Rochester Phoenix Martial Arts
  • Home
  • Programs
    • Adults & Teens
    • Kids
    • Special Interest Classes
  • Class Schedules
  • Reviews
  • Pricing
  • Offers and Specials
  • Store
  • Instructors
  • What's New

Master level instruction for all students. Call or text Leigh at (585) 354-8946 to get started.


Finding the Right Program

2/20/2017

0 Comments

 
​Terms like "Karate" and "Ju-Jitsu" may seem standard, but they are not! There are soooooo many different styles of martial arts out there. That can be a good thing! It means that just because you tried training once and didn't enjoy it, you don't need to cross off martial arts for good. You may have just not found the right kind. 

Part of finding the right school also means finding a style of martial art you enjoy. 

Striking or Grappling?

There are arts that teach striking, which is punching, kicking, etc. And there are arts that teach grappling, which involves throws, ground-fighting, etc. In my experience, people tend to gravitate towards one or the other. However, that is changing with the popularity of MMA. Does punching a bag sound like fun? Or would you rather learn how to throw someone to the ground? Figuring out if you're a striker or a grappler is the first step.

How Competitive are You?

Some people thrive on competition. They want to get their moves to work on a fully resisting opponent. Others are looking for personal growth and development, and don't really care about besting someone on the mat. Different arts will have varying views on competition. For example, Aikido is non-competitive. Techniques are practiced and perfected, but generally the art is more about personal development. Judo, which is also a grappling art, is extremely competitive and has matches worked into almost every class. Other arts like Jiu-Jitsu and Karate have a little bit of both. Deciding what your goals are with the art will also guide you to the right program. 

How Much Punishment is Acceptable?

Martial arts are a contact sport. Other humans will be trying to punch you, choke you, and/or put you in various contorted positions. You'll get pinched and bruised. Your muscles will be sore the next day. However, the amount of physical punishment varies greatly. 

Keep in mind, much of this also depends on the instructors. There are also people who opt out of the combative part of class. Even in full contact karate, you can participate in everything except fighting. You'll work up a sweat, perfect your kata, but pass on the actual combat. People also do this in BJJ and Judo. As long as the instructors are fine with it, you shouldn't have a problem. 

Take some time to try out different arts and programs. This is one of the reasons why we have so many at our school! Different people will gravitate towards different kinds of styles and training. Never feel rushed to settle on one style. You'll be happier long term if you find a martial art that fits with your personality and preferences.
0 Comments

Confusion

2/6/2017

0 Comments

 
​Are you confused in Jiu-Jitsu? Or Aikido? Or Karate?

That's okay, we all are. Or at one point we all were. These aren't easy things to understand. It takes time, and lots of practice. Here are some tips:

1. Record Classes

Ask permission first, but most instructors won't have a problem with it. Recording the explanation of the techniques for reference later can help a lot. It can also help to watch yourself. You may pick up on things you didn't realize you were doing.

2. Keep a Notebook

Writing and reflecting after classes also helps you retain and process things. Again, this gives you a reference to look back on.

3. Ask for Help

Don't be afraid to ask for help. This can be done before, during, or after classes. Instructors are always happy to help explain things to you, and it helps us refine our teaching skills.
0 Comments

Not All Martial Arts are for Beasts - Aikido

1/18/2017

0 Comments

 
​Turn on UFC and what do you see? People in all out Beast Mode cracking open faces and breaking bones. Whoa. No thanks. To quote many of my friends and family over the years: "Why pay someone to beat you up every week?" Well, because martial arts aren't all like that!

Okay, full contact karate and BJJ can have their moments. But if you're interested in martial arts without all the GRRRR, there are options!

Allow me to introduce: AIKIDO

Aikido is known as "the gentle art." The class has more of a Yoga feel than a competitive one. Aikido focuses on joint manipulation and off balancing. In training, you learn how to feel the momentum of your attacker and then use it against him/her. Students practice on training partners, but in a non-competitive way.

