How fit does your sensei/instructor expect you to be in on the first day of a martial arts class?

Do they start off with long, tough cardiovascular workouts? Or do they go at a pace so that the people not in that good of shape could actually have a chance to follow along?





How is it compared to crosscountry training/workouts? (if any of you have been in crosscountry)

How fit does your sensei/instructor expect you to be in on the first day of a martial arts class?
You will be expected to be out of shape and there is no shame in this, if you cannot keep up with every one else do not worry. DO as much as you can and keep it up; Soon you will be able to maintain the same speed and level as the rest of the class in a few weeks of practice with a group as long as you are going to class each week.





Good Luck!!
Reply:My instructor has intense workouts, but does not expect everyone to be able to start out at that level. He also makes exceptions for others limitations. Some people have disease processes or injuries that prevent certain movements. He just expects us to do our best. Because I am older and have some arthritis issues, he has given me alternate exercises to do when he has us do certain moves (I have problems with stair step kicks because of my knees, I do a double kick on the same leg instead)





Give a class a try -- our instructor allows investigators to join a class without committment.
Reply:you can be a big loaf of bread for all he cares. Martial arts is not 100% fighting. some use it to lose weight and BECOME fit. maybe the fit is the expectation you're talking about. i've seen many skinny and fat people start. most of the fat ones lose or lost weight and became really fit and does well for their rank others start out as machines and become black in 6 months. skinny ones well they are fit and the ones that worked out at the same time have gotten cut like bruce lee.





So if you're thinking about looking for a MA class and aren't that fit. don't worry


he is not asking you to be a certain weight for your height. MA is to Better yourself. kinda like the reason some take Yoga. to become more flexible. you don't have to have a certain flexibility since you will end up more flexible then you were
Reply:Mine expected new students to be ignorant (about martial arts) and out of shape.





New students were instructed to keep up as best they could but not to exceed their physical limitations.





The first day of class it came as quite a surprise to me that we had to run continuously for 15 minutes before the class started. This is where most of the "not exceeding my limitations" came into play during my first couple of months.





I started by running for 3 minutes and resting for 2. Before I knew it, I was walking 40 blocks to work every day!


.
Reply:urabadcatman,


I enjoyed your question!





Don't worry! At a good school You will be able to start where you are physically and become stronger or more fit as you increase in knowledge white belt thu black belt).





Usually After a brief warm-up you will go with other adult beginners to work with your instructor.


-You will learn basic techniques and simple, practical defensive skills, coordination, kicks and submissions (depending on the system)





-Have a cool down-





Here is an example of a first class at LA Boxing in Orem Ut


The students that go there are real cool, there are no "ego's" in class. Everyone there is more than willing to help each other out, so you can learn as much as possible.





The teacher





The instructor is Jason Mertlich -Walt Bayless Jiu Jitsu- since 1995. Earned Black Belt under Walt in 1998. Continued instruction under Walt Black Belt Griffen Reynaud. Trained with Veterans of Jiu Jitsu, Olympic wrestling, Sambo, MMA He reminds students to keep , stay balanced, focus, and be positive.(great guy)





The warm-up





Students warm up by doing active stretching exercises, focusing on the wrists, shoulders, and hips. You need to stretch well to prepare for the movements it's important to concentrate on what your body is doing, how it is making motions, and what forces act upon it and know when to stop.





The techniques





Next they practice which are used in this system how to put arm bars correctly all of which employed principals of balance and momentum to get your opponent off balance and onto the ground while maintaining good posture, balance, and a smile.Then learn and practice a series of movements properly., switching partners and trying the above with people of different sizes. AS you become better at the movements the speed increases.





The cool-down





They end with a cool-down by streaching out and asking questions








I wish you the best! my study has beeen over 30 years and I am still learning;0)





Devin Willis








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Reply:if your in tae kwon do or a similar art than your instructor expects you too be normal. possible badly behaved, and ignerant of course.





(of course my instructor dissmisses new students if their rude XD " I am NOT wasting my time on you, your dismissed come back next class!"





of course i know in many kendo classes the instructors expect you to be perfectly behaved, respectful and willing to learn and learn quickly





as for the workouts they may be moderate-intense but done worry your bodyly will adapt very quickly. just dont be afriad to sweat
Reply:However fit you are is how fit your teacher should expect you to be. You work out at a pace that suits your physical abilities. You do not have to keep up with everyone else. You push yourself as far as you can without hurting yourself, and that is as much as you can expect of yourself.
Reply:my instructor expects everyone to suck at the start cause lets face it you do that sort of stuff to get fit so most fit people wouldnt start





i said most not all
Reply:Some schools nowadays require you to present a certificate with a doctor's ok for you to engage in strenous activities like the martial arts. But all in all, most schools don't expect you to complete a marathon on your first day in class. As long as you don't have any disabilities, most schools may expect you to try to keep up to their pace to give you an idea of what it's gonna be like, but they won't force you to. My Aikido sensei had what would be considered an honor system type of workout, in that you can go over to the corner and sit anytime you feel like you need to rest and catch your breathe, but as soon as you feel better, you must be honest enough to get back onto the mat and rejoin the class. He didn't force anyone, but he had a way of making you feel guilty for not training enough to last the entire class. Which was why we deeply appreciated his endurance exercises and drills during warm ups before lessons. It was a whopper of an exercise regimen, but it trained our bodies to be able to last for hours on the mat, making us better able to perform our lessons.