Are martial arts for a 35yo newbie (no sports experience whatsoever)?

[chillaplata]

Flaves,

I trained here in NYC:

Welcome to Anderson's Martial Arts Academy

I've moved to California and started training at these two schools:

Gracie Barra Jiu Jitsu Academy Santa Barbara County - Team Rodrigo Clark

SBMartialArts.com

[Flaves]

chill,

where did you train at before? what about now?

[chillaplata]

I started training as a 35-year-old newbie also, and when I started I was a lot more out of shape than it sounds like you are (6'0, 245, mostly fat). I've been training on and off since then, though not nearly as consistently as I should be. I don't really have much to add to the excellent advice you have received from others in this thread, particularly from treelizard, Shoot and Flaves, but I can offer my own story as general encouragement.

I trained for a bit more than a year at a JKD Concepts school that had a curriculum including boxing, Muay Thai, Kali and Jun Fan Gung Fu. The school also had a strong BJJ curriculum, and although I wasn't really conditioned enough to roll at first I took a lot of private lessons to get a good grounding in fundamentals. Now (having moved across the country) I train stand-up at a kung-fu and kickboxing school and grappling at a Gracie-Barra BJJ school.

My experience training at these schools has been uniformly positive. I don't have the skill level or conditioning to compete with some of the younger guys who've been training for years, but it hasn't been an issue. I just try to learn and improve and not to worry about how I stack up against others. Eventually I may look to compete in some BJJ tournaments, but for now I'm not really concerned with competition.

I've found my instructors and fellow students, really without significant exception, to be friendly and supportive. Now I may have been a bit lucky in finding good places to train, but if you follow treelizard's advice on choosing a gym you should be able to find a school that is a good fit for you.

I haven't had any serious injuries from training. Jammed a thumb throwing an elbow and threw my shoulder out rolling, but I was able to keep training and working out. I have also found that trying to keep up with fit twenty-somethings motivates me to work out more outside of class. I now think of going to the gym to do cardio or lift weights as "training for class", just as a professional fighter would train for a fight.

Best of luck with your training, and let us know how it goes!

[Tant01]

Yay for gray...

i'm commenting on my phone so esxuse the horrible grammar and capitalization.

i'd just like to mention that there is a 60 year old guy who just started boxing at my gym,he's quite the trooper! so the answer is no, you're never too old to train martia arts.

That's cool....

[Bjjexpertise@be]

i'm commenting on my phone so esxuse the horrible grammar and capitalization.

i'd just like to mention that there is a 60 year old guy who just started boxing at my gym,he's quite the trooper! so the answer is no, you're never too old to train martia arts.

[treelizard]

We have no-gi submission grappling but the schools I know (except for one sorta user-friendly MMA class) have kind of a macho vibe which I thought would be the ones more likely to cause injury. In fact I think it's the vibe rather than the art that would most likely yield injury no matter what the art (though I do think boxing, MT etc. would be more likely to cause injury). In addition to that I've given 35-yo newbie a list of some good local BJJ, Muay Thai and also just plain old gyms to get in better shape (and resources like Ross Enamait that will help on that endeavor). We have judo but I do think it's harder on the body (sorry Tant01) because of all the throws even though the vibe at many of our judo place is swell. Most of the local BJJ gyms have instructors that got their start in judo anyway.

He's also looking into kempo and some other arts I know nothing about. Tucson has very little of some things (our boxing gyms aren't all that) and some world-renowned gyms for dead arts I'd be reticent to recommend) (like aikido and wing chun).

[nemesis_1972]

Why not try combat submission wrestling if its in your area, its a good work out.

[treelizard]

To answer the "what to look for in a gym" question, here's my list.

This is an evolving list of questions I ask myself. Newer ones I forgot to add were how much time is spent on or off the mats (I have a recurring problem of having to sit out more than I want to... not at my current gym thankfully) and also if I feel pressured to train more days a week/times a day than I want to.

Some questions obviously are more important than others; I don't think there is a perfect class or gym... though Straight Blast Gym is probably the closest I can think of...

Anyway, here is my list:

MMA GYM CRITERIA

BASICS: How far away is the gym? Is it in a safe and convenient
location? How much does it cost? How many classes a day/week are
there? What are the hours and how does it fit into my schedule? Is
there any equipment I can use on my own before/after class? What
styles are being taught? Do I have to sign a contract or pay a
membership fee? Can I do drop-in classes while I try to figure out if
it's a good fit? If I am injured or can't train for a while, do I get
any money back or can I break the contract? Will I feel
comfortable/welcomed if I'm just watching classes and not
participating? Can I bring people from out of town to watch or drop
in?

INSTRUCTORS: How many instructors are there? Do they have skill in
what they are teaching? Can they teach what they are good at well?

