Are you new to the world of martial arts? If you’ve just started classes, you’re probably full of energy and very enthusiastic about your training.
Put your enthusiasm to good use when you learn about basic mistakes to avoid. Focus all that energy on learning the right lessons, without the trouble of making beginner errors.
Here are some of the easiest martial arts mistakes to avoid.
1. Choosing the Wrong School
If you choose a mixed martial arts gym because it’s close to you, you may end up with a sub-par teacher. Rather than choosing based on location, investigate the style of martial arts they teach and where your teacher learned.
You also want to make sure your personality and your teacher’s personality go well together. You should be able to get along to help classes go smoothly. Teachers should also prioritize your safety.
2. Not Staying Safe
Your martial arts teacher is responsible for your safety, but you are also responsible for keeping yourself safe. Be sure you warm up enough that your muscles won’t sustain injury. Remember to warm up even if you’re taking a virtual Krav Maga class instead of in-person instruction.
Other safety tips include wearing proper gear and listening to your body. If you need to take a timeout to rest or recuperate from an injury, that’s okay! You’ll be back after you’ve had time to heal.
3. Making Martial Arts Mistakes with Fundamentals
Learning how to fight is a marathon, not a sprint. You won’t learn it overnight, and if you try to focus on the flashy moves that draw you to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or Muay Thai, you won’t do well.
Instead, spend time developing your fundamentals. Build basic skills and master techniques, before you attempt bigger stunts and more difficult moves.
4. Lying to Yourself: Keep Logs
Whether you’re studying different fighting styles or one specific martial art, it’s important to keep a log of your training work. You might think you’ll remember everything you learned, but you won’t. Don’t lie to yourself.
Instead, take videos of your training sessions. Keep a written or digital log of your practices and what you’ve learned.
Over time, you’ll be able to see all the progress you’ve made. Plus, when you forget a move, you can refer back to your notes or videos to refresh your memory.
5. Skipping Cross-Training
You can spend as much time as you want learning self defense, but if you don’t cross-train, your body may not be able to keep up with the training exercises. Instead of trying to get all your gym time at your martial arts lessons, spend some time doing other workouts, too.
Running or walking can build endurance, and biking or swimming can build muscle tone. Just as core exercises can boost a swimmer’s performance, so lifting weights or playing another sport will also help your martial arts performance.
The Best Training
When you’re learning a new skill like martial arts mistakes are bound to happen. While some of the best lessons happen when you mess up, it’s also good to learn from others’ mistakes if you can.
Try to avoid the beginner mistakes listed above to help your martial arts training get off to a good start.
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