Beginning Martial Arts Training
When you begin any kind of martial arts training or involvement with fighting techniques then at first it is going to be unlike anything you have learnt before. Like any new skill it takes time for the basics to sink in to your unconscious. When this happens your instinct takes over and you can think about the next technique.
At the start though this takes a while and you will spend many a class, stumbling through the movements, katas or forms along with you new classmates. This is perfectly normal of course. The body is learning a new and unnatural act and to a great extent it is about building up that mechanical/physical memory of the moves to bring about a natural performance.
Do not expect too much at the beginning. You will probably not be jumping about like a grasshopper and pounding the hell out of bricks in the first couple of weeks. Depending on the art you have chosen, you will be tested in different ways and at different times to measure your progress.
Your teacher will use progressive steps to bring you along as the classes continue and it would be unwise to overwhelm the new student with too much information and technique. If this does happen, it can make a person feel like they cannot cope with the practice and consequently they drop out of the class. This is rare though and most teachers will recognise the varied needs of their students. If a class is well established and has been in existence for some time, you can be pretty sure this won’t happen.
Along with the physical training, the new student should read up on the art using available literature. This helps to fully immerse oneself in the goals and philosophy of the style in question and helps to motivate and sustain our training. Through reading we can attain a greater sense of connection to the traditions and original teachings of the founders.
Following your teachers advice is also crucial at all times. You are (usually) paying to be instructed by a professional and it is their experience that you are seeking to learn from so trust that experience and let it be your guide.
Martial art training in a traditional style takes time, unlike some of the newer forms of self defense techniques. If you spent time doing your research and have chosen one of the older styles then you have already decided to devote a substantial amount of time to your development. To pursue any kind of physical training has incredible benefits over time. You will find yourself becoming more disciplined, fitter and healthier all-round as well as a more rounded person as you train side by side with other like-minded individuals towards a common goal.
Visit http://hand to hand combat.com for articles on hand to hand combat and fighting techniques.
Mich Andrews
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