Your 3 pieces of advice to a newcomer

[Alexander]

After this past (slow) year, I guess like any year I learned a lot. In regards to the IMA I have particularly learned a lot since my 1 year mark for practicing Bagua was a few weeks ago. In a few weeks more I'll be in a new place.

After having a lot of injuries (first time in my life), and after training a hell of a lot and really speculating about martial arts, I re-wrote a list of things I would recommend to a beginner based on my 1 year of screw ups. I don't forsee Bagua in my future, but I do plan on sticking in the field of IMA -- so this list should work for any of the arts. It's based on teaching another person in order for me to look outside of myself, but I wrote the list for myself.

----

My list had a heading like this: Focus (What I want to get out of the arts).

I found a tie between real actual scrapping self defense, and a lifelong pursuit that I actually enjoy and will have the added benefit of health.

My 3 pieces of advice:

1. Have a crystal clear idea of what you want to get out of this pursuit (hobby, practice, lifestyle, whatever). For me it's fighting, so #1 = Train with partners constantly and have a realistic view of fighting.

2. The IMAs have "bread and butter" techniques/forms/sequences which are either used to build a certain style of movement or condition the body, or both. Practice these daily.

3. Enjoy it. If you don't, don't continue with them. For me, the only way to work hard is to be passionate about something. And the only way to get skilled at something is to work hard.

Side note ==> If you're really interested in the art, spend time being playful and just investigating. Do a movement over to see what it feels like and may contain. Train blindfolded, get creative and really explore movements. Greatness wasn't made through mediocrity of practice...

Very eager to hear what you're "Top 3" would be.

[Chris_McKinley]

1. I'll echo your advocacy of focus. Know why you're doing it or go home. "There is nothing more terrible than activity without insight." --- Thomas Carlyle

2. Question everything and start with the assumption that nothing is to be accepted as already-established truth. Truth does not fear inquiry, and the real stuff will bear itself out anyway. As a corrollary, don't accept anything as true that anybody has ever said in the entire history of the martial arts, no matter how famous, well-respected or credible. Verify it for yourself or be willing to say "I don't know yet". Always remember that there is no such thing as martial arts, there is only what you are capable of doing right now under duress.

3. Train smart; then train hard. Either is useless without the other.

[johnwang]

1. Only train 1 side for your favor moves.
2. Apply "constant pressure" on your opponent.
3. There is no twisting stance (stealing step) but a "turn".

[Tesshu]

For the first year...

1. Calm down.
2. Relax.
3. Focus.
(4. Listen to your teacher.)

This is what a beginner should remind himself of.

[Ron Panunto]

I have only one piece of advice: Take up golf.

[Sprint]

1. Footwork
2. Footwork
3. Footwork

Trained footwork is the most important skill to learn IMO. Nobody talks about it, or, if they do, it's kind of dealt with as an add on. For me you have to train it every day, everywhere you are, it's too important not to. People get too focused on learning techniques (while standing still).

[karlson]

Flexibility solves many problems... one of which is injuries.

[JAB]

Keep your hands up.
KEEP YOUR HANDS UP!
KEEP YOUR FUCKING HANDS UP!!!!!!!!!!

[Leimeng]

~ Hmmm.
* One hour of circle walking or santi every day. Repeat every day until the day after you die.
* The old guys might actually know more of what they are talking about than some wannabe 25 year old internet mma dweeb. Might want to listen to them.
* Life is fun, train hard, train well, have a cold frosty at the end of the day and thank GOD that you had such a good day.
~ Continue to discuss amongst yourselves...

Peace,

Leimeng

Flatulo Ergo Sum ~~~

~ Have you ever thought that life is a car wash, and you're on a bike?

(***Insert Personal One Liner Here***)

[yusuf]

Keep your hands up.
KEEP YOUR HANDS UP!
KEEP YOUR FUCKING HANDS UP!!!!!!!!!!

this is very good.. if you can parry everything that comes towards you you have a good base in a particular direction...

I would do it slightly differently

1) Relax
2) Train what your teacher shows every day
3) pressure test your most natural responses wih people with styles from other countries (important because most effective styles in a geographic region seem to end up beign quite similar, but not the same as effective styles from otehr regions)..

hope i am mmaking sense

yusuf

[jonathan.bluestein]

Keep your hands up.
KEEP YOUR HANDS UP!
KEEP YOUR FUCKING HANDS UP!!!!!!!!!!

IMA don't use a fixed stance. The "hands up" things comes from boxing. Do all boxers work like that, anyhow?... Tell it to these guys:

Thomas Hearns:
http://cdn1.ioffer.com/img/item/579/901/11/4cff_1.JPG

Hearns vs. Sugar Ray:
http://www.independent.co.uk/multimedia ... 25027t.jpg

Muhammad Ali:
http://tunkuhalim.files.wordpress.com/2 ... d_ali3.jpg
http://wgisports.files.wordpress.com/20 ... d-ali1.jpg

Ricky Hatton:
http://www.saddoboxing.com/boxing_image ... oxing1.jpg
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Spo ... -M-001.jpg

David Haye (right) vs. Nikolai Valuev:
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/mult ... 48136c.jpg

Paulus Moses:
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/4 ... ia_afp.jpg


Now I say - practice your art correctly. Practice it hard with dedication and insight. Put your hands wherever you personally feel comfortable with experience (doesn't have to be "up").

[paranoidandroid]

If you dont keep your hands up, chances are very high you will get punched in the face. No matter what style you have.
Spar a few rounds(50% is enough) without your hands up. Even if you have a very fast footwork and a bob and weave style still chances are high you will get punched in the head/face.

Its not easy to keep your hands up, if you fight for a few rounds. (posting random pictures is propaly not a good idea to support your statement)

[palmslam]

I Agree with questioning everything. You might get the question turned on you with the application, but hell that's why your there. Foot work, why stand there and be macho and take a kick or punch, Be able to learn to turn "the switch on". From sane to insane. And ya, have a cold one and relax. Like Jakes comments!!!


S. Manning

[RickMatz]

1. Empty your cup
2. Let your practice shape you
3. Don't be in a hurry

[Scott P. Phillips]

1. Find a teacher who you like and spend as much time training with them as possible.
2. Get inside the teacher's head and heart and figure out exactly how they think you should be training on your own and do it with military discipline.
3. The purpose of this training is to reveal the limitlessness of your true nature--let all limited goals blow away like dust.