It’s common for people to be hesitant to begin their martial arts journey. Sure, most of us would like to be comfortable defending ourselves while gaining strength and skill in a fun and friendly environment, but many people feel overwhelmed by their concerns about training. Some think, “Oh I have to get in shape before I start training.” Or maybe others claim that they’re too busy to attend classes. The truth is that too many people let their fear of trying something new delay or even prevent them from getting started with a local martial arts program.
I felt the same way; I was fascinated by martial arts but let my fears of embarrassing myself hold me back from attending classes for far too long. I knew that it would be pretty safe to attend a beginners class, but I wasn’t in great shape and had never played a sport before so I assumed that I would be less athletically inclined than most people. I was nervous about doing the movements wrong, looking stupid or accidentally hurting someone. However, I found that the environment was very controlled, nobody got hurt and it was way more fun that going to a conventional gym. There were a few experienced practitioners in the class and none of them made me feel badly about struggling to understand some of the movements; many of them would even come over and help me throughout the class.
Sure, I’ve had some embarrassing moments on the mats, but most of the time everyone is forgiving and understanding. It’s even likely that some of your coaches and training partners have experienced something similar to what you’re going through. I’ve fallen down while trying to land some cool kick in sparring, I’ve struggled my way through a new sequence in jiu-jitsu class, I’ve passed gas at suboptimal times during training and I’ve even put my Gi pants on backward and walked onto the mat without realizing. The important thing is that we all just keep showing up with a good attitude and spread that culture to the newcomers. Be understanding when that new student brings their striking gear to jiu-jitsu class, lend a helping hand to the guy trying to keylock someone from guard.
At Precision Boxing and MMA, we pride ourselves on offering beginner-friendly classes seven days a week. Feel free to talk with our staff about any concerns you might have, you’ll likely find that we’ve all been through it! Below is a video from Precision Boxing and MMA head Coach Brian McLaughlin, detailing some of his most embarrassing training moments. Don’t let anything hold you back from getting started today, give us a call at (845)392-8495 or click HERE!
About the Author
Oliver Swanson is an avid martial arts practitioner living in the Hudson Valley. He teaches boxing classes in Poughkeepsie throughout the week and trains at Precision Boxing and MMA. In addition to his martial arts practice, Oliver is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer and mixed martial arts blogger.
