Help with getting started

[sheherezade]

Can anyone please help me get started on the martial arts path.
I'm 29 years old and am serious about martial arts, but have no reference point.
I have realized that the universe is a reflection of my inner self.
I suppose that's partly what brought me here.

[Sean Dempsey]

I suggest you find a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu school and go check it out.

Remember "That which you work against works against you."

[sheherezade]

I intend on hanging around this forum for a while- I now I will learn a lot.

My interest in martial arts doesn't stem from any negative feelings like hatred or anger. I'd like to make that clear.

As far as I'm concerned it is all about self-improvement:
making the entity that I am a better human being.

I am not violent, and I have no use for negativity.

[fcokeefe]

You will hear alot of people give you thier idea of what is best to do i.e. how to fight, what to study, who to listen to and who not to listen to. The only information I could part to you is put a grain of salt in everything you will read here. Go to a book store and find books on different styles, you don't need to buy or do an indepth study of the books either, surf the internet. Go to pages like www.budoseek.net that give you basic ideas of what the different arts are like. Decide what you want out of the arts and pick one that is right for you. Go to different schools, talk to the instructors, ask questions (alot of questions). Get a good feel for the instructor, whether you would like to give this person your hard earned cash to kick your arse or not. And if the instructor seem to get a joy out of the idea of kicking your arse from the start, keep searching. They are there to teach not beat on you. You will get your fair share of abuse through the natural course of things. Most of all just stick with it. At first you find things to be difficult, hard to remember, maybe even feel slightly awkward. Work past it and you will succeed. Best to you in your search.