Frequently Asked Questions About the Adult Martial Arts Program (traditional)

Posted October 15, 2015 by Somnath Sikdar & filed under Adult Martial Arts, Tae Kwon Do.

Frequently Asked Questions about Adult Martial Arts Training at the Dragon Gym in Exton, PA

Do I need any prior experience?

Nope! Our muay thai program is completely progressive – meaning we teach you exactly everything need to know in order to safely and effectively train in traditional martial arts like Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido. We take great pride in being a “principle first” based system. This means that our program is based first on safety and helping you develop proper understanding of martial arts principles. Many people who take our our classes never done martial arts before, but quickly fall in love with it.

Do I need to be in REALLY GOOD SHAPE to start Martial Arts?

Not at all. When you join Dragon Gym Martial Arts (Moo Do), you become part of something much greater than just a workout program. You become part of an incredibly supportive and encouraging community. We’ve literally helps hundreds of people of all shapes and sizes get in the best shapes of their lives AND learn martial arts. Our system is progressive and will work for ANYONE who commits to it. You will never be expected to do more than what you are currently capable of, and unlike most other martial arts classes you will never feel embarrassed or left behind.

Do I need to bring my own gear and equipment?

When you get started in our Quick Start Program, we’ll give you a Uniform (dobalk). That’s all you need to get started. At the Dragon Gym we have a full compliment of equipment: Focus Pads, Heavy Bags, Targets, Mats, jump ropes, etc… As you continue training you may want to invest in some personal gear like shin pads and head gear.

Can I bring a friend?

Absolutely! Actually, we found that beginners that start with a friend tend to get better results, learn more, and have more fun!

How Many Women Train in Martial Arts at Dragon Gym?

Actually, a lot! The classes at Dragon Gym have just about a 50-50 male to female student ratio. The way we teach martial arts is all about the use of technique and is perfectly suited for females – a demographic we specialize in teaching.

It seems like every one that trains Martial Arts is really young, am I too old?

No way! Our classes have a range of age groups. We teach teenagers all the way through students in their 70s. We can do this only because our program is technique and curriculum based, enabling us to tailor drills and workouts to your individual needs.

There’s a lot of talk about technique and progression, I just want to learn how to fight. Can I compete if I want to?

You sure can, but the focus of the Traditional Martial Arts program at Dragon Gym is not competition. We are more focused on teaching you how to protect yourself and getting you in the best shape possible. If you are interested in tournaments or competition in the ring we recommend our BJJ or Muay Thai programs.

Where is Dragon Gym Located?

The original Dragon Gym is located in Exton, PA. The address is 267 S. Whitford Rd, Exton PA. We are just minutes away from Downingtown, West Chester and Malvern, PA.

When are classes and how do I get more info?

We offer a variety of muay thai classes through the week. However, we start all new students with a free, no obligation orientation lesson with on of our Martial Arts Instructors. This will give you a chance to see what Martial Arts Training is all about and give us the chance to recommend the best program for you.

5 Example Meal Plans for all types of Martial Artists

Posted October 14, 2015 by Somnath Sikdar & filed under Adult Martial Arts, martial arts, Muay Thai.

Example Meal Plans for all types of Martial Artists

One of the questions we don't get often enough is "What should I eat?" Too many times, students don't get the health and fitness results they are seeking even if they are training as hard as they can. Training and taking classes consistently and effectively is a key to success in martial arts as well as getting in shape. However, cleaning up your diet (and how you look at eating) can be a crucial component to reaching your goals, especially if you feel like you may have plateaued.

Here are some ideas from experts in a variety of martial arts on how you can improve your nutrition.

Diets of Asian Martial Artists

MMA Meal Planning

10 Healthy Eating Habits for Martial Artists

Mixed Martial Arts: 2 Day Meal Plan Sample

The Basics of Nutrition for Martial Artists

So there you have it. That's just some quick ideas from around the web on how you get started on eating better and moving faster towards your goals!

If you're interested in martial arts or one of our coaching programs, please visit our main website: www.dragongym.com

Downingtown Martial Arts Instructor (and Mom) Talks about her Martial Arts Journey

Posted September 23, 2015 by Somnath Sikdar & filed under Adult Martial Arts, Tae Kwon Do.

