Why dont more people learn martial arts?

Inlet

According to my brown belt brother and his instructor, the self defense aspect of martial arts doesn't really kick in for a good year or so... before the moves become accurate, strong, and instinctive.
Classes are pretty non-flexible for those who are just squeezing exercise in wherever they can in their day, and it does get expensive.
I can get a gym membership for 30 bucks a month and take as many Rape aggression defense classes as I want to for free.
Simple self defense classes are cheaper, very useful and fast.

Jw9576

My son is with the Gracie Jiu Jitsu studio - he's been doing it for almost 2 years ( he's 6 yrs old )
The cost is about $135.00 a month - 3 sessions a week ( 50 minutes each ) so while it does get expensive ( buying the GI and other stuff, tournaments and special functions ) its also a commitment for life. As the instructors say, "A black belt is a student who never gives up"
You don't go in to any martial arts and think its only going to be a few years
That said, some people aren't willing or able to give that type of commitment. People change, lifestyles change, etc

SLaw4215

Ours was a 3 family member karate membership. I'm a brown belt in Tang Soo Do and for the most part, I loved it. I quit because I personally didn't enjoy the sparring because I have a disc injury. My youngest child quit because the owner of the karate school didn't respect that she has Aspergers Syndrom and instead of helping her learn to become part of the group (learning through repeating and discipline) he would single her out, to the point that other kids didn't want to be in the same class. I traded the expense of monthly karate classes for going back to college.

crazylikefox

This last year I deployed to two locations. The first one was in a war zone where we were issued an M9 and stayed safely inside the wire (I know, I'm a fobbit). The second was to a rather touristy island where bad guys like to prey on the people off the cruise ships and we weren't allowed to go downtown without a male escort. I felt safer in the land of the IDF (indirect fire) than I did weaponless in paradise, where one of our men was mugged at our hotel.

If you have a martial art, you aren't defenseless. Its not a catchall, but it will teach situational awareness as well as improve fitness and self confidence. I am a beginning student in Wing Chun Kung Fu and I love it because it is a soft style. I'm not going to win a slug fest with a dude, and Wing Chun isn't about overpowering the other guy. Its not about sparring or competing, its about threat mitigation. Whereas I thought I had weak upper body strength, they taught me I have height and reach that I can use to my advantage.

Its also pretty expensive. I am really blessed to be able to afford it and have such a great group of students and teachers.

beyg

I don't like the clothing and sound effects......that is the only reason I don't do it.

hrm.. this just sounds like an excuse to me. The clothes may look funny, but everyone else wheres them, so that isnt a real issue. you can (and should) get changed at the dojo, not wear them out in public.

and the "sound effects". they are breathing exercises. they are there to serve a purpose. and again, everyone else is doing it.

not to mention there are schools that dont have the uniforms or the shouting. a lot of MMA gyms will just teach in standard street clothes.

Sound effects, that's funny. Do a no gee MMA with krag maga

vs1023

Expense. The promotions cost money too. My husband did it for years, got to 2nd degree black belt and eventually gave it up from gymnast back pain and cost.

froeschli

I used to do karate. I loved it. But self defense? Nope I wouldn't categorize it as that. Any decent teacher will tell you to run before making a stand.

My sister has a 3rd Dan in aikido. Way more impressive than karate I tell ya. (just don't tell her I said that)

Anyhow, if I could find an affordable dojo in my area, teaching the same style, (there are 2 homebrew karate shools in my town, no shotokan) I'd probably go back to karate. But then I wouldn't be opposed to other flavors of martial arts. Judo used to be fun too. But not very practical.

mysterycookie

I did martial arts from age 4 - 17. (Yes, 13 years.) At the end, I was an assistant instructor and almost went to school to become a full time instructor. The big thing that made me stop was how corporate martial arts can be. It's all about business and marketing. Though I don't like how martial arts schools market themselves towards parents for their children, I look back on my experience positively.

Martial arts helped me gain self respect and gave me determination. I've been wanting to go back for the last couple years (I'm 24 now).

Reasons why I haven't gone back:
1. Price! It's so much more expensive than when I was a kid.
2. Marketing towards kids. A dojo has a much higher chance of catching my attention if they show how serious they are towards learning. I hate seeing little 10 year old black belts. Sure, some kids may actually earn it, but I've seen black belts that can barely throw a proper punch.
3. Paid belt tests and ranks. Knowing I have to pay to even attempt to become a higher rank just feels fake to me. When someone is ready to rank up, they should only have to pay for the belt. (Around $10 vs. $150+)

Edit: Optional classes to give some variety are amazing. I loved having a Tai chi , kickboxing, and sparring class all at the same dojo.

trinitrate

If you want to defend yourself, a concealed carry permit and training is much more useful. If you live ina reasonable state that allows it.

I have a black belt in tkd and have been practicing for about 9 years... i dont consider most MA as great self defense unless you train a lot. Even then size and strength still come into play....

I woud suggest promoting your studio for fitness, and self confidence, discipline etc....be careful about what you promise for self defense...