Are the instructors training, buying videos, going to seminars,
visiting other schools or otherwise improving their own game or
teaching? (If BJJ: I'd add is the fight team competing and how do
they rate...not just the people that have been there forever but
also their white belt)

TRAINING: How much time is spent drilling, rolling, warming up, etc.
Is the majority of time spent training? Is there enough time to work
on a drill to some level of mastery before moving on? Is instruction
differentiated based on skill level or do the people struggling get
left behind? Similarly, how good are the guys that have only been
there six months? Do instructors work with the guys that suck as much
as with their bright and shiny guys or do they ignore them? Do
instructors favor competitive fighters? If someone is not competing,
will the instructor still spend as much time helping them develop good
technique?

Is there a logical progression in the training, with skills building
upon one another, or are we just doing random drills and then rolling
without ever achieving any level of competency or learning how to
integrate what we learn? Can I actually eventually use what we learn
on the mat?

Does the instructor understand different learning styles, NLP, etc.?
If I tell them I need to practice a drill instead of watching it
because I'm a kinesthetic learner, will they get ****ed off or
accommodate my inability to learn visually?

Does the instructor have knowledge of the videos, other coaches, etc.
out there that may help fill in some gaps for me? Are they going to
get upset if I ask?

Are we all expected to have the same goals, or will the instructor
understand and even help modify instruction based on goals? Do they
have a good understanding of which techniques may not work for which
body type, etc.

Are there high expectations for ALL people there? If someone keeps
making the same mistake, how long 'til someone tells them?

Do we ever get to choose what we work on or work on things we need to
work on, or do we have to vote or wait until that particular area is
assigned.

Is instruction adjusted based on feedback from students or other
instructors? Is instruction improved/changed due to the needs of the
student or things the instructor learns?

Can I understand what the instructor is saying, or are they using
unclear language or not really teaching?

Do people receive feedback on their progress?

Do new people quit a lot? If so, why?

Do I get to trade partners or am I stuck with the same guy all class? Do I get to choose training partners sometimes or are they always chosen for me and how does this affect the dynamic?

Do I feel like people actually want to roll with me, or are they just
doing it because they have to? If the latter, is it someone new or
someone who's been there awhile?

Are we rolling based on how often someone is tapped or based on time?
Am I getting sat out and if so, why and how often.

GURU FACTOR: Do I have to line up, bow, call people by their title,
buy patches, play musical kata, or pledge loyalty to Royce Gracie and
my instructor? Am I allowed to cross-train elsewhere? If not, why not?
Do the students and instructors respect other schools or are they
spending all their time talking smack? Am I allowed to ask questions?
Is it okay to test out my hypotheses on the mat or are we just
repeating dead drills? Is it socially acceptable to occasionally talk
or ask questions while rolling to figure out why I keep making the
same mistake?

DIVERSITY: Is there diversity in age, gender, race, etc. If not, why not?

ATMOSPHERE: Do I feel respected by my training partners? Are they
stopping when I tap, avoiding joint manipulation, etc.?

Is there respect among the students and the instructors? Do people
work productively and cooperatively? Do I genuinely like or at least
have a decent working relationship with most of the guys there, or am
I just putting up with them because I want to train? (What specific
actions are they doing that make me feel uncomfortable? Is it just one
person, and if so is he new? Am I being oversensitive? Do I need more
time to figure it out?) Do instructors and students ignore new people
or each other? Am I allowed/encouraged to participate or do I get sat
out round after round?

Do I feel like other people have high expectations for me? Are people
going super light until I almost get a submission and then immediately
using all of their strength or are people using technique? Are my
training partners and I working together, or is there some stupid
persistent power play we keep dancing around? Am I allowed to bring up
concerns with my instructor or is he just as bad? Are the people that
suck all really new?

Is my instructor cool enough to tell me when I am being lazy or sloppy
or self-indulgent or not listening? Is my instructor skilled enough to
know what I need to work on?

Is the gym at all involved with the community?

ORGANIZATION:

Does class start on time? Is the gym open when it's supposed to be
open? If classes get canceled, do I have to wait until I drive there
and see a sign on the door?

Are a lot of classes dead because nobody shows up?

Are the supplies organized enough for us to actually use them?

SAFETY

Can I wear headgear, etc. without getting made fun of?

If I am injured and just want to slow roll, will people accommodate?

Is every guy in the gym injured? Are there people training through bad injuries?

How thick are the mats? Are people going way too hard or hurting their
training partners? Are the instructors explicit about what is and is
not allowed during sparring? Is there any headgear for boxing? Is
there point sparring? Am I getting concussions? Are there people who
look like they won't kill me that I can partner with? Are the people
that weigh twice my size at least trying not to kill me? Are people
using technique or weight?