What does becoming a Master level Martial Arts Instructor mean to me?

By: Kim Mukalian

My Journey in Martial Arts training began over 20 years ago at the Dragon Gym. Why here, why then? Well basically I needed to find some inner courage and strength to rebuild my own being and find self worth. This was a realization to me after years of being suppressed and controlled both physically and mentally by a person whom I thought “loved me”.

After several failed attempts to leave the situation and having my self esteem and confidence taken from me, I prayed and asked for guidance and had had enough! There had to be more for me, more that I could believe in instead of fear?

So I stumbled across Dragon Gym Martial Arts in the yellow pages in the phone book, took a ride down, had a one on one training session, and felt at home and excited about beginning a future here.

I remember meeting Grand Master Chae T. Goh and he helping me through some knee issues, allowing me to train in a training shoe so that I could wear my orthotics. Also, one hot summer night playing dragon tail and hearing him say how elusive I was as the others tried to capture my tail. Kimmie, Dragon Gym Kim was what Grand Master Goh called me and wrote on a magazine spread that I was featured in, proudly displaying it on the now green walls. Again, this was a place I knew I felt safe and at peace, regaining that self confidence I had so sadly let slip away.

I have learned so much here that has shaped me, from that once shy person filled with so much self doubt that many of my closest peers here may not have even known. I’ve been pushed beyond my physical and mental breaking points but not broken, made stronger and more resilient. I’ve been humbled by former Masters Instructors to teach me that not only being a good athlete is needed one must also be mentally sharp. One must rely on not only speed, high kicks and power but also on craftiness, precision, technique, skill and calm judgment not haste. I’ve learned to set those goals reach them reassess then set new ones, in the process helping others through my experiences.

My journey here at the gym and in my life outside the gym has taken me out of some places I care not go again, but having gone through that adversity has shown me how strong of a person I really am. Had I become a statistic if I had not opened those yellow pages 18 years ago? My answer to that is that through faith God gave me the strength. And the Dragon Gym and my commitment to training my mind, body and soul gave me the place to bring it all together. I have a beautiful family a caring and supportive husband routing me on through this goal of becoming the Dragon Gym’s first female 4^th Dan Martial Arts Master Instructor.

So my wonderful journey has led me to now stay humble to my beginnings; respect and honor myself to be that inspiration, friend, teacher, supporter and role model to all those I come in contact directly and indirectly. That to me is what this journey to becoming a Master Level Martial Arts Instructor is a full circle a cycle to give back.

6 Common Doubts about the Martial Arts Experience

Posted September 16, 2015 by Somnath Sikdar & filed under martial arts, Motivational.

The martial arts offer a very valuable journey of self-discovery. There are different stages within this journey all the way from beginner to black belt and beyond. At each stage there are different challenges and obstacles. This article will look at the common doubts that most beginners of the martial arts experience on their journey.

Is this really for me?

This is a big question at the beginner stage and also at the intermediate stage. In fact this question will need to be answered on numerous different occasions all the way up to black belt, and maybe even then too!

Self-doubt is not a bad thing, it is a way for you to take a step back from your training and logically ask yourself if karate is still for you. Only you can answer this question but to make sure that you continue to give karate a chance I recommend that you focus on three things: why did you get started in the first place; what has karate done for you so far; and what do you still hope to get out of your karate practice?

If you still feel that karate has a lot to offer you then your answer to question #1 should be a resounding yes!

Do I have the potential to become a black belt?

Yes! Yes! Yes! Everybody has the potential to do anything they want. The question you should ask yourself is, Will I allow myself to reach my potential of becoming a black belt?

Can Karate really help me to defend myself?

Yes and no. After three months of training the chances are that you will not be able to defend yourself unless you are taking a specific and intensive self-defense course that is solely focused on street survival. You are probably taking a mainstream martial arts class in which case you should expect to gradually develop self-defense skills over a significantly longer period of time. If your primary goal is self-defense then take a course that deals with that specifically and also read and learn about basic awareness tactics for going about your everyday life.