For the expense factor.... if you ask, a lot of schools will give a stiff discount for prepaying to a certian level. Be careful before over comitting, but if your sure you will use it prepaying can save you thousands...

zorbaru

2. Marketing towards kids. A dojo has a much higher chance of catching my attention if they show how serious they are towards learning. I hate seeing little 10 year old black belts. Sure, some kids may actually earn it, but I've seen black belts that can barely throw a proper punch.
3. Paid belt tests and ranks. Knowing I have to pay to even attempt to become a higher rank just feels fake to me. When someone is ready to rank up, they should only have to pay for the belt. (Around $10 vs. $150+)

Our school doesnt actually accept kids. The youngest we will take is 13. this is for a couple of reasons. no 1 is that the sylabus includes a lot of things that you dont want your average 8 year old to learn (choking, eye gouging etc) and 2, he doesnt want to be used as a cheap babysitting service. in the past when he did teach kids in a different style (he previously taught shotokan), parents would drop the kids off and pick them up 1.5hours later and it was obvious that the kids really didnt want to be there.

I have no issue with paying for tests and ranks. as long as it is not overboard. usually the grading days are seperate from the existing classes, so you will need to pay for the hire of the hall (most schools in adelaide dont have permanent locations, but rather rent space at a community centre etc), plus the extra time spent by the instructor. the belt is included in the cost aswell.

usually low grades are $20, higher is $35 - 40 and black belt tests are around 50 - 60. anything more than that and it is a money grab.

infact i left a TKD school because of their grading prices. i had already got my BB in another school and they were going to assess me direct to BB at this school. i had 3 days notice to come up with $290 for the grading and another $300 for the dobok (uniform). i said thanks but no thanks and left. this was after he said he would be subsidising my training as he wanted me to teach for him.

1shauna1

I would love to! However, I feel like as an adult I would look ridiculous starting off, unless there are adult beginner classes? Also, as a former esthetician I am loathe to have bare feet on an exercise mat like that....

redraidergirl2009

It's expensive.

That's my main reason. I used to do it as I took it for class credit (taekwondo), if I could afford it I would do again. I was in the best shape of my life when I did it and it helped with stress.

I will go back to it once I can afford it again.

plushkitten

You know I really wish I would have taken up my parents offers of learning karate as a kid.

At this age, I practice a lot of qi gong and meditation on my own and have found so much strength and power within myself.
If it was practical, I would live a double life as a Shaolin monk O.O

YassSpartan

It is about $$$ Like right now I'm dying to get back to it, but the high prices and low financial situation is making it impossible for me.

AnarchoGen

learned hand to hand combat in the Marines.

Plus, I would LOVE some MMA, but way too expensive. The gym is cheaper than learning martial arts.

machinegunkate

I'll be doing muay tai when I'm close to my goal weight. My hubs does it already. A lot of people are talking expense - hubs pays $10 a session. My daughter also takes taekwondo -$10 a lesson again, different places. =/

AnarchoGen

I'll be doing muay tai when I'm close to my goal weight. My hubs does it already. A lot of people are talking expense - hubs pays $10 a session. My daughter also takes taekwondo -$10 a lesson again, different places. =/

I'd LOVE to pay that amount! It cost my son $35 per week for one session, which was 45 minutes. This was the kiddie class.

wickedcricket

I know how to defend myself and I can't afford karate classes. Martial Arts classes are FAR more expensive than swimming lessons. I also know how to swim & teach swimming.

and fyi- 2/3 of the planet is covered with water and it's getting deeper every year. I think being comfortable IN and around water IS pretty important. My children learned to swim before they could walk. it's unnatural to be afraid of water since we're all swimmers before we're born, don't you think?

IF martial arts are so important for everyone to know, WHY is it priced out of reach for a single person living on one income? ask your sensi that

Rayman79

I started Karate at age 6, loved it and did it for a number of years - until my parents could no longer afford it . I was bitterly dissapointed as I'd just worked up to my brown belt at that point.

A few years ago I started Aikido, a great small dojo but our first child arrived and money and time were both a little too tight.

I have often thought about starting again, but right now I couldn't justify the expense (financially and time) given that I spend 6 hours a week at the gym and pay them over $100 a month).

There is a martial arts studio/gym across the road from my work building which does MMA and has gym facilities. Once I get to where I want to be with my fat loss, I might consider a move there.

HorrorChix89

I have a gun and family that make people disappear...nuff said

SClausen2012

I tried it, but I am not good at memorizing a series of moves, required to get to the next belt. At first they told me that I could just come for the aerobic activity (which is what I was looking for anyway), but at the second class, I was being forced to memorize a series of moves that I could simply care less about. And the women my age there aren't any slimmer than I am, yet are very close to getting their black belts- which tells me this is probably not helpful in achieving my goal- namely to get in shape. To me Zumba holds my interest more- and I have seen others get great results from Zumba.

