Full Contact training allows students and instructors to train effectively for self-defense in the real world. Full contact does not mean that full power is employed (which could like to serious and persistent injuries). All of the instructors at FCMA are working professional adults that volunteer their time to teach and train. Our students have family and work obligations outside of the dojo, we strive to minimize injuries while staying true to the desire to train in a full contact environment to ensure effective training and preparation for real world situations. The main way that we are able to do this is by having several black belts present at every class and an excellent core of experienced students to help newer students with the important skill of CONTROL when practicing their techniques and free form self-defense.
Quite a big difference actually. Most importantly the goals are very different. Traditional martial arts serves to empower individual in all facets of their lives through the self-discipline and harmony created by dedication to training in the martial arts. This includes the ability to effectively defend yourself in all circumstances, but also means that you will learn to create harmony from discord and to avoid and minimize detrimental emotional, psychological and spiritual situations. In traditional martial arts, service to the dojo and community is an important aspect of internal self-discipline. Self-defense must extend beyond the physical world. Mixed martial arts and prize fighting schools do not generally share these goals of a traditional dojo but rather focus primarily (or sometimes exclusively) upon training for one-on-one fighting for monetary gain or accolades (trophies, belts, titles, ...). Most real world situations unfortunately involve multiple attackers, often with deadly weapons. Although most typical attackers are not well trained in boxing, wrestling or martial arts, the shear nature or multiple attackers using typical street-style weapons (knives, bottles, clubs, guns) makes effective and efficient defense a difficult task that requires very specialized training focusing on these particular real world scenarios.
FCMA is a dojo that is not focused on profit. Instead, our black belt's volunteer their time to perpetuate their training and to give back to others the training and self-discipline that they learned as students. Our students are looking for a long term place to train and to become a member of a group of students that thinks of themselves more like family than fellow members of a dojo. Thankfully, this family is always ready and enthusiastic about adding new members.
No previous experience is necessary to train at our dojo. FCMA encourages students without previous training to join us as this is not an impediment to successful training. Quite a number of our students have been training with us for many years; new students without previous experience benefit from this vast student experience as they are typically partnering with someone you can assist then in addition to the black belt instructors. Another important factor enabling new students to readily join and learn in our dojo is our small class sizes (typically 2-6 students). In summation, FCMA is an ideal place for a serious new prospective student to begin their training in martial arts.
FCMA also welcomes black belts and advanced from other styles looking for a new home. Many black belts that have trained with us over the years have noted that learning a second martial art is sometimes rather difficult as your must change your "approach" to master a new martial art. The new martial may require you to do things that would sometimes not be "correct" in your old dojo. This is most often the case for senior students and black belts that have moved to honor their work or family obligations (and would have often really rather stayed at their existing dojo). FCMA has several current black belts that were advanced students or black belts prior to their training at our dojo. We have welcomed them into our family and are proud to have them as a valuable members of the dojo!
A good place to begin is to look at the Aikido and Karate martial arts offered pages that provide more information about each of these martial arts. In addition, links are provided to view some multimedia of each martial art. All of the martial arts multimedia possessed by FCMA are provided free of charge to current FCMA students as a training supplement to assist with the retention of the techniques and concepts that they have learned. If you have not trained before, it is very difficult to gauge which martial art will be correct for you. In reality, the best thing to do is just to try them out! Most students will gravitate towards one martial art after a relatively short period of training, although students are encouraged to train in multiple martial art styles at our dojo (and most, but not all, students do). The training in multiple martial arts is complimentary as taught in our dojo. Students find this particularly self-evident when trying to defend themselves in free form class. In short, the choice of Karate or Aikido as your primary martial art is not a decision that must be made prior to enrolling at FCMA. This decision does, however, need to be made prior to your first test. Students are free to switch primary martial arts as they wish (although they should consult with Sensei Patko before doing so).
Our Free Form class could also be called street style self-defense or freestyle class. In this class, Karate & Aikido students learn to implement the techniques and concepts that they have learned in Karate & Aikido form class. The emphasis is on effective use of techniques for that particular individual (the strengths) rather than identifying and improving on weaknesses (this is better left for form classes). A typical class would train against single and multiple opponent attackers, attacks with street weapons (gun, knife, club, ...) as well as teaching the use of traditional and modern weapons for self-defense. Free form (free-style) sparring (kumite), randori and grappling are primarily done in the Free Form classes (although some of this training is also done in the Karate & Aikido Form classes).
Most students attend about twice a week, although there is no limit to the number of classes that you can attend at FCMA (prices are for unlimited number of classes). Consistency is the most important aspect of successful training. Some students will have periods of time were they can only train once a week due to life's constraints. The successful senior students and black belts at FCMA all have the hallmark of consistent training. An admonition to new students is to not take too many classes to start. Many new students are want to overextend themselves when they being their training as they are excited to learn. Unfortunately, this quite often leads to burnout due to the physical and mental endurance that must be developed over time to facilitate heavy or intensive martial arts training.
