Post: #1

I've wanted to do martial arts for a really long time now, probably about a year or so. At first I kept procrastinating it saying I need to work out first and build some muscle before I can go in and have any shot at MMA. Now I'm not saying I have a bunch of muscles or anything, but I've worked out for about 3 months and I am definitely stronger than I was at first.

But I keep procrastinating it, because I am simply nervous. I had the same problem when it came to working out, I was really nervous about getting into the gym and lifting weights, and I solved it by going there at really weird hours like 4 AM when it was empty. That was justified however, because at first I did truly look like a mentally challenged twig ( still am a twig ) trying to lift some metal. I still go there early in the morning to avoid lots of people though. Thing is, with MMA this can't be done. I have to go there when the trainers are available just like everybody else, and this means training amongst other people.

Did any of you guys have similar fears of the gym and training before you started? What can I do to overcome them? And, how do I not look like a retard in the MMA gym? I have no clue how to act, am I going to spar the first time I'm there? Will the veterans laugh at my incredibly weak punches? ( seriously I have tried a punching bag, my punches don't do shit )

I'm probably going to try and join an mma gym in january when I have money for a membership, but I feel like I'm going to pussy out. Help pls?

Also finally I have a general question: I feel like I'm making alot of threads and not contributing to other threads by commenting, but I honestly feel like I have nothing to contribute with in the topics discussed. Is it bad manners to just make a bunch of threads? I keep waiting before posting a new thread so someone doesn't call me out and tell me to stop spamming threads hehe.

Post: #2

1. Most people don't care about you. Your concerns about how you look lifting weights or hitting the bag are functions of your own imagination and insecurities. 99% of people just flat out don't care.

2. If the thought of training with other people is so hateful, you may simply be better off letting it go.

3. Any decent trainer will be supportive - in the sense that they won't belittle you. Fighters are great people by and large. It's a lonely sport, and those who train hard and keep their heads down tend to get support and advice from more seasoned fighters.

4. Just about everyone is afraid before walking into a fight gym for the first time. They are loud, they smell, and they are full of uncompromising predators. You wouldn't be normal if it wasn't intimidating to you.

5. The only advice that works for overcoming your fears is to face them head on. Go to the fight gym - few things in life are as bad as we make them in our minds. We can work ourselves up into a state over things that never come to fruition.

6. How to not look like a retard: Don't show up with flashy gear on your first day. Don't be aggressive or cocky until you have earned it. Concentrate on doing what you're taught - focus on doing what the coach says, when he says it. Practice at home - show improvement, and commitment, and over time people will help you more and more. A lot of guys quit fight gyms, so no beginner gets taken seriously for at least a couple of months.

7. If they try to make you spar on your first night, decline politely, and don't go back. No good gym will make you fight on your first night.

8. As above, these guys aren't even going to register your presence for the first few months. If you get anything from them it will most likely be a few gruff form corrections if they can see you're trying. Very few people are stone cold killers on their first day in the gym - everyone remembers what it's like to be a new guy with no coordination.

9. If you need more than you're able to give right now, that's ok.Milk every drop of value you can out of this place - it's a wonderful resource.

Good luck

Post: #3

(12-02-2016 12:26 PM)H1N1 Wrote:  1. Most people don't care about you. Your concerns about how you look lifting weights or hitting the bag are functions of your own imagination and insecurities. 99% of people just flat out don't care.

2. If the thought of training with other people is so hateful, you may simply be better off letting it go.

3. Any decent trainer will be supportive - in the sense that they won't belittle you. Fighters are great people by and large. It's a lonely sport, and those who train hard and keep their heads down tend to get support and advice from more seasoned fighters.

4. Just about everyone is afraid before walking into a fight gym for the first time. They are loud, they smell, and they are full of uncompromising predators. You wouldn't be normal if it wasn't intimidating to you.

5. The only advice that works for overcoming your fears is to face them head on. Go to the fight gym - few things in life are as bad as we make them in our minds. We can work ourselves up into a state over things that never come to fruition.

6. How to not look like a retard: Don't show up with flashy gear on your first day. Don't be aggressive or cocky until you have earned it. Concentrate on doing what you're taught - focus on doing what the coach says, when he says it. Practice at home - show improvement, and commitment, and over time people will help you more and more. A lot of guys quit fight gyms, so no beginner gets taken seriously for at least a couple of months.

7. If they try to make you spar on your first night, decline politely, and don't go back. No good gym will make you fight on your first night.

8. As above, these guys aren't even going to register your presence for the first few months. If you get anything from them it will most likely be a few gruff form corrections if they can see you're trying. Very few people are stone cold killers on their first day in the gym - everyone remembers what it's like to be a new guy with no coordination.

9. If you need more than you're able to give right now, that's ok.Milk every drop of value you can out of this place - it's a wonderful resource.

Good luck

Hey, thanks for the response! I don't think I hate training with other people, I just don't want to embarass myself. I think this stems from fucking up in PE class when I was younger and didn't even know how to kick a ball.