Instead of competitions or tournaments, Aikido has seminars. Sometimes guest instructors will come in and give lessons. Other times the class will travel to another school. Joint training sessions with other area schools are also common.

When people are nervous about taking a martial art and fear injury, I usually guide them to Aikido.

That being said, you often get out of training what you put in. BJJ and Full Contact Karate (Ashihara) can be done gently and without injury. Just like it is possible to get injure someone if you land an Aikido technique full force. But if you're looking for a martial art that is gentle, non-competitive, but still can be used for self defense and personal development, Aikido might be a perfect fit. We have Aikido for Kids and Adults.  
Picture
0 Comments

Battling Bigger Opponents

1/17/2017

0 Comments

 
Finally, the fun part of class is here: Battle Time! The chance to practice all those sweet moves on a resisting and unsuspecting opponent! You picture yourself landing those triangles, throwing on armbars, wiping the sweat from your brow triumphantly while your opponent shakes off their defeat- Oh, except you get partnered up with the 300 pound ex football lineman. The dude with the neck that is literally stronger than your right leg.

NOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Battling bigger people can suck. But it can also be a great learning experience. More on that later. This post is about why you shouldn't get discouraged about the suck.

One thing that helps keep things in perspective for me is the Boyd Belt System. This means that for every twenty pounds someone has on you, it equals a belt rank. So if you're rolling with someone who outweighs you by forty pounds, it is the same as fighting someone two belt ranks higher than you. So don't get discouraged if you're not tapping people out who are bigger than you- even if you are the same rank. This doesn't mean you'll never manage to win your matches. As you get more experience things will start to level out.

We had a student in Aikido who was tiny, we had to order a child size uniform for her. Yet she always went with the biggest guy in class. I really appreciated that mentality. You can learn a lot from trying - AND - failing against bigger people.
​

Personally, I'm okay embracing the suck and learning what I can from having my techniques fail on bigger opponents. Someday those techniques won't fail, and that will be a gloriously awesome day.
0 Comments

Finding a School - Openess

1/12/2017

0 Comments

 
I know finding a martial arts school can be very difficult. While I'm partial to Rochester Phoenix Martial Arts, I realize we aren't right for everyone. Still, I wanted to do some posts on things to look for. I've been training in the martial arts for a LONG time, and I can usually spot good schools pretty quick. This post is on openness. It's a quality I think is important and that separates good schools from bad ones.



Real modern martial arts training should not be clouded in mystery. We don't meet for secret magic training sessions with secret magic scrolls to enhance our secret magic skills. Sorry if I ruined the martial arts for anyone just now.



Can You Watch Classes?

We encourage potential students to watch classes. We encourage parents to watch their kids in classes. We encourage significant others to come watch their loved one in classes. There are no secret magic skills an instructor is teaching to your eight year old that you can't be allowed to see. If a school discourages viewing... RED FLAG! As a parent myself, I'd run from a school that wouldn't allow me to watch the class.



What Are the Parent Organizations?

That weirdo in the Wal-Mart parking lot can go ahead and open up a martial arts school in his basement if he was so inclined. There are no regulations for operating a dojo. Unfortunately, there are frauds out there. One way to avoid fraudulent instructors is to look into the parent organizations associated with the school. These keep up quality control, provide ranking guidelines, and instructors normally need to be certified through them. If there are no parent organizations, at least question and research the instructor's credentials.



How Easy is it to Contact the Owners?

Brennan and I live in an apartment. We have cell phones. We don't live on some mountain top fortress in the middle of nowhere. When students or parents want to talk to us, we're there! I always try to respond to texts, emails, and phone calls right away. We also try to check in with students and parents on a regular basis. If the head instructor/school owner is never at the dojo and doesn't respond when you try contacting him/her, probably a bad sign.  
​



Finding a good school isn't easy. There are still a lot of outdated notions about martial arts and training. Hopefully this series of posts will help clear some of that up. Even if you aren't from the Rochester NY area, the same points apply.  
0 Comments

Training Beyond Your Own Dojo

1/11/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
​Should your training begin and end with your own school? For many people, coming to class and training in their own school is enough. However, extra training can be extremely beneficial for so many reasons.

