What's in the Bag?

As a ten year veteran of the martial arts, people are always coming to me for advice. One of the big questions I always get hit with is what all is required to practice the martial arts. The short answer is a positive mental attitude and a large scoop of persistence. But what people are really asking is how much is it going to cost me and what all equipment do I need to buy. Again, the short answer is that you don't need to buy anything assuming you can find a teacher that teaches for the love of it and not to put food on the table. In reality though if you really love the sport you will want to buy everything related to it.
The cost for attending a dojo will vary from city to city and has doubled in the past ten years. A good rule of thumb is to compare the cost per class with classes taught at other schools, not only martial art schools but universities, colleges, language institutes, YMCA classes, and other long term training centers. You will have to call around and it may be hard to get price estimates in some cases. Many martial arts studios will not give you a price until after two or more introductory lessons. I highly recommend taking the introductory lessons but be forewarned that the instructors are also business men and desperately want your business so when they give you a price they may try to give you a high pressure sale with so much off if you sign now, be sure to look around at several studios before deciding on one. Also the type of facilities will vary and this will need to be taken into consideration when comparing prices.
You will also need to ask the instructor what other fees are involved and how much you will need to anticipate over the first year. Many instructors fail to inform prospective students of incidental fees until after a contract is signed. These fees may include belt exams, protective gear, uniforms, tournament registrations, and other learning materials such as books and videos.
I highly recommend having at least two uniforms. A uniform can usually be worn to two classes before the smell is too overwhelming, but that is with a day of airing out. If classes are too close together, if laundry isn't done regularly, or if one uniform gets damaged then you will need a backup.
Sparing equipment is a necessity for some schools, your instructor will let you know what equipment is required and what is optional. You can check several sites on the web for prices of sparing equipment.
Books can be nice to have but usually aren't directly related to training at the early levels. At first there will be plenty of information presented in class for you to absorb. If, however, you do come across an introductory book for your style of martial arts then I would recommend picking it up as a supplement to the class. A good book would include warm up exercises, all the basic moves for your style and dos and don'ts related to each move, a list of required Kata and step by step instructions for performing those Kata.
Videos are highly recommended, they can be like having the instructor in your own home. They are especially important for learning Katas and can increase the learning curve exponentially. What would take weeks of classes can now be done in an afternoon of training. Although tapes can't correct your stance, technique, or timing, they can get you started with the general pattern of the Kata which can be the most frustrating for students to learn. Once the pattern is down, you can then concentrate on the details. Don't go overboard with buying tapes though, at first stick with tapes that your instructor recommends. Tapes from different styles will only confuse the beginner and possibly hurt the students overall form. Master one tape, and then move on to the next.

What's in the Bag? This is one thing that few students spend much time thinking about but later find that what they bring to class is very important. I recommend using a hanging garment bag to transport the uniform in. It keeps the garment relatively wrinkle free and allows the uniform to breath between classes without having to worry about taking it out of a bag and unrolling it. This also allows you to keep your sparing gear in a separate bag to be carried around only when needed.
With your uniform you should also have:

Deodorant - If you don't smell before class, you will during it so a little deodorant will help you smell as good as you can.

Baby Powder - A little bottle of baby powder applied after deodorant can help you stay dry a bit longer and make class just a little more pleasant.

Fingernail Clippers - You always want to be well groomed during class, you don't want to get to class after vacation and realize your toenails are now doubling as runway strips. You also want to be prepared for hangnails or loose skin which may need to be cut.

Hand Lotion - You will find most dojos have a carpeted floor, for those you will want to apply hand lotion to both your feet and hands. The hand lotion on your hands is to make your opponent in grapples more comfortable, the hand lotion for your feet will keep your feet looking their best over time and minimize rug burn. If you are lucky enough to attend a dojo with a hardwood floor then you may want to use hand lotion after class or add a little baby powder to the feet after applying the hand lotion before class. This will allow you to slide on the wood surface instead of stopping abruptly during maneuvers. You may need to experiment to find out what works best for you.

