Congratulations, you did it! You picked up the phone and called us. You clicked ‘send’ on that email. You submitted the inquiry on our website. You slid into our direct messages on Instagram. You sent us a message on FaceBook messenger. Or maybe you drove to the gym and walked through the doors. Whichever route you took, kudos to you! You just took the first step in your martial arts journey. The first step is always the hardest and you should be proud of yourself, you’re further along than most people who haven’t even started – some people are still working to overcome that fear.
By now our awesome staff has been in contact with you to learn more about you. We want to get to know you, and we want you to get to know us, before you even take your first class. We take pride in the family atmosphere we have created – so don’t be weirded out when we ask you about your martial arts experience, how you heard about us, what your goals are, and what you do for work. We want to ensure we are a good fit for your needs and your goals. Don’t worry, this is your time to grill us about the academy, the classes, the staff, and our programs. We know it will be overwhelming at first, so as questions come up during your journey, our staff will be more than happy to answer them.
Once we get to know each other a bit better, we will schedule you for your orientation class. We strategically schedule these to give you the best possible experience considering your schedule, experience level, etc. We want to make a great first impression! We will send you a confirmation email, a reminder email (a few days before your orientation), and we confirm by phone the morning of. The spots are limited and we want to make sure you don’t forget!
The day has arrived and you’re feeling anxious with butterflies and jitters, which are all perfectly normal. When you first arrive wearing a face mask, the front door will be locked. Don’t fret, we are just adhering to the new Covid-19 safety guidelines. A staff member will soon let you in and will check your temperature. Then you check in at the front desk, where we will ask you to sign a standard waiver.
If you are trying BJJ, on a gi day, we will get you fitted for your loaner gi. We will teach you how to tie your pants and your belt, both can be a bit tricky and take awhile to master. If you are trying a Striking (Kickboxing) class, we will loan you a pair of gloves(you won’t need shinguards until you advance further along into the program). We will show you where to put your belongings and where the changing rooms and restrooms are. We will introduce you to the assistant instructor who will lead you with a bow onto the mat for class. There, you will experience the magic.
Your partner for your first class will be handpicked by the instructor and it will be someone who has more experience so you will be in good hands. You will warm up, watch the instructor and the assistant go over a technique, then you will drill the technique with your partner. Be sure to take things slow to avoid injuries and to learn the technique correctly; there is an old saying, “slow is smooth, smooth is fast”. No one cares how fast you can do the technique wrong. Take water breaks as needed, ask the instructor if you’re feeling lost, and enjoy the moment. And remember, everyone on the mat once had a ‘first day’ too so don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s a lifelong journey, a journey you control.
Once you bow off the mat, dripped in sweat, the assistant instructor will walk you back to the front desk to check out. There, they will answer any additional questions and get your membership fired up. You are now officially part of the HAMA/Easton Aurora family and we are excited to share this journey with you!
Some FAQ’s:
I don’t have a gi or gloves, do you have some I can rent?
- We have gis and gloves you can borrow
What do I wear under my gi?
- T-shirt, shorts, or leggings
What do I wear for no gi?
- T-shirt, longer shorts or pants with no pockets, leggings
What do I wear for Striking/Kickboxing?
- T-shirt, shorts or pants with no pockets, leggings
Do’s and Don’ts:
- Do trim your fingernails and toenails.
- Do sanitize your hands and feet before getting on the mat.
- Do bring a water bottle.
- Do bow on and bow off the mat.
- Do address the instructor as Professor (a black belt) or coach.
- Do line up by rank.
- Don’t come if you are feeling under the weather.
- Don’t chew gum – you might choke.
- Don’t wear any jewelry.
- Don’t wear sleeveless shirts.
- Don’t cuss on the mat.
- Don’t wear socks.
