Wanting to get into MA - needs advice

[majoha]

Hi there,

OKay I know next to nothing about MA but want to start learning and would welcome any advice or direction you can offer.

I'm 35 and have been pretty unfit most my life (I'm 6 '1 , 13 stone) but decide that was going to to change, so 4 months ago I joined a gym and since then have been going 5 days a week every week (2 days cardio 3 days weights). I have improved a hell of a lot and am very surprised to find I love it and am boarderline addicted to training.

I want to learn a MA as a focus for training, for self defense and also because I feel like after all the years of neglecting my body I now want train it and see how far I can take it.

Just found out my gym (in London) has started san shou classes -is that a good MA to start or should I look elsewhere? Also any advice on anything in I should be concentrating on in my gym training???

[Jim]

Good luck.

Yoda'd probably be best to ask where the best MA would be that's close to you. I'd suggest you just go to a few around and see what you like (ie. instructor, other students, etc.)

[Swoop]

Where in London are you? What kind of MA do you want to do? There are so many different types out there to choose from you need to decide if you want to do an MA where the focus is on hitting pads and sparring, doing forms, and the list goes on.

[majoha]

Well I live down in Stockwell, but the gym I use in Soho and I work in that area so ideally I'd take classes there. As to what MA I want to learn, difficult for me to answer that. Bearing in mind that I still have a long way to go to get myself fit is there any MA in particular that is a good starting point? i.e one that won't be so physically demanding that it is beyond me, but at the same time will really push me? Also I am doing a lot of work to improve poor posture so one the complimented that would be good. One that helped with slef defense would also be good
Any recommendations about where to learn?
Sorry I am so vague - but as I said I'm right at the very begining and need to learn.

Thanks for replying.

[Paratus]

If you find the right place then you should find that most schools in most MA's won't be so physically demanding for beginners that they can't go on. Find a good training facility with a good instrcuter. Tell him/her what you're trying to do and they should help you out. Although this may have the reverse affect and they may make you work harder to get you in shape faster :D

Lets see, I'd recommend Hapkido, but then again I'm biased ;)
Jim is right, its probably best to ask Yoda about good schools in your area

[majoha]

Thanks - okay I'm gonna do a bit of research about what is availble locally.

Out of interest how often do you traing for MA, and what kind of general fitness training do you also do?

[YODA]

Hi

If you're looking for training in London thst will get you in shape and give you skills applicable to handling yourself "when the faeces to air conditioning inteface becomes fully opperational" - I would heartily recommend ....

London Shootfighters (http://www.londonshootfighters.com/)

[majoha]

Hi,

Thanks Yoda, I may well get intouch with them. Meantime I am off this evening to go and watch a Wing Chun class to try and get some idea if it is the type of style that will be right for me.

If any of you study Wing Chun I'd be really interested hear want you enjoy about it, what you think the benefits are etc.

Thanks to all the posts.

[majoha]

OKay, so I went to watch a Wing Chun class last week and decided that is what I want to learn - I start next week. Any recomendations for books on Wing Chun ??? Thanks

[The Damned]

Hi there, glad to hear your'e starting on a great path.
My advice would be to train, go home, forget it, train the next week.
don't overload yourself yet. If you really want more info on wing chun, you should be able to find it on the net. I'd personally be researching the history and philosophies of the art at the beginning, rather than any technique in book form. Let your sifu teach you, and if you really get into it, your enthusiam will develop at a natural pace for you, so much so, that you will know when and what and how much you need to study outside of the class.

Good luck m8
:)