Hearing this from someone like you who presumably does martial arts and works out regularily helps alot though. It really helps to sort of see the perspective of the other people who are going to be in the gym with me. I think you're right though, the only way I'll solve this is by just going to the gym and do my best. I guess I'm the only one who can help myself when it comes to this.

Thanks for the insight dude

Post: #4

Can you tell us more about your body type, weight, age, etc? Are you orthodox or southpaw? What arts are you learning?

H1N1 pretty much nailed the social aspects. Everyone is too worried about themselves to judge you anyway. Just stay humble, ask questions and don't show up wearing flaming shorts. You're there to improve yourself, not seduce another man.

I'm going to address your doubts assuming it's boxing/Muay Thai and BJJ, since that is the combo most MMA gyms teach:

Lanky Build Focuses
In striking, it means learning to abuse your longer, more tensile limbs to be a good out-fighter. Your best weapon is your jab; make it strong, precise and whip-like. Since you are lanky, it's an amazing measuring and harassment tool. Also, learn to use your front hand to "pull" a counter-puncher into your cross. Imagine falling into a barrel of a cannon right as it fires. I'm a Mike Tyson type in-fighter and it's scary. The same applies for legs. You need to practice the hell out of front "measurement" kicks. Those are the teeps/nebs in Muay Thai. If a heavier scrapper gets too close, then shoot out those kicks and dig your heel hard into his abs. All the crunches in the world can't stop those from hurting. It sucks.



Another advantage of being lanky is really sharp elbows and knees. Your elbows will slice your opponents up. Meatier guys will think twice about leg kicks if your knee checks feel like kicking a pickaxe. Having scary knees also means you can wreck a man in a clinch much faster.



From personal experience, lanky guys are the most annoying to contain in BJJ. If you have shrimping down plus some decent core strength, then you guys are the most slippery dudes out there. I'm on full mount, all of a sudden your legs are dancing around. Once I control all the limbs, you guys magically flip out and now I'm on the bottom. Remember, don't fight strength with strength.




Talk to your trainer about how you can improve. If your trainer is apathetic, the go to another gym. Bad trainer.

It doesn't matter if you can move the heavy bag or not when you punch it. The usual rule is that the heavy bag should be half your weight. For example if you're 160 lb. hitting a 100 lb. heavy bag, it's not an accurate judgment on your strength. Focus on timing and technique instead.

You should be lifting and gaining mass while you train. That way, your technique and cardio will adapt with it. Jumping rope, punching technique and flexibility change dramatically if you come back > 25 lb. heavier.

Work on technique before even worrying about heavy bag or sparring. Make sure you have your mechanics right first. Sparring and heavy bag work will turn bad mechanics into bad technique, then bad habits. Nothing is worse than having bad wrists and bad knees in the long-term. I have several friends who can't write anymore because of bad wrists. They had bad punching technique but they ignored it because of tight hand-wraps and cushy gloves, but bad technique is still bad technique in a real fight.

For sparring, just relax. Sparring is just playtime. Relax. Have fun. Just match your opponent's intensity level. Call out the try-hard types during tech sparring. Nobody new is supposed to be good at hard sparring until a few months later anyway. Nothing will really cure the flinching, eyes closing and turtling up except sheer time and experience put in. Just let it happen.

So just give it a go. If you ever entertain pussing out, just post here instead and we'll help you out. We even have the best datasheet on martial arts from TK. The worse that can happen is you getting punched and kicked and choked a few times. Plus, chicks digs scars.

Post: #5

Solid advice from the above posters. Just gain some control of that mind of yours brother, you will need to in life otherwise you won't ever leave your bedroom . I have fairly good control of the mind and will be able to hold frame in situations whereas other people would fail to do so because of weak mind control. I had so much fear in the fear in the past of even of going for a run, not the case anymore.

Post: #6

(12-02-2016 03:26 PM)Pontifex Maximus Wrote:  Can you tell us more about your body type, weight, age, etc? Are you orthodox or southpaw? What arts are you learning?

H1N1 pretty much nailed the social aspects. Everyone is too worried about themselves to judge you anyway. Just stay humble, ask questions and don't show up wearing flaming shorts. You're there to improve yourself, not seduce another man.

I'm going to address your doubts assuming it's boxing/Muay Thai and BJJ, since that is the combo most MMA gyms teach:

Lanky Build Focuses
In striking, it means learning to abuse your longer, more tensile limbs to be a good out-fighter. Your best weapon is your jab; make it strong, precise and whip-like. Since you are lanky, it's an amazing measuring and harassment tool. Also, learn to use your front hand to "pull" a counter-puncher into your cross. Imagine falling into a barrel of a cannon right as it fires. I'm a Mike Tyson type in-fighter and it's scary. The same applies for legs. You need to practice the hell out of front "measurement" kicks. Those are the teeps/nebs in Muay Thai. If a heavier scrapper gets too close, then shoot out those kicks and dig your heel hard into his abs. All the crunches in the world can't stop those from hurting. It sucks.