Additional training can take many forms. Seminars, open rolls, and tournaments are just a few examples. Why are these events so important to your training?

They Keep Things Fresh


As you train and start working with others, you start figuring things out about your training partners. We all have habits, and the more you work with familiar people, the more you can anticipate just how he or she will react. By training with new people, you can better tell if your techniques are working properly. A technique will work differently on someone who has no idea it's coming.

They Put Things Into Perspective

Maybe you're the biggest guy in class. Maybe you're the smallest. Maybe you're the oldest. Maybe you're the youngest. By traveling to another school, you can seek out others with similar or different body types than you're used to. I'm used to working with people a lot bigger than me in our classes. At first I was getting a little discouraged because it seemed like everyone was better-- Until I went to another school that had several women my size. I held my own! Suddenly I didn't seem to be doing nearly as badly as I had been thinking I was.

They Prevent "Martial Inbreeding"

This is a term I use for when people substitute anticipation/expectations for technique. In other words, is something working because it's legit? Or because Sensei says it will work and it's working for everyone else? Other instructors and high ranking individuals may have new ways of looking at things or interpreting techniques. By going out and experiencing new ideas - even if you don't agree with them - you keep adding tidbits of understanding and knowledge to your belt. This keeps your martial world growing, expanding, and evolving.

There are so many more reasons to venture outside your school walls. I'll tackle more in another post. 

0 Comments

A Brief Uniform Guide

1/10/2017

1 Comment

 
One of the fun things about martial arts - for kids and some adults - is the cool uniform you get to wear!

We have uniforms for a few reasons. One is because it's traditional, and the martial arts celebrate tradition and history within the classes.

However, the uniform also has a very practical use as well. In arts like BJJ and Judo, the uniform is designed to withstand the rigors of training. It won't rip when grabbed and yanked. It also helps keep things fair in competition. If one person has a loose fitting uniform, it will make it far easier for their opponent to grab it and complete their throw or sweep.

In Karate, a thick uniform acts as a training tool. Listening to the SNAP sound that a uniform makes when you throw a technique helps indicate how sharp and strong the punch or kick was.

Aikido has a unique uniform as well. Since it doesn't need to be as strong as a Karate or Judo uniform, these are a lot lighter. The sleeves are short enough to not get in the way during weapon work. The knees on the pants are reinforced for some of the kneeling work.

The uniforms might seem odd and confusing at first, but they are important! We can help get you the perfect uniform for whatever training you decide to take on.
Picture
1 Comment

    Black belts online

    When Sensei Leigh and Sensei Brennan aren't training, we're keeping you updated on the happenings here at Rochester Phoenix Martial Arts!

    Categories

    All
    Adult Martial Arts
    Adult Struggles
    Aikido
    Balance
    Birthday Parties
    Birthday Party
    BJJ
    Camp
    Community Roll
    Dojo
    Education
    Events
    Finding A Good School
    Fitness
    Fun
    Health And Fitness
    Instructors
    Jiu Jitsu
    Jiu-Jitsu
    Karate
    Kids
    Kids Martial Arts
    Life
    Martial Arts
    Martial Arts Lifestyle
    Mma
    Open Roll
    Phillosophy
    Programs
    Rant
    Rolling
    Seminars
    Struggles
    Tournaments
    Training
    Uniforms
    Updates
    Yoga

    Archives

    July 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    June 2016
    June 2015
    May 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014

    RSS Feed

    Want more information? Get in touch!

Contact Us
Get in touch immediately to schedule an appointment or get more information by calling or texting Leigh at (585) 354-8946
© COPYRIGHT 2015. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.