Getting started in martial arts is intimidating. What’s most important? How will I know if I’m successful?

Rather than simply give you our answers, consider these questions to ask & reflect on as you start your journey.

A student in a martial arts uniform holds a ball of glowing energy in front of their body, a visualization of an internal Qigong practice.

Getting started in martial arts

Questions before beginning

An uncomfortable truth about learning martial arts is that the style is less important than who is teaching. Establish what’s behind the marketing before you commit to practice at a particular school:

  1. Can I take an intro class for free to try it?
  2. Who teaches beginner classes?
  3. Are there costs or fees besides tuition?
  4. Are tournaments required?
  5. Are adults and kids classes separate?
  6. How many days a week can I attend as a beginner?
  7. Do they teach the philosophy of martial arts, or simply fighting?

Getting started in martial arts

Questions for early practice

Our teachers take questions after nearly every class, which is an important opportunity!

Ask about technique details, dojo etiquette, why we do something, or a question about practice you’ve been pondering.

Suggested questions for class:

  1. How do I become a great martial artist?
  2. Why is meditation important?
  3. How often should I come to class?
  4. What does “partners, not opponents” mean?
  5. How do I practice breathing better?
  6. What should I be practicing at home?
  7. Why don’t you answer all these questions on your website?
Painting of two martial artists in traditional uniforms practicing a "push hands" exercise in a forest clearing.
An elderly man in robes holds a staff vertically in front of him, eyes closed, in the moonlight.

Getting started in martial arts

The battle within you

When I first moved to Michigan, I asked my roommate if he knew a good martial arts school. I was gaining weight at a desk job and disliked sports, I was easily intimidated, and something about martial arts spoke to me. Without a moment’s hesitation he forcefully replied, “Sifu Brown on Woodward.” He’d practiced there only briefly, but it left a lasting impression on him.

I just drove over and walked in the door. A friendly woman at the front desk told me they didn’t do tournaments, focused on meditation, and emphasized practice with partners not opponents. She said these things like they were warnings, but to me it was what I’d assumed. This was before UFC was popular and I was a 90s kid, so my primary cultural reference for martial arts was Raphael (my favorite TMNT, obviously) learning from Master Splinter — intense but measured, fun but respectful — not ripped dudes beating on each other in a ring.

Our school only had one black sash then and I never met him. Now we have a dozen, and they are the incredible senior students I looked up to as I slowly and unevenly pushed forward in my practice. Did I miss an entire month sometimes? Yup. Did I worry I wasn’t good enough every time I moved up a rank? Absolutely. Did I struggle to meditate every day? Of course. When I was a beginner, I once left class because I got overwhelmed — this still baffles me because I’ve never seen anyone else do it! But I came back. I kept pushing through all the setbacks and discomfort to come back one more time.

Today, I’m one of the highest ranking students in our school. I actually believe in my heart I’m a martial artist. The battle within never ends, but sometimes you have moments where you can see how far you’ve come. I wish that for you. I hope I’m on the mats when you begin. Hajime.

-Lincoln, practicing since 2007

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