Another advantage of being lanky is really sharp elbows and knees. Your elbows will slice your opponents up. Meatier guys will think twice about leg kicks if your knee checks feel like kicking a pickaxe. Having scary knees also means you can wreck a man in a clinch much faster.



From personal experience, lanky guys are the most annoying to contain in BJJ. If you have shrimping down plus some decent core strength, then you guys are the most slippery dudes out there. I'm on full mount, all of a sudden your legs are dancing around. Once I control all the limbs, you guys magically flip out and now I'm on the bottom. Remember, don't fight strength with strength.




Talk to your trainer about how you can improve. If your trainer is apathetic, the go to another gym. Bad trainer.

It doesn't matter if you can move the heavy bag or not when you punch it. The usual rule is that the heavy bag should be half your weight. For example if you're 160 lb. hitting a 100 lb. heavy bag, it's not an accurate judgment on your strength. Focus on timing and technique instead.

You should be lifting and gaining mass while you train. That way, your technique and cardio will adapt with it. Jumping rope, punching technique and flexibility change dramatically if you come back > 25 lb. heavier.

Work on technique before even worrying about heavy bag or sparring. Make sure you have your mechanics right first. Sparring and heavy bag work will turn bad mechanics into bad technique, then bad habits. Nothing is worse than having bad wrists and bad knees in the long-term. I have several friends who can't write anymore because of bad wrists. They had bad punching technique but they ignored it because of tight hand-wraps and cushy gloves, but bad technique is still bad technique in a real fight.

For sparring, just relax. Sparring is just playtime. Relax. Have fun. Just match your opponent's intensity level. Call out the try-hard types during tech sparring. Nobody new is supposed to be good at hard sparring until a few months later anyway. Nothing will really cure the flinching, eyes closing and turtling up except sheer time and experience put in. Just let it happen.

So just give it a go. If you ever entertain pussing out, just post here instead and we'll help you out. We even have the best datasheet on martial arts from TK. The worse that can happen is you getting punched and kicked and choked a few times. Plus, chicks digs scars.

Hey, thanks man I really appreciate the response!

I turned 17 3 months ago, junior in hs. I'm pretty skinny. Last time I measured myself a coupe of months ago I was 5'9 and about 145 - 150 lbs or so. I don't think I've added more than a few pounds of weight since then.

Knowing all the details and stuff of and kind understanding what the mood / vibe is like in a martial arts gym. I just hope the trainers there are cool and not assholes, I've heard some horror stories from bad trainers and shit.

Anyways thanks alot man, I really do appreciate it. Seeing it put into words does alot, especially coming from someone who is actually in there doing martial arts

Hopefully I won't puss out!

Post: #7

(12-02-2016 06:07 PM)F1l1pV Wrote:  

(12-02-2016 03:26 PM)Pontifex Maximus Wrote:  Can you tell us more about your body type, weight, age, etc? Are you orthodox or southpaw? What arts are you learning?

H1N1 pretty much nailed the social aspects. Everyone is too worried about themselves to judge you anyway. Just stay humble, ask questions and don't show up wearing flaming shorts. You're there to improve yourself, not seduce another man.

I'm going to address your doubts assuming it's boxing/Muay Thai and BJJ, since that is the combo most MMA gyms teach:

Lanky Build Focuses
In striking, it means learning to abuse your longer, more tensile limbs to be a good out-fighter. Your best weapon is your jab; make it strong, precise and whip-like. Since you are lanky, it's an amazing measuring and harassment tool. Also, learn to use your front hand to "pull" a counter-puncher into your cross. Imagine falling into a barrel of a cannon right as it fires. I'm a Mike Tyson type in-fighter and it's scary. The same applies for legs. You need to practice the hell out of front "measurement" kicks. Those are the teeps/nebs in Muay Thai. If a heavier scrapper gets too close, then shoot out those kicks and dig your heel hard into his abs. All the crunches in the world can't stop those from hurting. It sucks.



Another advantage of being lanky is really sharp elbows and knees. Your elbows will slice your opponents up. Meatier guys will think twice about leg kicks if your knee checks feel like kicking a pickaxe. Having scary knees also means you can wreck a man in a clinch much faster.



From personal experience, lanky guys are the most annoying to contain in BJJ. If you have shrimping down plus some decent core strength, then you guys are the most slippery dudes out there. I'm on full mount, all of a sudden your legs are dancing around. Once I control all the limbs, you guys magically flip out and now I'm on the bottom. Remember, don't fight strength with strength.




Talk to your trainer about how you can improve. If your trainer is apathetic, the go to another gym. Bad trainer.

It doesn't matter if you can move the heavy bag or not when you punch it. The usual rule is that the heavy bag should be half your weight. For example if you're 160 lb. hitting a 100 lb. heavy bag, it's not an accurate judgment on your strength. Focus on timing and technique instead.

You should be lifting and gaining mass while you train. That way, your technique and cardio will adapt with it. Jumping rope, punching technique and flexibility change dramatically if you come back > 25 lb. heavier.