Towel - After class you will be wet and it will not be water. Once in the changing room you will want to strip down to your underwear and cool down for thirty seconds or so. Remove the sweat with the towel before getting dressed, this will help you smell your best for the rest of the day. If your facilities have a shower and/or sink you may also want to bring a wash rag to wash down with. Showering after class isn't usually necessary and sometimes doesn't help any more than toweling off due to the fact that you will probably be in a hurry to wash and once you are out your body will still be sweating leaving you where you began. Just remember you have the deodorant and baby powder to help.

Aspirin - There is nothing worse than getting to class and having a headache. If you occasionally get headaches or body aches be sure to bring something along that is fairly fast acting. I recommend aspirin as it is also especially good for the circulatory system.

Small Medical Kit - Few things are worse than a paper cut without a bandage. Be prepared for minor injuries during workouts and even for injuries that may have went untreated before a workout.

Sports Cream - Especially useful when you are first getting into shape. Sports creams are a good alternative to oral remedies for relieving minor muscle aches and pains. They can also help with body odder after a workout.

Sports Tape - Used to support an injured part of the body, to reduce strain on muscles, tendons and joints and to suppress or reduce swelling by providing localized compression. It can provide firm support and help protect weak and/or injured joints. Not only does it help against injuries and sprains, but it also helps against those nasty rug burns that you may experience in some carpeted (ugh!) dojos. Also doubles as an emergency bandage!

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	Deodorant - If you don't smell before class, you will during it so a little deodorant will help you smell as good as you can.
Baby Powder - A little bottle of baby powder applied after deodorant can help you stay dry a bit longer and make class just a little more pleasant.
	Fingernail Clippers - You always want to be well groomed during class, you don't want to get to class after vacation and realize your toenails are now doubling as runway strips. You also want to be prepared for hangnails or loose skin which may need to be cut.
Hand Lotion - You will find most dojos have a carpeted floor, for those you will want to apply hand lotion to both your feet and hands. The hand lotion on your hands is to make your opponent in grapples more comfortable, the hand lotion for your feet will keep your feet looking their best over time and minimize rug burn. If you are lucky enough to attend a dojo with a hardwood floor then you may want to use hand lotion after class or add a little baby powder to the feet after applying the hand lotion before class. This will allow you to slide on the wood surface instead of stopping abruptly during maneuvers. You may need to experiment to find out what works best for you.
Towel - After class you will be wet and it will not be water. Once in the changing room you will want to strip down to your underwear and cool down for thirty seconds or so. Remove the sweat with the towel before getting dressed, this will help you smell your best for the rest of the day. If your facilities have a shower and/or sink you may also want to bring a wash rag to wash down with. Showering after class isn't usually necessary and sometimes doesn't help any more than toweling off due to the fact that you will probably be in a hurry to wash and once you are out your body will still be sweating leaving you where you began. Just remember you have the deodorant and baby powder to help.
Aspirin - There is nothing worse than getting to class and having a headache. If you occasionally get headaches or body aches be sure to bring something along that is fairly fast acting. I recommend aspirin as it is also especially good for the circulatory system.
	Small Medical Kit - Few things are worse than a paper cut without a bandage. Be prepared for minor injuries during workouts and even for injuries that may have went untreated before a workout.
Sports Cream - Especially useful when you are first getting into shape. Sports creams are a good alternative to oral remedies for relieving minor muscle aches and pains. They can also help with body odder after a workout.
	Sports Tape - Used to support an injured part of the body, to reduce strain on muscles, tendons and joints and to suppress or reduce swelling by providing localized compression. It can provide firm support and help protect weak and/or injured joints. Not only does it help against injuries and sprains, but it also helps against those nasty rug burns that you may experience in some carpeted (ugh!) dojos. Also doubles as an emergency bandage!