As far as protecting myself, I think practicing situational awareness, and the willingness to act like a crazy mad woman screaming "fire" will help me out just fine, if I should ever need it.

susannamarie

I'll be doing muay tai when I'm close to my goal weight. My hubs does it already. A lot of people are talking expense - hubs pays $10 a session. My daughter also takes taekwondo -$10 a lesson again, different places. =/

I'd LOVE to pay that amount! It cost my son $35 per week for one session, which was 45 minutes. This was the kiddie class.

Holy COW! That is a lot! The normal mat fee I pay is $5/2 hour class.

zorbaru

IF martial arts are so important for everyone to know, WHY is it priced out of reach for a single person living on one income? ask your sensi that

my karate classes are less than half the price of my kids swimming classes

i pay $40 per month for 1 session per week at 1.5 hours per session. (you can also play $70 per month for 2 sessions per week). plus we have a sister school that we can train with another 2 sessions per week. my sensei also makes a loss. he does it because he loves it, not because he wants to earn a living from it.

my kids swimming classes are $17 per session for 30 minutes. (fyi they dont train karate as the eldest is only 3 years old)

susannamarie

I would love to! However, I feel like as an adult I would look ridiculous starting off, unless there are adult beginner classes? Also, as a former esthetician I am loathe to have bare feet on an exercise mat like that....

I don't know about other MA's, but in ours most people begin as adults. Yeah, you look ridiculous, but so did everyone else when they started, and we remember it and coach through it.

Also, the bare feet (at least in ours) is more for traction purposes -- we don't want injuries from silly things like slipping in socks, and shoes damage the mats.

HorrorChix89

My brother learned how to swim for free. He was pushed off a cliff by his friend and was told "if you want to live you better swim to the floaty."

He learned within a few minutes. Me on the other hand, I took lessons but after not swimming for a year or so I completely forgot how and now have a fear of water deeper than 4ft.

I did taekwando in middle school to boost self esteem which really only made it worst cause I wasn't allowed to beat up the people teasing me. Then they found out I was taking taekwando and teased me even more. Honestly though, my brother learned how to fight for free just by watching other people and real martial art movies.

Jennyisbusy

I am kinda interested but I have a few reservations. First problem is money, second is being a Mom so I have to do something with the kids, third I have no idea what most of the different names that I am hearing (other than kung fu, karate etc) actually mean - I don't want to accidentally sign up for 'kick you in the face lots' class. :P

Another thing to consider is it is intimidating to me (and probably other people) to imagine walking into a dojo to sign up for classes. Maybe having open houses where people come in and talk and look around would be helpful?? Being approachable may make a difference on the bottom line.

susannamarie

I am kinda interested but I have a few reservations. First problem is money, second is being a Mom so I have to do something with the kids, third I have no idea what most of the different names that I am hearing (other than kung fu, karate etc) actually mean - I don't want to accidentally sign up for 'kick you in the face lots' class. :P

Another thing to consider is it is intimidating to me (and probably other people) to imagine walking into a dojo to sign up for classes. Maybe having open houses where people come in and talk and look around would be helpful?? Being approachable may make a difference on the bottom line.

Any dojo should let you come in and observe a class. Any dojo that will NOT let you observe a class before signing up is a giant red flag and probably something that you should stay away from.

Step 1) Locate several different local martial arts that take adult-child classes if possible.
Step 2) Ask friends for reviews or search the web.
Step 3) Call the most interesting couple and ask if you can observe a class.
Step 4) While observing the class, watch how the instructor interacts with the students. Are students challenged to improve, but not beyond their capabilities? Are accomplishments praised? Is the class mainly on-task or do they run amok?
Step 5) Ask questions such as how often belt tests are, how much they cost, how often tournaments are and if they're required, etc.
Step 6) Make a decision based on your impressions.

Honestly, at this point, the instructor is more important than the art. I'd choose a good instructor in any art over a mediocre instructor in any other art.

zorbaru

couldnt have said it better myself

also ask how long the instructor has been training.

i would be wary of anything less than 5 years.

Rayman79

Great post susannamarie, very good advice for anyone thinking of starting out - I am sure it is extremely intimidating if you haven't been around MA training before!

Zorbaru, out of curiosity, where do you train?

zafferFL

I was helping out my sensei in a shopping centre display last weekend, trying to bring more students to our school. When he was talking to them he made what i thought was a great point.

People learn to swim so they dont drown if they fall in the water. they do first aid courses to help people that are injured. why isnt learning martial arts to protect yourself from an attack seen as something just as important?

and lets face it. you arent around water all the time, and if you dont know how to swim, you probably wouldnt go near it anyways. but you are around people everyday. so what is more likely? being attacked in the street or drowning in the ocean?

for those of you that dont do it, i would like to hear your reasons why. this will help me (and in turn my school) bring in more students as we will be able to eliviate some of the reasoning that people have.

and if you want to lose weight (and i know you do, thats why you are here), punch "karate" into the exercise database and see what it comes up with. you will be buying those funny white pyjamas in no time.

In my 32 years I have never been attacked in the street, lucky me I guess