OTHER (after joining):
Is the class helping me fulfill my goal of getting out of my head? Am
I spending more time trying to figure out dynamics or politics than
training? Do people look like they are having fun? Am I having fun? Do
I feel good afterwards? Am I able to just be a student or do I feel
like i need to get there early to set up and stay late to clean mats
to try to build rapport? If I miss a class, are people making
judgements about how serious or not serious I am about my training? Is
it okay to talk during breaks? Am I spending a lot of time whining
about the guys at the gym after I get home? Am I looking forward to
going? Is there some new training-related drama each week? Is my
training making my life bigger or smaller? Is the gym cool enough that
I'd feel comfortable recommending it to my friends and their children?
Is my game improving? How do I know? Am I judging my performance by
what instructors say or by rolling? Do I go because I want to or
because I feel like I "should"? Am I still setting my own goals or am
I letting someone else set my goals for me? Are things people teaching
me actually working?

[Tant01]

stay underground...

Here's my recommendation. Buy yourself some personal lessons with somebody who is very well versed in MMA. Check out a Krav Maga school maybe.

Your focus needs to be on three areas:

1. boxing,
2. takedown avoidance, and
3. escapes from the ground.

....


...

I've gone "underground" with my training and love it.

If you can find a good boxing gym that will let you workout on a pay for the day basis, you should go there a little to mix it up.

Not to take anything away from boxing but even a less athletically inclined individual can defend himself with weapons.

Go... learn to fight. Play whatever you like but ultimately the ART is about dispatching your enemies quickly. In Az. that means he can shoot and own class three weapons. (FULL AUTO)

[Shoot]

Here's my recommendation. Buy yourself some personal lessons with somebody who is very well versed in MMA. Check out a Krav Maga school maybe.

Your focus needs to be on three areas:

1. boxing,
2. takedown avoidance, and
3. escapes from the ground.

When I was growing up we called this "boxing and wrestling" or "street fighting." I recommend "Championship Streetfighting" for reading. It's a funny book about boxing with fantastic tales about past boxers and excellent boxing instruction. It's a fun read. Boxing combined with wrestling is closer to the original bare knuckle style in England before rules.

Anyway, I digress. But, the point is that knowing how to punch and stay on your feet or get back to your feet has worked in real life confrontations for hundreds (if not thousands) of years for men. It's tried and trued. Throw in some "dirty" streetfighting techniques that are commonly found in muay thai, like knees and elbows, and you got a good system.

I recommend twice a week for a month personal training to learn the basics of boxing and basic grappling.

For your house buy these things and put them somewhere you'll use:

Heavy bag,
Jump rope,
weight bench,
barbell,
adjustable dumbells,
plates,
chin up bar, (door mounts sell for like $25).
and dip bar if you can get that. (there are chin/dip stations at sporting goods stores for about $100)

Now you've got yourself some training and a home gym. Keep up your lessons for as long as you can afford. You might drop back the frequency to 1-2 times a month if it gets expensive. Hopefully you can spar with your instructor.

If you have a friend who can spar with you, then definitely do that.

This is an alternative to classes. I personally hate classes. I grew up boxing and wrestling, and playing sports. The typcial "class" just doesn't work for me and feels silly.

If you do this, you'll have a system that will last a lifetime. Is it the "best"? No, but it's good. It'll get you in shape and it will increase your skills way, way beyond where they are now.

I've gone "underground" with my training and love it.

If you can find a good boxing gym that will let you workout on a pay for the day basis, you should go there a little to mix it up.

[Hardball]

It's Kenpo or Kempo?

[35yoNewbie]

Is there a difference between Kampo Karate and Kampo jujitsu?

Thanks for the great tip. I found several schools that teach Kampo here in town.

[grappler-jordan]

You know Kenpo is a great art for someone in your position, it is where I turned when my shoulder injuries forced me away from BJJ/MMA...

The thing about Kenpo is it is modern, combative, scientifically broken down to help students to understand and extremely tolerant of those who are not as "aggresive" and competitive as some of the other students. My Instructor always says, Conform the art to the student, not the student to the art.

Given Kenpo is NOT my first MA, I have been a practitioner for almost 20 years now. JJ, BJJ, MT, Various RBSD systems, I have been around the block and in my honest opinion Kenpo is a great art, that is open, modern, regularly updated and a fantastic entry point for new Martial Artists...

[35yoNewbie]

Shoot her a PM...

I did and yes she has been wonderfully patient answering my stoopid questions. I already have a list (thanks again to TreeLizard) of places that I will visit and evaluate.

[Tant01]

Talk to tl!!!

Next week is a holiday week and I have a couple of days off. It's by no means the only week I will be shopping around but it's a good start.

What are the things that I should pay attention to, things that I can *OBSERVE* (not ask) that would help me separate good from McDojo school?

My e-buddy Ms. G. (Treelizard) made an outstanding offer to help you. Her experience with the gyms in your area (Tuscon, az.) makes her your best bet.

Shoot her a PM...