Jeffrey Long said:How physically fit does someone need to be before starting martial arts? I'm specifically interested in Hapkido (or something similar), but I'm not sure if I need to be in peak condition first. I'm a bit more on the heavier side 😁, but I can still knock out 30 to 40 push-ups, and I'm pretty flexible!
Thanks 🙂
- Hey! You don't need to be in perfect shape. Doing 30 push-ups is plenty; you'll build whatever conditioning you need once you start training. Having some extra mass will actually help you during grappling sessions.
By the way, the crowd at the gym ranges from 20 to over 50 years old. Looking at them, nobody is a professional athlete, but everyone puts in the work. I sparred with an older gentleman once—I’m 19, and he was definitely over 50. Naturally, I had the physical advantage, but it was interesting how well he held his own. Without any Judo knowledge, my strength wouldn't have mattered much.
People show up and try.
Also, the instructors here are top-tier; very few people possess that level of specialized expertise.
If you're curious, just go check it out. I believe the group meets around 8 PM. 👍
- Melissa Williams25, I'd recommend Kyokushin if you can find a dojo. It's probably the most realistic and high-contact style of Karate out there.
- Roger Smith6, I don't know much about Wu Shu, but there's a similar discipline called Arnis (Escrima/Kali)—it involves knife, machete, and stick fighting like nothing else you've seen. I can send you links to videos and articles. It's a shame there isn't a dedicated Arnis club in the city right now, unless you count private lessons with Mr. Kukuljem, who originally introduced the art to the States.
