Learning martial arts

[robaday]

Ive always wanted to learn how to either box or do muay thai/kickboxing. Due to an old injury (my left elbow was shattered) I put it off for years until 4 months ago when I joined a fight gym. Im a 31 year old male with pretty good fitness.

 

At the moment I havent sparred properly - Im still lacking in a lot of fundamental skills (footwork, defence), but do attend other classes - Im not sure if they are classed as boxercise or what? they involve skipping, heavy bag work/combinations, and pad work mainly. As all the coaches are professional fighters (the owner is a former shootoo champion, the other coach is a relatively successful mma fighter) there is quite a lot of technique in the classes, but still, Im not 100% sure the difference between these classes and say boxercise? I understand you dont fully learn until you spar, but am hoping im picking up decent technique as the coaches take a lot of time with you

 

Guess Im writing cause I wondered what others experiences had been? how long did you train before you sparred? would the classes I am attending be beneficial or are they more boxercise (from the description I have provided)?

 

To give you some context I go min 3 times a week for one hour classes. This week Ive been six times but Ive had more free time. Im eager to learn but a little clueless if that makes sense?

[Grumpybutfun]

I practice Thai Kickboxing or Muay Thai. I have been doing it for ten years or so. I started it with some Iron Man Triathletes I became friends with and since I am super competitive, it really appeals to me. I remember that the initial classes were more about technique and safety, and the sparring came much later. Fortunately for me, I had friends who were crazy and we would spar for fun so we learned a lot just by doing. After a year or so, I started competing at a local level just for fun and was able to spar all the time. Everywhere I move, former military, I find out where the closest MMA gym is and join it. The health benefits are crazy..my endurance, speed and strength has improved about 30% since starting this. Just keep training and do whatever you think will make you more limber, stronger, faster and tougher. I also box a little, but honestly I prefer using my entire body so MMAs has always been more my style. Make sure you keep up with your strength training and cardio...I run and swim and right now I am biking. Any classes can be beneficial but try to find local MMA fight groups online and find one near you. These aren't professional grade but amateur level. Trust me, most of these guys aren't amateurs,they just have other obligations in life and can't go pro.

Oh, and age doesn't matter. I am in my forties.

Good luck and let us know how the training is going,

Grumps

[robaday]

Thats a great response, thank you so much.

 

From the little I have experienced I agree with you. The mental benefits have been off the wall - a) because I feel like I have loads to learn which keeps me engaged, b) because my mind is clear when I am in there and afterward, c) I get over myself - sounds strange but i dont like attention and was horribly embarrassed first few times - losing that self absorbtion is liberating!!!

 

My biggest problem so far has been coordination! my hand feet coordination if that makes sense?? like my balance is off a lot of the time. I have never been able to dance and that lack of coordination is even more apparent in muay thai!! is that normal?

[Grumpybutfun]

Thats a great response, thank you so much.

 

From the little I have experienced I agree with you. The mental benefits have been off the wall - a) because I feel like I have loads to learn which keeps me engaged, b) because my mind is clear when I am in there and afterward, c) I get over myself - sounds strange but i dont like attention and was horribly embarrassed first few times - losing that self absorbtion is liberating!!!

 

My biggest problem so far has been coordination! my hand feet coordination if that makes sense?? like my balance is off a lot of the time. I have never been able to dance and that lack of coordination is even more apparent in muay thai!! is that normal?

 

 

Absolutely normal. I was born with great coordination,but have a problem with flexibility so everyone has to overcome some sort of weakness. That is the beauty of doing something new. Just keep working at it and it will become like second nature to you eventually.

In any type of martial arts, you have to focus on your core. Your core is the middle of your body and is what keeps you balanced. Something I tried was walking on a gymnastics beam, the doing kicks and punches on that beam until I could stay on even while demonstrating full Muay Thai moves. Some guys thought it was futile or teased me for using the gymnastics beam until they fought me and I could knock them over due to their inability to balance themselves properly. Coordination works on the same principle...find your core and strengthen it while easing into balance moves. I also did yoga with my wife and learned some moves which helped with my core. Most guys are all strength training and cardio and they are weak fighters because they aren't centered. Easy to beat IMHO.

Hope this helps,

Grumps