Work on technique before even worrying about heavy bag or sparring. Make sure you have your mechanics right first. Sparring and heavy bag work will turn bad mechanics into bad technique, then bad habits. Nothing is worse than having bad wrists and bad knees in the long-term. I have several friends who can't write anymore because of bad wrists. They had bad punching technique but they ignored it because of tight hand-wraps and cushy gloves, but bad technique is still bad technique in a real fight.

For sparring, just relax. Sparring is just playtime. Relax. Have fun. Just match your opponent's intensity level. Call out the try-hard types during tech sparring. Nobody new is supposed to be good at hard sparring until a few months later anyway. Nothing will really cure the flinching, eyes closing and turtling up except sheer time and experience put in. Just let it happen.

So just give it a go. If you ever entertain pussing out, just post here instead and we'll help you out. We even have the best datasheet on martial arts from TK. The worse that can happen is you getting punched and kicked and choked a few times. Plus, chicks digs scars.

Hey, thanks man I really appreciate the response!

I turned 17 3 months ago, junior in hs. I'm pretty skinny. Last time I measured myself a coupe of months ago I was 5'9 and about 145 - 150 lbs or so. I don't think I've added more than a few pounds of weight since then.

Knowing all the details and stuff of and kind understanding what the mood / vibe is like in a martial arts gym. I just hope the trainers there are cool and not assholes, I've heard some horror stories from bad trainers and shit.

Anyways thanks alot man, I really do appreciate it. Seeing it put into words does alot, especially coming from someone who is actually in there doing martial arts

Hopefully I won't puss out!

Your only 17!? Please do a favor to yourself and start tomorrow.

If I knew what I know now back then... It is the best thing you can do for your life, you will become better, more confident, stronger, faster, healthier, you will meet great people...start now please, the world is at your feet. I started at 28, it was the best thing I did in my 20s...

Post: #8

(12-02-2016 03:03 PM)F1l1pV Wrote:  Hey, thanks for the response! I don't think I hate training with other people, I just don't want to embarass myself. I think this stems from fucking up in PE class when I was younger and didn't even know how to kick a ball.

A lot of this stuff is still fixable as an adult, you just have to persevere and be dedicated. If you're just getting into shape at 24, then you're never going to go and become an Olympic athlete, but you can still become a hell of a lot more than you currently are.

I've personally found that approaching my own various 'weak spots' has lead to tremendous personal growth. It's amazing how working on one skill set can have such a huge impact on your sense of self.

I think the most important thing that I ever learnt when I sought to improve myself was that it was possible. Once you realise that your weaknesses can be overcome, you'll wonder what else you can do.

Post: #9

(12-02-2016 12:03 PM)F1l1pV Wrote:  I'm probably going to try and join an mma gym in january when I have money for a membership, but I feel like I'm going to pussy out. Help pls?

Everybody gets nervous about starting a new thing, especially when they will be starting at the bottom. There's no way around it , but if you don't face that initial fear you wont go anywhere and will be left with regret about what might have been.

A very simple thing that I do to make sure I don't "pussy out" is simply to tell someone my intention. It might be a good friend, your missus or in your case, maybe your parents. The idea is that when you voice your intent, you would look like a weak, flaky cunt if you don't follow through with it and for me, that's an impression I'd rather not give off.

Also, if the day you planned to start training comes around and you're feeling you might puss out, they can just say "weren't you gonna go train today?" and sometimes, that's all the impetus you need.

Post: #10

Sometimes it's good to have multiple interests or side hobbies if you will. This prevents you from crashing down confidence wise if you struggle in one hobby. For example you could do dancing for a few years, get pretty good at it and when you go to martial arts you might find it laughably simple in some ways though more challenging in others and you would already have a diverse athletic base even in your early training years or months.

Post: #11

(12-02-2016 12:03 PM)F1l1pV Wrote:  I've wanted to do martial arts for a really long time now, probably about a year or so. At first I kept procrastinating it saying I need to work out first and build some muscle before I can go in and have any shot at MMA. Now I'm not saying I have a bunch of muscles or anything, but I've worked out for about 3 months and I am definitely stronger than I was at first.

But I keep procrastinating it, because I am simply nervous.
...

There are two things that sparring will teach you. How to harm people and how to take a hit. Arguably the latter is the most important because as Mike Tyson put it, "everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth".

Disclaimer. I'm not into MMA, but I've known a lot of guys in the dojo scene. Their general tack was that most guys went to the dojo to learn how to put hurt on people, and those were the guys that had the hardest time fitting in because every singe day was an ego check. On the other hand the guy that arrived wanting to learn how to take a beating and still function got more respect because it wasn't about ego for them (and it makes you a far better contributor than the guy that's putting pain on everyone but jumps out of the ring every time he gets hit).

Just go in humble and tell them you want to learn how to take a beating. You'll have a good laugh and they'll recognise they're not going to be dealing with some new guy that has huge ego issues they'll have to manage.

Post: #12

start out with a "cardio" boxing gym. These gyms do not spar but do train the proper technique on how to throw a punch. You will be training with high school kids, soccer moms, and middle aged men but its a great way to start if you have zero martial arts background.

