How do i get started in the Martial arts?

I'm 24 y/o...too old? and I live in a small town, how do i find a good school?

How do i get started in the Martial arts?
Being from a small town, there may not be a lot to choose from. Talk to your friends and acquaintances and find out if any of them are studying the Martial Arts or know someone who is, and where. Go there and watch a class in action. Then, if you think you may like it, ask about aking a free class. After that you can decide if it is something you want to do or if you want to keep on looking.





The style you study in the beginning is not really important. One style is as good as another. Later, if you discover that that style is not suited to you, then start looking for something else. By then you should have a better understanding of what the Martial Arts are all about and what you really want.





Try to find a school near your home, just for the sake of convenience. If you have a friend that is studying somewhere, go there because it is always fun to have a friend to workout with.





Have fun!





p.s. My family is from Illinois and we have relatives in Indiana too. I was there with my family in the summer of 1963. I remember it being a very slow paced life.
Reply:Search on the net for schools in your area
Reply:Search on the gym around your city may have some one of martial arts.





Or you can make you style of fight mixing another styles.


(like me)
Reply:Never too old. Ya, internet or yellow pages best bet. Then start touring.
Reply:Start by opening the door. A lot of people never get involved in martial arts becuase they never actually go in to a dojo or do jang. Most martial art facilities offer at least one free lesson. Take it. If you like it, stay. If not, try elsewhere.
Reply:24 is still young. Check out your local phone book or the internet. Call the school you're interested in and ask if you can watch a class. I recommend watching an advanced class. After the class, ask the students what they like about the school. The instructor shouldn't mind this. Watch the instructor also. Do you like how he instructs? Does he seem stable? I also don't recommend signing contracts. The art and the school should sell themselves. Not to be a downer, but there are a lot of rip-off artists and crackpots out there. You should be aware of them.
Reply:Visit schools near you. You may have to go to a nearby town to find the right 1 for you. When you find the right school, just sign up %26amp; get going.
Reply:Your options may be very limited especially if just starting out. Shop around-pick a school that appeals to what you are looking for. If it is self defense-pick a school that tends to focus on that. If it is competition then pick a school that focuses on that. Look in the yellow pages under martial arts-the web is another source. You may have to temporarily limit your interests to what is available in your area with the idea that eventually if you move you may be able to change to something more desirable. Small towns sometimes have good schools that are not diploma mills, charge high tuition fees and have some good instructors. Go and watch a couple of classes, talk with the students afterwords (if possible) and try to get a good and honest answer as to if they would recommend that school or another. Look at the hidden costs like testing/promotion fees, uniform costs, equipment costs, etc. and also if they have contracts and if so are they short or long term. All these things along with your own interests and your ability to make it to class are things to consider when selecting a school. Twenty-four is by no means too old to start-I have students that have started in their 40s and 50s.
Reply:Good martial arts schools have websites that can give you locations of dojos in your area.





I'm part of a line of schools called Shaolin-do. THey are owned by grandmaster Sin Kwang The and have a good curriculum.


You could probably find their website in a google search.