General Chat & Info Board

I realize I probably ought to research several different clubs first, but I’m genuinely curious about which ones are considered excellent starting points for beginners. Is it truly that difficult to find success in sports at my age? xD

Casey Wilson2 said:I realize I probably ought to research several different clubs first, but I’m genuinely curious about which ones are considered excellent starting points for beginners. Is it truly that difficult to find success in sports at my age? xD

Well, if you consider that most competitive athletes start training back in elementary school... then yeah, maybe.😁.

You said it yourself—go check out the sessions at a gym like Gracie Barra; any of them should be fine for beginners. The only exception would be certain MMA gyms where they require prior experience in some base martial art before you can even start training.

Greetings, everyone.

Does anyone know who I might contact in the Los Angeles area for individual Tai Chi instruction or therapeutic sessions for a four-year-old child? My goal is to help improve their motor skills and balance. I am looking for a recommendation for a specific club or a qualified professional...

Thank you all for your responses!!

So, I have a quick question—does anyone here have any firsthand experience training Muay Thai over at the Subos gym? I'm curious if it's a good environment for someone just starting out—total beginner status—and also, does anyone happen to know when their next enrollment period or registration window opens up? Thanks a million!

Larry Hayes said:Well, if you consider that most competitive athletes start training back in elementary school... then yeah, maybe.😁.

You said it yourself—go check out the sessions at a gym like Gracie Barra; any of them should be fine for beginners. The only exception would be certain MMA gyms where they require prior experience in some base martial art before you can even start training.

Which ones are we talking about? 😲

Eric Jackson43 said:Which ones are we talking about? 😲

I honestly can't recall right now, but I was browsing online and it seemed to suggest you need some prior experience before you can even start training. I guess it might have been written in German, American, or English... I'm not entirely sure.

Larry Hayes said:I honestly can't recall right now, but I was browsing online and it seemed to suggest you need some prior experience before you can even start training. I guess it might have been written in German, American, or English... I'm not entirely sure.

That’s definitely not the case here in New York—I can't think of a single gym in the city that enforces rules like that. You probably stumbled onto some niche MMA club in Miami or something.

Robin Palmer3 said:That’s definitely not the case here in New York—I can't think of a single gym in the city that enforces rules like that. You probably stumbled onto some niche MMA club in Miami or something.

Since you brought it up, here is the link:

5. post

Daniel Garcia said:Since I've got some free time on my hands—and since there's a gym right around the corner that fits perfectly into my schedule—I’ve actually started training again. I really need to beef up my striking. Honestly, it’s better for me to put in the work and drop some weight now than to just sit here whining about it on this forum or Facebook.😛

Does anyone happen to know when fall training sessions kick off? Is it September 7th? I’m really hoping to swing by after class with Freedom to catch a session... also, what's the monthly damage looking like? 🙂

Hey everyone.
I’m looking for some insight from anyone involved in the martial arts community.
I want to pick up a discipline, but I have zero interest in going pro or competing at any serious level.
I'm 26, and my main goal is to work on breath control and better physical coordination...
Personally, I tend to jump to conclusions too quickly and struggle with hyperactivity, so I'm hoping to find something that teaches me how to stay centered and find a bit of balance.
Is there a specific style or discipline you'd suggest for someone like me? Since I'm based in Los Angeles, any local gym recommendations would be appreciated too.
Thanks.

neonranger said:Hey everyone.
I’m looking for some insight from anyone involved in the martial arts community.
I want to pick up a discipline, but I have zero interest in going pro or competing at any serious level.
I'm 26, and my main goal is to work on breath control and better physical coordination...
Personally, I tend to jump to conclusions too quickly and struggle with hyperactivity, so I'm hoping to find something that teaches me how to stay centered and find a bit of balance.
Is there a specific style or discipline you'd suggest for someone like me? Since I'm based in Los Angeles, any local gym recommendations would be appreciated too.
Thanks.

Since it sounds like the combat aspect isn't your top priority—and you mentioned wanting something akin to meditation—Aikido seems like a solid choice for you.

There are a few people from the LA area who train Aikido, so maybe they can chime in with some details about local clubs.

If Aikido doesn't grab you, Judo is another good option, provided you find a club that welcomes recreational students.

Which high-quality, serious Aikido club in San Diego would you recommend for a beginner? I'm 29, not particularly flexible or limber 🙂 (my job involves staring at a monitor all day and a lot of sitting).