Bruce Lee once said “I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who had practiced one kick 10,000 times.”

Learn how to throw a proper right hand and practice it to death.

Post: #13

(12-04-2016 01:00 AM)mickeyd Wrote:  start out with a "cardio" boxing gym. These gyms do not spar but do train the proper technique on how to throw a punch. You will be training with high school kids, soccer moms, and middle aged men but its a great way to start if you have zero martial arts background.

Bruce Lee once said “I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who had practiced one kick 10,000 times.”

Learn how to throw a proper right hand and practice it to death.

I wouldn't advise that personally. Yes training a single skill for thousands upon thousands of times will make you incredibly strong if you do it right. Training in boxercising will generally allow the kid to form poor technique which he will need to relearn later on. Relearning how to do something takes more time and effort than if he were to learn the right way from square one.

Not to mention, aren't boxing gyms fairly cheap? Find one with a half decent coach, show the guy [I mean show, not so much mouth off and not back up what you say] you seriously want to learn and any trainer worth his salt will take the extra time to help you out.

Post: #14

(12-05-2016 01:49 AM)cascadecombo Wrote:  

(12-04-2016 01:00 AM)mickeyd Wrote:  start out with a "cardio" boxing gym. These gyms do not spar but do train the proper technique on how to throw a punch. You will be training with high school kids, soccer moms, and middle aged men but its a great way to start if you have zero martial arts background.

Bruce Lee once said “I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who had practiced one kick 10,000 times.”

Learn how to throw a proper right hand and practice it to death.

I wouldn't advise that personally. Yes training a single skill for thousands upon thousands of times will make you incredibly strong if you do it right. Training in boxercising will generally allow the kid to form poor technique which he will need to relearn later on. Relearning how to do something takes more time and effort than if he were to learn the right way from square one.

Not to mention, aren't boxing gyms fairly cheap? Find one with a half decent coach, show the guy [I mean show, not so much mouth off and not back up what you say] you seriously want to learn and any trainer worth his salt will take the extra time to help you out.

Agreed. Join a real fight gym, even if you don't want to spar or compete (plenty of guys do). Leave the boxercise to the old women.

Bruce Lee would have got his arse kicked by a half decent amateur. He was an actor, and had every reason to 'fear the guy who practiced one kick 10,000 times' - because even that cardio kickboxing champion might have whooped him. I'd be more fearful of the guy who'd thrown 10 right hands in anger - in a ring or otherwise - than I would of a bag champion who'd kicked at air a million times.

Post: #15

(12-02-2016 12:03 PM)F1l1pV Wrote:  I've wanted to do martial arts for a really long time now, probably about a year or so. At first I kept procrastinating it saying I need to work out first and build some muscle before I can go in and have any shot at MMA. Now I'm not saying I have a bunch of muscles or anything, but I've worked out for about 3 months and I am definitely stronger than I was at first.

But I keep procrastinating it, because I am simply nervous. I had the same problem when it came to working out, I was really nervous about getting into the gym and lifting weights, and I solved it by going there at really weird hours like 4 AM when it was empty. That was justified however, because at first I did truly look like a mentally challenged twig ( still am a twig ) trying to lift some metal. I still go there early in the morning to avoid lots of people though. Thing is, with MMA this can't be done. I have to go there when the trainers are available just like everybody else, and this means training amongst other people.

Did any of you guys have similar fears of the gym and training before you started? What can I do to overcome them? And, how do I not look like a retard in the MMA gym? I have no clue how to act, am I going to spar the first time I'm there? Will the veterans laugh at my incredibly weak punches? ( seriously I have tried a punching bag, my punches don't do shit )

I'm probably going to try and join an mma gym in january when I have money for a membership, but I feel like I'm going to pussy out. Help pls?

Also finally I have a general question: I feel like I'm making alot of threads and not contributing to other threads by commenting, but I honestly feel like I have nothing to contribute with in the topics discussed. Is it bad manners to just make a bunch of threads? I keep waiting before posting a new thread so someone doesn't call me out and tell me to stop spamming threads hehe.

Interesting topic. I started martial arts at 12/13. By 15 I was semi contact sparring with hard nosed adults who were builders, bouncers and steelworkers. Ofcourse they went easy on us. But that side of it, I really hated. I remember getting my forearms banged and feeling pins and needles up them. And seeing stars literally even when they gave me a light "slap". I got knocked out a couple of times where a kick was mistimed or whatever. Before each session I'd be thinking "oh I hope so and so isn't training tonight"...

So where does this all lead? Well different martial arts have very different philosophies. Traditional Chinese "internal" arts frown on a lot of contact and aggressive sparring. They consider it positively harmful in some ways. Indeed some Western doctors frown at even moderately heavy sparring today!

Boxing, MMA, Kyokushinkai Karate etc etc positively revel in heavy sparring and consider it a fundamental ... in some ways.

