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So I joined my first Karate class this evening with my 6 year old daughter. Tang Sou Dao to be precise, but in honesty I have little idea what that really means.
My neighbour invited us along as my daughter expressed an interest.
I felt a bit of a clown trying to watch the experienced students while following the instructions from the Master, within 1 move I was behind and then out of sync with the rest of the group, then having to catch up..
It seems like a MASSIVE learning curve with loads to remember even before the different blocks and attacks are mastered.
Remembering the names/words and the order of the formal stuff is worrying me the most to be honest. Is this normal or have I joined a class that is a bit to advanced for a complete beginner (we were the only beginners there) ?
Plus side was my daughter was kicking, jumping and punching all the way home so I think she is hooked.
Any advice for a complete novice starting out.?
Wax on, wax off.
I'm sure if I mentioned that in the 'Dojo', I would get my ass kicked swiftly out the door...
Yes, it takes time to get good.
Buy a gum shield, groin cup and hand/feet mitts for sparring. Pay the small fee insurance.
Check it’s affiliated and not a Mickey Mouse school that gives black belts to 5 year olds.
Look eye. Always look eye.
Do not look at the finger or you will miss all the heavenly glory
Totally normal to be confused by it all - how could you expect to know/follow it?
I interview/start beginners off at a Wing Chun school and EVERYONE without exception tries to figure it out as soon as they start. It's impossible.
My advice: switch off your brain, enjoy the journey and let yourself absorb it.
The whole family joined a class last year with a 1 hour session on Friday evenings... it is a bit tricky to make all the sessions, but I think we have got a lot out of it.
I still struggle with the language, plus my speed and flexibility is laughable compared to the sprogs (in my defense, I am 47, 189cm and 110kg).
I found that practicing the 1st and 2nd Katas really helped, and make sure that you warm up and stretch properly!
Me and our two oldest kids just had our grading for Orange belt... haven’t had the bottle to go to a tournament yet though!
I've signed up for another week for both me and the 6yr old..
I'm actually looking forward to it.
Question though, Tang Sou Dao is the 'type' of Karate this is, what are the differences between them and are the skills/moves transferable between the different types?
If it's a style that involves a lot of kicking, the more warming up and stretching you can do outside classes, the quicker/easier kicks will become without risking muscle damage.
When I started Taekwondo at ~16 many years ago, my leg flexibility was awful (I could not do a "front kick" to my own waist height), because my legs muscles were very tight from lots of informal football; tennis; squash etc.
Any martial art seems overwhelming at first, keep at it. Suddenly one day you will find yourself doing the moves without thinking and when you think back to now you will be astonished!
I really struggled with Jun Fan and Muay Thai when I started, six months later it was me helping the the next batch of newbies!
Never heard of your ‘Tang Sou Dao’ but it sounded Chinese so I did a quick google.
Yup. Small correction, ‘Karate’ it is not.
Carry on.
Strike first, strike hard, no mercy!
Question though, Tang Sou Dao is the ‘type’ of Karate this is, what are the differences between them and are the skills/moves transferable between the different types?
You thinking of moving on to the next one already ? 😉
If you get proficient in a martial art you will, most likely be able to pick another one up much faster than someone who hasn't - see yourself for evidence of this. I partnered someone the other day in his very first Eskrima class and he was great! Turned out he'd done many years of Ninjitsu, so is handy with weapons and has done a variety of other things so has good movement and awareness.
They are transferable as they're all about hips, balance and spacial awareness.
Perfectly normal to feel like you can't follow or keep it. It changes with time. It will feel more frustrating before it gets better though.
First comes unconscious incompetence. Then comes conscious incompetence, then conscious competence, finally unconscious competence.
Sweep the leg
Chong Li is weak in the gut
Wax on, wax off.
So glad this was the second post! 😂