Gear:
One needs an appropriate uniform for the training in which they want to engage. A gi, dobok, or whatever it is that the particular training facility requires. Sparring/protective gear may or may not be required, and the same is true of weapons. However, past this, it often seems to me that people get carried away, especially as newcomers. Fancy uniforms, embroidered with initials, belts, expensive gear and weapons, and so on.
Books / Videos:
Unless required by the training facility or recommended by an instructor, there's usually not a lot of need to fill up a bookshelf with such things, especially not at first.
Seminars:
Seminars are nice and can be useful. But it's not uncommon to find instruction that contradicts or as at least appreciably different than one's own training. Again, speaking mostly for beginners, this can be confusing and frustrating.
Cross-Training:
As a beginner, just don't do it. There's no need. Get a good grounding in one art before trying to take on another as a raw beginner. Even among those who have trained for a long time, there often seems to be a perceived need to become a more 'well-rounded' martial artist by studying other styles of MA. I don't think so. In most circumstances, if what you are learning is a good art with good instructors, you are already 'well-rounded'. You need nothing else. Maybe for the expert, possibly, under certain circumstances. But definitely not for everyone.
Exercise books, equipment, and videos:
Seriously. Get a jump rope and use it. A lot. Do pushups and crunches. Stretch. That's it. You don't need fitness experts or flexibility experts or expensive machines or weird books with anatomical drawings of muscle groups. The secret to the basics? Do them. Do them a lot. That's all.
You know what martial arts students do NOT take to the end of the earth? Practicing their basics, kata/forms, and techniques. No one ever seems to obsess over the one thing they can do at home for free for as long as they want; practice.
It's just not that complicated. Join a martial arts school. Get the required/recommended gear and/or weapons. Get a jump rope and practice basic exercises at home whenever possible. Pay attention in class and practice at home. Don't obsess over cross-training or seminars, don't spend all your available free time reading books and watching videos; go practice in your basement or backyard or a local park.
:boing1:
One needs an appropriate uniform for the training in which they want to engage. A gi, dobok, or whatever it is that the particular training facility requires. Sparring/protective gear may or may not be required, and the same is true of weapons. However, past this, it often seems to me that people get carried away, especially as newcomers. Fancy uniforms, embroidered with initials, belts, expensive gear and weapons, and so on.
Books / Videos:
Unless required by the training facility or recommended by an instructor, there's usually not a lot of need to fill up a bookshelf with such things, especially not at first.
Seminars:
Seminars are nice and can be useful. But it's not uncommon to find instruction that contradicts or as at least appreciably different than one's own training. Again, speaking mostly for beginners, this can be confusing and frustrating.
Cross-Training:
As a beginner, just don't do it. There's no need. Get a good grounding in one art before trying to take on another as a raw beginner. Even among those who have trained for a long time, there often seems to be a perceived need to become a more 'well-rounded' martial artist by studying other styles of MA. I don't think so. In most circumstances, if what you are learning is a good art with good instructors, you are already 'well-rounded'. You need nothing else. Maybe for the expert, possibly, under certain circumstances. But definitely not for everyone.
Exercise books, equipment, and videos:
Seriously. Get a jump rope and use it. A lot. Do pushups and crunches. Stretch. That's it. You don't need fitness experts or flexibility experts or expensive machines or weird books with anatomical drawings of muscle groups. The secret to the basics? Do them. Do them a lot. That's all.
You know what martial arts students do NOT take to the end of the earth? Practicing their basics, kata/forms, and techniques. No one ever seems to obsess over the one thing they can do at home for free for as long as they want; practice.
It's just not that complicated. Join a martial arts school. Get the required/recommended gear and/or weapons. Get a jump rope and practice basic exercises at home whenever possible. Pay attention in class and practice at home. Don't obsess over cross-training or seminars, don't spend all your available free time reading books and watching videos; go practice in your basement or backyard or a local park.
:boing1:
....no need to complicate anything...found the same in JKD too....
