It can seem like an overwhelming feat as a female to jump into Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, or MMA for the first time. Will there be other females? What about getting injured? Are they okay with someone who knows absolutely nothing about the sport? Will I learn real self defense? What about attire?
Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, Kickboxing, and MMA (a solid mix) are some of the best martial arts forms for self defense. Jiu Jitsu is practical, effective, and designed so that smaller people can defeat larger people (simply put, it’s not about strength or size). Muay Thai and Kickboxing give access and understanding to highly effective strikes, utilizing both the upper and lower body. MMA is a beautiful mix of these (and more), giving you a wide-ranged skill set to handle yourself in any self defense situation, regardless of where it takes place (standing, on the ground, and anything between). Here at Tribe-SBG Reno, we want you to have the best experience possible when diving into these sports. Check out this breakdown of some of the more commonly asked questions when women look to join these sports:
1. Will I get hurt?
Martial arts is like anything in life. Can you get hurt? Of course you can. Should you expect to get hurt? Not if you choose the right place to train! Choosing a school with highly qualified coaches who put your safety first is a key component to enjoying and thriving in these sports. Tribe-SBG Reno offers an incredible beginner program, Foundations, to slowly and safely introduce you to Jiu Jitsu. Our highly trained coaches will ensure you have good partners, patiently explain and introduce techniques, calmly answer all your questions, and help you progress forward at a pace that will keep you safe. There’s zero reason to hold an expectation of getting hurt.
2. Are there other women?
While martial arts has long been a male dominated sport, that is rapidly changing. It’s not uncommon to see Jiu Jitsu tournaments with as many female entrants as there are male, or to see women in just about every class offered at the gym. At Tribe-SBG Reno, we even tend to have quite a few classes where the women actually outnumber the men! You can also look to begin in our all-females classes, or even ask a coach which classes typically have lots of females in them, and then start with those ones.
3. What should I wear?
This will depend on what you are doing (BJJ is different than Muay Thai/Kickboxing). This is a very common (and important) question, and certainly no need to be nervous to ask it. Having the right apparel and gear will help you to feel more comfortable as you jump in. When you book a trial class with us, we’ll send you info on what to wear your first day (and what you’ll need to borrow from us). When you sign up, we’ll walk you through the recommended clothing options for each sport.
4. Will these sports actually equip me to protect myself?
Cardio kickboxing is a fun and killer workout, but it will NOT equip you to protect yourself. Unfortunately, there are many gyms and programs out there that offer unrealistic techniques and expectations in the name of “self defense.” For an untrained individual, it can be hard to sift through the good and the bad. Finding a place with high quality instructors, as well as people who utilize their training for real life jobs (like all of our fantastic Law Enforcement Officers-both coaches and students), are a great indicator of a gym with a practical self defense approach.
Our goal here at Tribe-SBG Reno is to offer the women in our community the best opportunity to jump in to training. Whether you’re looking for the health benefits, a great community to plug into, or simply how to defend and protect yourself and your loved ones, Tribe-SBG Reno is the perfect place to plug into to begin your journey.
