do or never have been able to do at all.
Martial Arts go against so much of the behavior that is ingrained in most women. Hitting and kicking with force tends not to be encouraged in women and there is a lot of mental work to get over that. Conversely sparring with women, for men, can be hard for them. One of my classmates said sorry every time he hit or kicked me for months. We've both gotten over that now. Class quiets our minds because we are focusing on doing things that take patience, practice and control with our bodies. You learn to watch your partner when your are sparring and take care of each other - no one wants to cause harm to anyone else in the class. The sparring gear and mouth guards keep you pretty well protected. Like above I've never gotten more than a light bruise in class.
Physically I am stronger and more confident than I have ever been. When I turn to back out my driveway I am amazed at how much rotation is in my spine. During the first six months or so when my hip flexibility was increasing pretty quickly I used to go to lift my leg to put it into the leg hole of my pants and it would go way too high because for years I had to lift it as high as I could to get pants on standing up and was still lifting it as high as I could but now it was going far higher! I can also jump over things well over three feet high without any problem at all.
All places have their own feel - I think it is important to read reviews that have been left to and to try a few different schools out to see which fits you best. It will be hard but so worth it.
posted by a22lamia at 4:04 AM on April 22, 2018 [7 favorites]
Martial Arts go against so much of the behavior that is ingrained in most women. Hitting and kicking with force tends not to be encouraged in women and there is a lot of mental work to get over that. Conversely sparring with women, for men, can be hard for them. One of my classmates said sorry every time he hit or kicked me for months. We've both gotten over that now. Class quiets our minds because we are focusing on doing things that take patience, practice and control with our bodies. You learn to watch your partner when your are sparring and take care of each other - no one wants to cause harm to anyone else in the class. The sparring gear and mouth guards keep you pretty well protected. Like above I've never gotten more than a light bruise in class.
Physically I am stronger and more confident than I have ever been. When I turn to back out my driveway I am amazed at how much rotation is in my spine. During the first six months or so when my hip flexibility was increasing pretty quickly I used to go to lift my leg to put it into the leg hole of my pants and it would go way too high because for years I had to lift it as high as I could to get pants on standing up and was still lifting it as high as I could but now it was going far higher! I can also jump over things well over three feet high without any problem at all.
All places have their own feel - I think it is important to read reviews that have been left to and to try a few different schools out to see which fits you best. It will be hard but so worth it.
posted by a22lamia at 4:04 AM on April 22, 2018 [7 favorites]
Best answer: Everybody has different goals for the martial arts, and this is OK. People generally tend to separate martial arts into striking (karate, tae kwon do, muay thai, boxing) and grappling (judo, brazilian jiu jitsu), with some hybrid styles (hapkido, some styles of kung fu, etc). I personally wouldn't lump aikido in with Judo because the grappling tends to be done at a distance. Within these categories there are more subdivisions; different styles of kung fu, for instance, can be more striking heavy and more grappling heavy. Karate can go all the way from non-contact to full contact kyokushin.
In any case, how much you like your martial arts class is much more about the exact school than the exact style. When you visit the class, take a look around and try to see if there are people like you there. If a school is full of young teenagers who want to go really hard with each other that is OK, but it is probably not for you.
Finally, on a different note, if you are afraid of falling, I would suggest learning to fall over avoiding it. I am a giant nerd and have never used any of my martial arts to actually fight anybody. I have, however, used my ability to take falls a couple of times. Also, there is some evidence in the literature that repeated loading of bones tends to make them denser and more resistant to osteoporosis, particularly with aging.
posted by Comrade_robot at 6:58 AM on April 22, 2018 [1 favorite]
In any case, how much you like your martial arts class is much more about the exact school than the exact style. When you visit the class, take a look around and try to see if there are people like you there. If a school is full of young teenagers who want to go really hard with each other that is OK, but it is probably not for you.
Finally, on a different note, if you are afraid of falling, I would suggest learning to fall over avoiding it. I am a giant nerd and have never used any of my martial arts to actually fight anybody. I have, however, used my ability to take falls a couple of times. Also, there is some evidence in the literature that repeated loading of bones tends to make them denser and more resistant to osteoporosis, particularly with aging.
posted by Comrade_robot at 6:58 AM on April 22, 2018 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thank you for all your helpful answers. I've been curious about this for years but too intimidated to check it out.
posted by bunderful at 7:00 AM on April 22, 2018
posted by bunderful at 7:00 AM on April 22, 2018
> I've been interested in taking some form of martial arts or self-defense class
These are two very different things.
Based on 1,2 and 3, why not try boxing?
posted by yoyo_nyc at 12:59 AM on April 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
These are two very different things.
Based on 1,2 and 3, why not try boxing?
posted by yoyo_nyc at 12:59 AM on April 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
My experience: about 15 years of Tae Kwon Do and about two years of Tai Chi. Tai Chi was, um, a bit too calming for me, but it's excellent if you want to work on balance, peacefulness, and definitely not getting a black eye. Olympic Sport-style Tae Kwon Do features no grappling and is almost exclusively kick-based, so I liked it for those reasons. There is full contact sparring (if you want it) and while I never got a black eye I definitely picked up my fair share of bruises once I got to the intermediate level because there's full contact sparring (though you are wearing headgear and padding).
In my estimation the most grappling-focused disciplines are probably Brazilian Ju-Jitsu and Judo. I have no idea what Karate is up to these days but I think there's definitely more arm work (and thus close contact) than TKD. If you definitely want no contact you could look into Kendo (Japanese sword fighting while wearing awesome, if sometimes very stinky, armor) or Capoeira, which is a lot of feinting at your opponent but no contact.
Generally speaking most martial arts places should be a)very beginner friendly; and b)very regimented in how you advance to minimize the chance that you'll end up getting hurt (that is, you might often square off against someone better than you who can definitely avoid hurting you). I'd just call around and ask about adult beginner classes so you don't end up with a bunch of toddlers.
posted by TwoStride at 6:41 PM on April 21, 2018 [3 favorites]