Q& A with Coach John

Question:
When will I know I’m ready to move up to Level 2 or 3? JJ

Answer:
Well JJ, that is a question that nearly everyone asks!! And the answer may seem too simple, but here it is: when you feel you’re ready, or when we tell you that you should move up, well….move up!

While the majority of members here simply want to get into shape and are not getting ready for a fight, or to earn a rank in martial arts, there is still a certain amount of skill and technical knowledge one must possess before moving up to the next level. The main reason for this is safety; it makes no sense to put someone in danger of pulling a muscle or tearing a ligament to get a workout when they don’t have the proper muscular development, body control or technical knowledge to do the moves- THIS IS NOT TAE BO PEOPLE!! Safety is essential in a sport such as this because the movements are very explosive, extremely powerful and can be jarring to the body even though our heavy bags are soft.

The second reason a person would want to take some time and develop the basics of this type of training is that they can get very frustrated when they get lost on many of the advanced moved such as footwork, head movement and multiple angle combinations. I’ve seen time and again when someone gets lost in class, they feel as if either they aren’t good enough, or that the classes are just too hard- and they quite. However, when someone gets even 4-6 weeks of basic training, they have a blast at the upper levels and reach their goals quicker than if they simple wing-it!

This is when you need to stay at Level One:

So, when do you know you’re ready?: when you’ve spent at least 4-6 weeks at Level One and find that the techniques are no longer difficult to perform, and/or you can perform them with unlimited speed and power. Also, you know you’re ready when we tell you to move up to level two and that’s because we see the progress you’re making and want you to make even more!


BUT: Please don’t feel as if you have to move up in the Levels, if you simple want the 30-35 minute workout that Level One provides, by all means, stay there! But if you want longer training sessions, more technical skill and knowledge, then please, feel free to join us at the advanced level classes!

SEE YOU IN CLASS!!