Top 10 Reasons For Not Joining A Martial Arts School
And how we avoid these issues at PVMAA
#1 Fear of injury – Concerns about getting hurt during training or competition.
If your physician can’t give you a concrete reason for participating in active sports, then all you need to worry about is incidental contact. As long as you are following the rules and there should be several, major injury can be avoided. Are you going to get bumps and bruises, yes, however once your body is conditioned those won’t continue to bother you. What’s important is that you join a school that has a curriculum where you can build technical ability and conditioning together so when you are required to make contact, you are mentally and physically ready. The curriculum at PMVAA is set up as such.
#2 Lack of flexibility or physical fitness – Feeling that they may not be fit enough to participate.
If you find a program that focuses on fundamentals and builds confidence through repetition, flexibility and physicality issues go away. At PVMAA, we don’t compare students against each other, just against themselves and their potential. Each student is different, with differing abilities, needs, and potential. And while this sort of thing is not for everyone, it is something that anyone can do.
#3 Intimidation: Feeling overwhelmed by the skill level or experience of other practitioners.
Look for a school that keeps similar ranks together. This creates a more welcoming environment. If you can find a school that runs a rotating curriculum then many of the students are working on the same techniques at the same time. This allows students to learn from one another and reduces the anxiety between experience levels. This is one of the great things about the rotating curriculum at PVMAA. We also take it a step further by using starter classes for new students that allow them to know a baseline of techniques before getting into the Beginners classes.
#4 Time commitment: Worries about balancing martial arts training with other responsibilities.
We see a lot of students struggling with balancing what they want to do and what they actually have the time to commit to. Most of the time, it comes down to goal setting and time management. Martial arts training is a lot like team sports in that to be good at it, this sport requires regular attendance and training outside the academy. Fortunately our students have access to an online training companion, which contains the video and text of their classes’ curriculum. Add to that, we do not put pressure on students to promote. They are ready to promote when they are ready.
#5 Cost: Concerns about the expenses associated with classes, equipment, or uniforms.
Martial arts training, in general, is on track with other activities from a cost standpoint. The important thing to look for is transparency. Is cost clearly communicated in advance. Are you required to purchase equipment that won’t be used for some time or can you purchase it as needed. It’s a good idea to inquire about hidden fees, such as promotional/testing fees, charges for using credit card as form of payment, and cancellation fees.
#6 Lack of self-confidence: Feeling unsure about one’s abilities to learn and progress in martial arts.
Unless you have trained in a martial art previously, this lack of self confidence is quite common. It actually is one of the first things we tackle in the Introductory classes. Where we strive to show “newbies” that they really can do it. Confidence builds as the training expands on the foundation set in the Introductory Classes. All of our training builds on previous training. We work on building a solid foundation in the Introductory Classes, one that will serve our students well into Black Belt level classes.
#7 Ego or pride: Some individuals may worry about the potential for feeling embarrassed or looking foolish during training.
Look for an Academy that does not compare one student to the next. At PVMAA we want our students to excel on their own merit not how they compare to someone else. As long as the student can honestly say that they have done their very best each class, there will only be good days and better days.
#8 Cultural stereotypes: Apprehension about cultural or social expectations tied to martial arts.
Traditional martial arts schools encounter this more than non-traditional schools. Tradition is good as long as teaching style has evolved with the times.
#9 Personal safety concerns: Fear of using martial arts techniques in real-life situations.
Martial arts training brings a heightened level of self-respect, to the extent that you know when to use what you know and when not to. There are no hard/steadfast rules to protecting yourself and each situation is different. Look for a school that can elaborate on what self defense means and how students learn to defend themselves. It should be a healthy balance of both physical and non-physical teachings. Focusing more on the how, than the when.
#10 Lack of knowledge: Feeling unfamiliar with different martial arts styles or not knowing where to start.
At the end of the day, the decision where to train should be initially based on the type of art being practiced. There are two. There are standing styles of which there are many, there are also ground fighting styles. That is a personal choice, some choose to train in both, while others select one or the other. The are a number of hybrid schools that have come up over the years that offer a blend of standing and ground work. Just be sure to select a school that puts technique execution first. These will serve you best.