I suggest you explore different approaches. Maybe prepare your body for sparring - not just your abs, but the whole body. Harden up your body, do the neck, trunk etc.

Then consider, do you want regular or occasional sparring. And consider whether you want to do MMA or something else. Different arts might be full, light or no contact sparring. It may be points or continuous.

You can learn to spar fairly heavy without feeling pain or exposing yourself to a smashed face. Its a skill to learn.

But you may want an approach with less or even no contact. You don't need to get battered in the gym to become a deadly martial artist. I've seen numerous people who spar like "church mice" in the gym become absolute tigers in street situations. Or even better, just ice cool, courageous and devastating through their training away from heavy sparring.

Does the above help?

PS if u go the MMA sparring route, NO ONE will laugh at you as a novice. Atleast not in any gym I've ever seen.

Post: #16

It sounds like you might have deeper issues in your Frame and Mindset than just a simple "fear of martial arts."
Check out Gorilla Mindset from Mike Cernovich @ http://www.DangerAndPlay.com

If you learn the basic mechanics of changing your thoughts / belief system, then you can interrupt and replace your thinking with:
"Martial Arts is extremely fun and enjoyable"
"I look forward to Training Martial Arts today"
etc...

Post: #17

(12-05-2016 08:23 AM)BelyyTigr Wrote:  

(12-02-2016 12:03 PM)F1l1pV Wrote:  I've wanted to do martial arts for a really long time now, probably about a year or so. At first I kept procrastinating it saying I need to work out first and build some muscle before I can go in and have any shot at MMA. Now I'm not saying I have a bunch of muscles or anything, but I've worked out for about 3 months and I am definitely stronger than I was at first.

But I keep procrastinating it, because I am simply nervous. I had the same problem when it came to working out, I was really nervous about getting into the gym and lifting weights, and I solved it by going there at really weird hours like 4 AM when it was empty. That was justified however, because at first I did truly look like a mentally challenged twig ( still am a twig ) trying to lift some metal. I still go there early in the morning to avoid lots of people though. Thing is, with MMA this can't be done. I have to go there when the trainers are available just like everybody else, and this means training amongst other people.

Did any of you guys have similar fears of the gym and training before you started? What can I do to overcome them? And, how do I not look like a retard in the MMA gym? I have no clue how to act, am I going to spar the first time I'm there? Will the veterans laugh at my incredibly weak punches? ( seriously I have tried a punching bag, my punches don't do shit )

I'm probably going to try and join an mma gym in january when I have money for a membership, but I feel like I'm going to pussy out. Help pls?

Also finally I have a general question: I feel like I'm making alot of threads and not contributing to other threads by commenting, but I honestly feel like I have nothing to contribute with in the topics discussed. Is it bad manners to just make a bunch of threads? I keep waiting before posting a new thread so someone doesn't call me out and tell me to stop spamming threads hehe.

Interesting topic. I started martial arts at 12/13. By 15 I was semi contact sparring with hard nosed adults who were builders, bouncers and steelworkers. Ofcourse they went easy on us. But that side of it, I really hated. I remember getting my forearms banged and feeling pins and needles up them. And seeing stars literally even when they gave me a light "slap". I got knocked out a couple of times where a kick was mistimed or whatever. Before each session I'd be thinking "oh I hope so and so isn't training tonight"...

So where does this all lead? Well different martial arts have very different philosophies. Traditional Chinese "internal" arts frown on a lot of contact and aggressive sparring. They consider it positively harmful in some ways. Indeed some Western doctors frown at even moderately heavy sparring today!

Boxing, MMA, Kyokushinkai Karate etc etc positively revel in heavy sparring and consider it a fundamental ... in some ways.

I suggest you explore different approaches. Maybe prepare your body for sparring - not just your abs, but the whole body. Harden up your body, do the neck, trunk etc.

Then consider, do you want regular or occasional sparring. And consider whether you want to do MMA or something else. Different arts might be full, light or no contact sparring. It may be points or continuous.

You can learn to spar fairly heavy without feeling pain or exposing yourself to a smashed face. Its a skill to learn.

But you may want an approach with less or even no contact. You don't need to get battered in the gym to become a deadly martial artist. I've seen numerous people who spar like "church mice" in the gym become absolute tigers in street situations. Or even better, just ice cool, courageous and devastating through their training away from heavy sparring.

Does the above help?

PS if u go the MMA sparring route, NO ONE will laugh at you as a novice. Atleast not in any gym I've ever seen.

I do think I want to do regular sparring. Sure, I might be afraid / nervous / whatever but that doesn't mean I won't enjoy it. I feel like training on a bag and pads all day would get boring quickly. I think I need somewhere to apply those skills I learned hitting the bag, otherwise it would feel pointless.

Again, I'm no expert either but I guess sparring also teaches you how to react to your opponent throwing punches at you, to be more relaxed in a fighting environment and just gets you more used to having things fly at your face. I am kind of talking out of my ass here though as I have obviously never stepped foot inside of a fighting gym. Not entirely sure what martial art I want to pick up, MMA seems the most likely because I want something that is useful in a streetfight, and MMA seems like the closest to " real fighting " that I will get.