Is all of this talk about ethics and spiritual values really true?

At first it seems as if punching and kicking don’t really match the values of discipline and respect and I can’t blame you for thinking that especially after picking up your daily newspaper and reading about the latest mugging, rape or local school violence. However the fact of the matter is that self-awareness leads to a greater appreciation of truth in your life and what it means to you specifically. By practicing martial arts you learn about your own strengths and weaknesses and through hard physical training you learn how to break through previous limitations and take yourself to the next level in your growth and self-discovery.

This usually translates into higher moral and spiritual values, which in turn lead to greater self-discipline and respect for our fellow citizens. I believe that all of this is true but it obviously takes time, effort and commitment to make any kind of lasting behavioral change.

Will I ever get these techniques and drills right?

The more you practice, the more likely you are to get the techniques and drills right. Your ultimate success in karate is in direct proportion to your effort, focus and persistence. The more that you focus on the fact that you are not getting the drills right, the more you will become frustrated. Change your focus, keep it positive, and suddenly you will get the techniques right.

Doesn’t everyone get hurt in sparring?

Everybody gets minor bumps and bruises in sparring even if when are wearing protective gear. This is part of martial arts training. Don’t believe anybody who tells you differently. However, very few practitioners experience serious injuries while training at a reputable school that takes every precaution necessary for the safety of its members. The use of safety gear is one reason for this, but a more important reason is the care and knowledge of a competent instructor who knows how to gradually introduce sparring drills that are both age-appropriate and rank-specific. A competent and caring instructor is more important than any piece of safety gear.

These are some of the common doubts in the early stages of martial arts training and there are obviously many more.

Good luck and best wishes on your journey in martial arts.

Sincerely,

Somnath Sikdar

Master Instructor

Dragon Gym

Fitness Kickboxing Classes in Exton PA

Posted September 14, 2015 by Somnath Sikdar & filed under kickboxing.

Kickboxing classes are a great cardio and coordination building workout when you pay attention to these 10 things:

Warm up. Jog in place or grab a jump rope a few minutes before class begins. A quick dynamic warm-up prepares your body to work more effectively and lowers your risk of injury.
Keep your hands up. Fighters keep their hands up to protect their face from blows by their opponents. Fitness kickboxers keep their hands up to keep their shoulders working. Your hands should be near your cheeks with the top of your gloves at the height of your cheek bones.
Work at Level 10 Intensity. You're not there to play patty-cake with the bag, hit it! Use explosive power to hit the bag hard every time. Working every kick and punch from the floor to the bag is a great plyometric exercise that will help you develop more power as you learn correct form and timing.
Compete with your Bag Partner. You'll work harder with a bag partner than you will on your own. Challenge each other to keep your intensity level high and stay on the count. It's harder to slack off when you're part of a team.

Hydrate before and after class. Drinking plenty of water is an important part of every fitness routine. If you need more than one water break per class, you're cheating yourself of calorie burning activity. Make sure you're well hydrated before class and quickly replace what you've lost after class.

Engage your legs and core for stronger punches. Swinging your arms at the bag might burn a few calories, but such puny punches can't hold a candle (or calorie) to what you can do when you use your legs and core with every punch.

Pivot your base foot to open your hips for better kicks. The toes on your base foot should be pointed away from the bag as you make contact. Kickers who miss this step are putting too much strain on their knees and their kicks will tend to brush upward on the bag instead of making direct, clean contact.

Use Mirrors to Check Your Form. You can learn a lot from watching your instructor's technique. You can learn even more if you use the mirrors to check and correct your form.

Finish class with stretching. You don't need to take up yoga to improve flexibility. A few minutes of basic stretching after class when your muscles are warm is enough to help you work toward reaching your toes, and beyond.

Drink a Recovery Shake. Immediately following a tough workout, your body is ready to begin the repair process, but it requires fuel to do so. Time one of your daily meals so that you're eating a meal or drinking a shake within 30 minutes of your workout for best results.

Follow these 10 tips and double the calorie burn of your next kickboxing class!

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