When you join a martial arts gym, it is normal to feel a little bit intimidated.
There will surely be better students out there, but always remember – they started just like you.
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So, take a deep breath and throw those worries away. At the same time, check out these three tips from ONE Championship’s Jihin “Shadow Cat” Radzuan and get to know how she boosted her confidence at the start of her journey.
#1 Don’t Be Afraid To Make Friends
Making friends during your first class is important to help you feel at ease, both mentally and physically.
According to Jihin, it does not only help with confidence, but it is a proven way to keep yourself motivated, too.
“Every time I see [my friends] ready to train, it helps me with my confidence. You wouldn’t want to be training at a place where everyone does not want to train,” she said.
“When your teammates are urging you to kick harder or are not going to tap out easily in a submission, this makes you believe in your abilities more.”
#2 Pick A Partner
Without a friend or a designated training partner, “Shadow Cat” admits that she would not have improved at a rapid rate.
This is why it is important to team up with a couple of level-headed heroes who can help you on your journey.
“Friends and proper training partners are two different things. Do not mix them up,” she said.
“Having a training partner, or a buddy, will make sure you deal with a situation more effectively.
“For example, when they are holding pads, or trying to be your grappling partner, they will automatically know what they need to do, or how hard they need to go, to help you tighten up your game.”
#3 Start With What You Are Good At
A simple yet effective way to build your confidence is to train something you are already familiar with.
Working on moves you already know helps you settle down and keeps your mind positive as you learn new techniques from the coaches.
“Practice doing something you love doing,“ the Ultimate MMA Academy product said.
“For example, if you prefer rolling instead of striking, then you can warm yourself up and get in the groove that way.”
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