Questions
and Answers
What should I wear?
Wear comfortable shorts or sweatpants. On your first lesson you may wear any tshirt. Upon joining you will receive the school tshirt at no additional charge. The school tshirt is required to be worn during class. Barefeet, socks or wrestling shoes are allowed on the mat.
Do I need any equipment
There is no required equipment as we have gloves, focus mitts, thaipads and other equipment can be borrowed while at the gym. If you decide to purchase your own equipment you can purchase it from our online store. All products are eligible for a MSDA discount of 10% (except for the bundles which are already discounted). When it asks for a Coupon Code, enter "MSDA".
How
long will it take me to become reasonably proficient and how long will it
take to attain black belt level?
The
time it takes to become proficient varies upon the style and your own abilities.
In most self defense systems, you should feel that you could defend yourself
fairly well after six months. To reach to reach black belt, the same variables
are in play, but somewhere between three and five years is about right.
How
many classes per week should I attend?
Most
instructors recommend two classes per week, plus some practice time in between
classes. You should match your involvement with fitness level.
Will
there be other beginners in my class?
At
this studio, the are grouped by age and rank. This means that you should be
in a class with other beginners and lower ranks.
Is
sparring necessary to learn martial arts?
Some
martial arts do not require sparring. Most other martial arts do. Since martial
arts involves dealing with an opponent, it is necessary to practice in conditions
similar to an actual confrontation. In this way you learn about reactions,
timing and speed. There are many different ways to spar which include very light contact to full-contact. The amount of contact is decided by the student. There is never any pressure to spar hard. Students are encouraged to spar at a level in which they feel comfortable.
What
are the chances of getting injured?
The
chances of getting injured are very small since the training should be constantly
supervised with safety in mind. The better equipped that the studio is (mats,etc.)
and the protective gear that is required to be worn by all students reduces
the chances even further.
Should
I take group or private lessons?
Private
lessons will increase your progression two to three times faster than by taking
group lessons alone. The personalized attention and energy of an instructor
is a tremendous advantage. Group lessons are good because it allows you to
see how different people react to situations and techniques. You also get
to meet new people and friends. The best of both worlds is a program that
lets you have both group and private lessons.