As FCMA is a private dojo, we do not publish our physical address online (only a mailing address is provided). We finds that it is best to have few distractions to allow our students and instructors to be focused on their teaching and training, respectively. Having prospective students make appointments allows us to ensure that we will make the time that new students deserve in our dojo without encumbering or distracting existing students and instructors from their classes. FCMA encourages prospective students to contact us via telephone or make a formal e-mail inquiry to setup free trial training sessions and to ask any further questions that you may have regarding our dojo. An e-mail containing the dojo address and other information that you will need to participate will be provided promptly after your inquiry (assuming that space is available for new students in the dojo at that time).
FCMA encourage prospective students to contact us via telephone or make a formal e-mail inquiry to setup the free trial training sessions and to ask any further questions that you may have regarding our dojo. An e-mail containing the dojo address and other information that you will need to participate will be provided promptly. You are welcome to attend all group classes offered on the class schedule during your free trial period, excluding the advanced class. Most students choose to take advantage of our free trial training offer rather than just watching class. New students can train at their own pace (with individual guidance from our black belt instructors and senior students) to better understand the nature of each FCMA class and martial art offered. It is very difficult (if not impossible) to really learn about a martial art dojo simply by watching. Put simply, martial arts is not a spectator sport (actually, traditional martial arts is not a sport at all!).
Group classes (with a typical class size of 2-6 students) are only offered at the class time indicated on the class schedule. As FCMA strives to keep class sizes rather small, private instruction is not necessary for new students due to the unique design of our programs. Several senior students have keys to the facility in addition to all black belt instructors. These senior students train with other (more junior) students at times other than the posted group class schedule during the week (before or after class or on nights when the dojo is dark) as well as on the weekends. Students seeking additional training are encouraged to discuss this with the Sempai (senior student) for their primary martial art (Karate or Aikido) and to setup dates and times for additional training. Several online resources towards these ends are provided by dojo for students (i.e. private online Bulletin Board).
No. Only students over 18 years of age or older can train at FCMA. FCMA has considered offering classes for younger students, but no formal offering is planned at this time. FCMA has made rare exemptions for some students 16 year of age or older under some rather special circumstances.
No. Full Contact Martial Arts only has one dojo in Orange County. Prospective students interested in Aikido that cannot attend our dojo might want to consider looking at http://www.aikiweb.com or http://www.aikidojournal.com. The Karate directories are much more fragmented (unfortunately). In addition you can always try Google Local or Yahoo! Local directories. One of the FCMA black belts (Mr. Jon Parr) offers training in the Oakland area. In addition, he has graciously provided the vast majority of the artwork for this website. To see more of his artwork, please visit www.jonparr.com. Good luck in your dojo search!
FCMA encourage prospective students to contact us via telephone or make a formal e-mail inquiry to setup the free trial training sessions and to ask any further questions that you may have regarding our dojo.
Firstly, there is no cost for the first two weeks of training (free trial training with no commitment). The rates for training beyond this trial training period are dependent upon the term of commitment. Terms as short as one month and as long as one year are offered. The effective price for monthly dues can be as low as $85 per month based upon a one year commitment. Most long term continuing students chose a one year commitment to get the best price for training. The shorter terms are available for students not yet ready for a one year term of commitment.
Full Contact Martial Arts
- Aikido & Karate for the Serious Adult Student
Including
Weapons, Sparring, Free Form & Free Style Self Defense, Grappling & Board
Breaking Training
Serving Orange County and Los Angeles
County Cities Including (but not limited to):
La Habra,
Brea, Yorba Linda, Fullerton, Placentia, Anaheim Hills, Buena Park, La Palma,
Cypress, Stanton, Orange, Villa Park, Anaheim, Anaheim Hills, Los Alamitos,
Westminster, Santa Ana, Tustin, Silverado Canyon, Trabuco Canyon, Foothill Ranch,
Portola Hills, Rancho Santa Margarita, Coto de Caza, Dove Canyon, Fountain Valley,
Irvine, Lake Forest, Laguna Hills, Laguna Woods, Mission Viejo, Aliso Viejo,
Laguna Niguel, Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Balboa, Corona del
Mar, Newport Coast, Laguna Beach, Monarch Beach, Dana Point, San Clemente, San
Juan Capistrano, Long Beach, Cypress
Mailing Address ONLY: 4790 Irvine Blvd. Suite 105-346, Irvine California 92620
USA
E-mail: Inquire with our E-mail Form
Website: http://www.fullcontactmartialarts.com