Anyways thanks for all the great responses guys!

Post: #18

The reason you have a voice inside telling you to get on the mat
is precisely because you want to be "done with" the list of reasons you gave.
You want to change, yet you are, naturally, resisting it.
As we all do.

Yes, find a beginner-friendly gym.
And just do it.
And if they abuse you, go find another place to train in.

It is never about winning a fight.
It is about developing aspects of you that got left neglected.

Never compare yourself with the other guys.
Just take an honest look at yourself and see if you are improving.

Forget about first getting in shape.
NONE of what you do in the gym is relevant.
We have guys come in with previous athletic feats, and some of them respectable at that, yet they all "gas out".
It's a different kind of conditioning, which you will get on the mat.

And I would start with a place that emphasizes fighting over conditioning.
I've heard of places that make tests for new belts feats of stamina, as opposed to fighting technique.

You'll do just fine, as we all did when we started.
Remember, if you find yourself beating yourself up all the time because you feel berated, maybe that place is not the right one for anyone.

Post: #19

I'll say this: The most memorable things I've done in my life gave me cold feet when I thought about them before I did them. The most regrettable things I've done were also the most comfortable and easy to do.

Post: #20

Most decent places will let you try a free class. Some even a free week. There is also Groupon where many BJJ, Muay Thai and MMA gyms will have good deals so you can try a month on the cheap. My experience is only in grappling styles - BJJ, Japanese Jujutsu, and a little bit of Judo, and am not great; I consider myself a perpetual beginner in the study of fighting, but stepping on the mat was hands down the best thing I have ever done.

Post: #21

(12-06-2016 01:32 PM)F1l1pV Wrote:  

(12-05-2016 08:23 AM)BelyyTigr Wrote:  

(12-02-2016 12:03 PM)F1l1pV Wrote:  I've wanted to do martial arts for a really long time now, probably about a year or so. At first I kept procrastinating it saying I need to work out first and build some muscle before I can go in and have any shot at MMA. Now I'm not saying I have a bunch of muscles or anything, but I've worked out for about 3 months and I am definitely stronger than I was at first.

But I keep procrastinating it, because I am simply nervous. I had the same problem when it came to working out, I was really nervous about getting into the gym and lifting weights, and I solved it by going there at really weird hours like 4 AM when it was empty. That was justified however, because at first I did truly look like a mentally challenged twig ( still am a twig ) trying to lift some metal. I still go there early in the morning to avoid lots of people though. Thing is, with MMA this can't be done. I have to go there when the trainers are available just like everybody else, and this means training amongst other people.

Did any of you guys have similar fears of the gym and training before you started? What can I do to overcome them? And, how do I not look like a retard in the MMA gym? I have no clue how to act, am I going to spar the first time I'm there? Will the veterans laugh at my incredibly weak punches? ( seriously I have tried a punching bag, my punches don't do shit )

I'm probably going to try and join an mma gym in january when I have money for a membership, but I feel like I'm going to pussy out. Help pls?

Also finally I have a general question: I feel like I'm making alot of threads and not contributing to other threads by commenting, but I honestly feel like I have nothing to contribute with in the topics discussed. Is it bad manners to just make a bunch of threads? I keep waiting before posting a new thread so someone doesn't call me out and tell me to stop spamming threads hehe.

Interesting topic. I started martial arts at 12/13. By 15 I was semi contact sparring with hard nosed adults who were builders, bouncers and steelworkers. Ofcourse they went easy on us. But that side of it, I really hated. I remember getting my forearms banged and feeling pins and needles up them. And seeing stars literally even when they gave me a light "slap". I got knocked out a couple of times where a kick was mistimed or whatever. Before each session I'd be thinking "oh I hope so and so isn't training tonight"...

So where does this all lead? Well different martial arts have very different philosophies. Traditional Chinese "internal" arts frown on a lot of contact and aggressive sparring. They consider it positively harmful in some ways. Indeed some Western doctors frown at even moderately heavy sparring today!

Boxing, MMA, Kyokushinkai Karate etc etc positively revel in heavy sparring and consider it a fundamental ... in some ways.

I suggest you explore different approaches. Maybe prepare your body for sparring - not just your abs, but the whole body. Harden up your body, do the neck, trunk etc.

Then consider, do you want regular or occasional sparring. And consider whether you want to do MMA or something else. Different arts might be full, light or no contact sparring. It may be points or continuous.

You can learn to spar fairly heavy without feeling pain or exposing yourself to a smashed face. Its a skill to learn.

But you may want an approach with less or even no contact. You don't need to get battered in the gym to become a deadly martial artist. I've seen numerous people who spar like "church mice" in the gym become absolute tigers in street situations. Or even better, just ice cool, courageous and devastating through their training away from heavy sparring.

Does the above help?

PS if u go the MMA sparring route, NO ONE will laugh at you as a novice. Atleast not in any gym I've ever seen.