My criteria:
- Most importantly, I need instructors who aren't just good at teaching, but are actually approachable, normal people you can grab a beer with or grill with questions. I want to avoid those ego-maniacs who look down their noses at you and act like they're some kind of enlightened sages. Basically, I’m looking for a solid, friendly crew that fosters a relaxed atmosphere.

- I don't want a club full of orthodox Eastern fanatics. Look, I'm not expecting to walk in on my first session and pull off master-level strikes or master five techniques instantly. But I also don't want to end up in a place where the first two or three sessions are entirely wasted on endless philosophy, stretching, and breathing exercises. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against that in moderation—it's necessary and useful—but I don't want the overkill where someone is essentially bleeding me dry by dragging things out unnecessarily.

- My main goal is to improve flexibility and pick up solid techniques and holds, along with everything that comes with that (proper breathing, composure, etc.). Specifically, I'm interested in the holds, levers, execution technique, movement coordination, and defensive maneuvers. I want to nail the fundamentals (not overnight, obviously) without being forced into a snail's pace just because some instructor claims it's "the only way to truly learn." (It's a bit awkward to tell an instructor that without sounding arrogant or getting shut down like an ignorant newbie.) 🙂 - I have zero ambition to reach competitive levels; I just want the basics and what I mentioned above.

- I'm not sure if this is possible... but ideally (though not mandatory), I'd like to be able to train in "regular" gym clothes where I feel most comfortable and relaxed—just a T-shirt and shorts. I’d prefer to avoid any excessive 🙂 weird rituals that make me feel like I've joined some kind of cult 😉... I've heard there are instructors who go overboard and act like total fanatics, and those are exactly the types I want to avoid.

If anyone knows how pricing works, I hope it isn't outrageous... ideally around $100 a month, training about three times a week (depending on what my social and work life allows).

Thanks everyone for the help and answers. Enjoy!

PS
I've heard about these places, but I'm not sure which ones are currently active:

Ikeda Dojo - San Diego,
"Aiki" Aikido Club, San Diego,
"Bonaccia" Aikido Club, San Diego (I've heard good things about this one),
"Jadran" Aikido Club, San Diego,
"San Diego" Aikido Club, San Diego (Is this one even active anymore?)
Musubi Aikido Club, San Diego,
US Aikido Federation, San Diego,

Thanks for the input! Cheers!

The sailing conditions are active, and there's a light breeze, though I can't speak to the rest. I suppose you could try to track down a phone number and then get in touch with the coaches...

If you're interested, there's an aikido club over in Castleside, so maybe stop by there.😉

Tyler James57 said:So, I have a quick question—does anyone here have any firsthand experience training Muay Thai over at the Subos gym? I'm curious if it's a good environment for someone just starting out—total beginner status—and also, does anyone happen to know when their next enrollment period or registration window opens up? Thanks a million!

I train at that gym and it’s been great... fits perfectly around my college schedule and everything else... good enough for starting out... just two sessions a day, plus you can use the equipment whenever during the day if you want to squeeze in some strength training... regarding sign-ups, just show up to a session and talk to the coach. They'll likely take you in, assuming there's space—they don't care about your fitness level or anything. You can find the schedule on their site www.subos.hr... shoot me a DM if you need anything else. Cheers.

branimir7 said:I heard some young American kid is a world champion in Muay Thai. I think he's in the 71 kg weight class, name's Viktor.

Yeah... Viktor Zaman... trains over at Spartan Gym... why?

Hey there, I'm looking to start training soon. I was wondering if there are any clubs in the East Side area of the city that don't run sessions so late—like 9 PM is a bit much for me, I guess.
Thanks.

I’m thinking about getting into some kind of martial arts, maybe something like Taekwondo or Karate. I’m not looking to go pro or anything—just want to do it recreationally to build up some muscle and actually learn how to throw a punch if things get ugly😁. Since I'm 21, I'd prefer finding a gym where there are older beginners hanging out too.🤷🤷Just a heads up, I have zero experience with fighting sports.

Where are you based?

Hey everyone—just had a few quick questions (for those of you in the loop): Where in a city like San Diego can I find some decent Kyokushin karate training? Is the skill level actually solid there? Basically, just tell me everything you know about it 🙂

Question for the pros out in San Diego.

Does anyone happen to know where I can find some acrobatics around town? I'm looking for high-level freestyle stuff—to get straight to the point, here’s a link to what I mean: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bhVWdiSpc0

If anyone has leads, I'd really appreciate it. It's more like intense gymnastics, but you know... if you catch my drift... 🙂 Looking for something for adults, not kids' classes. Something for ages 20 and up (I'm 22 myself).

Thanks so much!