Beginning Martial Arts

By: Eric Daniel


Martial Arts are for both adults and children. There are many reasons to practice Martial Arts. This paper is to tell you why you should join Martial Arts, help you pick a good dojo as well as sensei and what you can expect when you first begin.

People should join Martial Arts for many reasons. One reason is to get in shape. Many people have joined the Martial Arts because some Martial Arts such as Tae Kwon Do have exercises that improve your health and help you get in better shape. Another reason is because Martial Arts can help improve your focus and self- discipline. This is a benefit that will help children and adults. Focusing can help a child improve his/her grades in school for adults focus can help them at work. If you have a job that requires you to stay alert and focus like a construction worker, Martial Arts can help. Furthermore, Martial Arts can help adults with ADD (attention Deficit Disorder) and children with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyper Active Disorder) as well as ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder). Finally, you should join Martial Arts because you will learn to defend yourself, friends, and family members if you ever get into a sticky situation. For example, if you go to High School and you see another High Schooled beating up middle schooled (or anyone) you can take control of the situation and if needed, use Martial Arts to help defend the person.

When you are first thinking about joining a dojo you must do research. You should look in your local phone book to see what Martial Art dojo’s are in your area, write them down and when you have time check out each one. When you go to a dojo the sensei should let you watch at least one class before you join and when you are watching the class you need to take notes on anything you find may be important (like how the sensei teaches his students, Does this dojo have a friendly environment?) Finally, after evaluating all the dojos choose the one you liked most and sign up for class.

In the first month of training you can expect many things. A few things you can expect is to make new friends, go around barefoot and wearing a gi , and doing a lot of bowing. When you evaluated the class you should have known that this dojo had a friendly environment. You can expect to have a friend in the dojo and also the students should be your friend outside of class and you should be friendly to them in and out of class. When you first enter the dojo you will most likely have to go around the dojo barefoot. Going barefoot will/should be expected of all the students when they first get onto the mat. Wearing shoes on the mat can tear the mat. That is why you go around barefoot. Finally, you have to buy a gi. A gi is worn at class only, not outside of class. The reason you wear a gi is to help in some of the martial art techniques and because it’s part of the Asian tradition.
I hope you understand how martial arts can benefit you, how you can find a good dojo and what to expect if you ever join martial arts.