I do think I want to do regular sparring. Sure, I might be afraid / nervous / whatever but that doesn't mean I won't enjoy it. I feel like training on a bag and pads all day would get boring quickly. I think I need somewhere to apply those skills I learned hitting the bag, otherwise it would feel pointless.

Again, I'm no expert either but I guess sparring also teaches you how to react to your opponent throwing punches at you, to be more relaxed in a fighting environment and just gets you more used to having things fly at your face. I am kind of talking out of my ass here though as I have obviously never stepped foot inside of a fighting gym. Not entirely sure what martial art I want to pick up, MMA seems the most likely because I want something that is useful in a streetfight, and MMA seems like the closest to " real fighting " that I will get.

Anyways thanks for all the great responses guys!

Do what you have a passion for. Sparring is a skill to learn. Just learn the defence, develop your durability etc and you'll be fine. Sparring isn't all out fight to the death/knockout. You can have light sparring and lots of different levels up to pro standard. Also think about hypnosis and mind programming type stuff if you feel really terrified.

But you don't have to do sparring to be a devastating street fighter. Just do what you enjoy, find a good gym and build it all up gradually. And sometimes the fear/adrenalin aspect is what makes it all so fun!! Good luck!

Post: #22

I'm going to be straight with you. This stuff is all in your head, although your issues are by no means uncommon.

Nobody's going to really care about your image in the class. If they are a welcoming gym (and the majority I've been to are) you'll have no issues as a beginner.

You just need to show up and start. Tell yourself you're going to commit for a year and really do it. Your fears will greatly diminish in that time.

I say give it a year minimum, and you'll learn about yourself. At that point you can decide to stick with it. It's not for everyone, but don't feel bad or less masculine if you decide it's not for you. Most guys won't be able to commit to 3 months let alone a year. And the sport does take it's toll on your body as you get older.

Will you ever completely eliminate ALL anxiety? I say no. I'm been doing BJJ for nearly a decade and have been striking for about 3 years. I still get nervous sometimes. Usually before a competition or in class when I'm facing an opponent who has my number. I think it's best to acknowledge this in yourself, and anyone who tells you they have no fear is lying to you. We all do, it's called being human, it's overcoming it that really counts.

I say make yourself accountable to the forum. Start in January and make a thread about it, update us on your training every week. We're here to help, and if we have to get your mind out of the gutter or talk you out of quitting we will.

Let us know how it goes.

Post: #23

Guys I just wanted to say thanks a shitton for the motivating words, I'm going to step into a fight gym in january for sure. Whatever happens happens.

I've looked around and there are quite a few MMA gyms in my area. One in particular has a bunch of really experienced trainers, and the manager of the gym is a retired UFC fighter, and one of the BJJ coaches is the brother of a currently active fighter in the UFC. These guys seem to be pretty serious though, so I'm wondering should I get a membership there or should I start out at a more casual gym with " regular " trainers? I'm thinking the former might be a bit more serious and not very newbie friendly. Thoughts?

Thanks!

Post: #24

Make sure your cardio is up. More than likely in training or sparring you will be limited by your cardio. You dont need a trainer to do sprints or jump rope for an hour a day. Make sure the gym you go to has sparring but not full force sparring, since youre not planning on competing.

And also, most gyms usually split their business into a recreational and a competitive side. You should have no problem training in their recreational classes, your peers will also be newbies.

Post: #25

(12-08-2016 10:26 PM)Neo Wrote:  I'm going to be straight with you. This stuff is all in your head, although your issues are by no means uncommon.

Nobody's going to really care about your image in the class. If they are a welcoming gym (and the majority I've been to are) you'll have no issues as a beginner.

You just need to show up and start. Tell yourself you're going to commit for a year and really do it. Your fears will greatly diminish in that time.

I say give it a year minimum, and you'll learn about yourself. At that point you can decide to stick with it. It's not for everyone, but don't feel bad or less masculine if you decide it's not for you. Most guys won't be able to commit to 3 months let alone a year. And the sport does take it's toll on your body as you get older.

Will you ever completely eliminate ALL anxiety? I say no. I'm been doing BJJ for nearly a decade and have been striking for about 3 years. I still get nervous sometimes. Usually before a competition or in class when I'm facing an opponent who has my number. I think it's best to acknowledge this in yourself, and anyone who tells you they have no fear is lying to you. We all do, it's called being human, it's overcoming it that really counts.

I say make yourself accountable to the forum. Start in January and make a thread about it, update us on your training every week. We're here to help, and if we have to get your mind out of the gutter or talk you out of quitting we will.

Let us know how it goes.

Might be reading a bit too much between the lines but I would probably word this a bit differently; most guys may not find it interesting enough to commit to more than 3 months because the sport does not have what it takes to captivate those people so they move on to something that ignites their passions better. This goes for any activity really or else most guys would be doing most things, which is not possible. Thus you have a subset of guys who do not quit a language, skiing, artistic gymnastics, piano or whatever but as far as any single such activity is concerned, most guys will not be that into it most of the time. Most guys are into something but most activities are not for most guys; some are.