SEATTLE MARTIAL ARTS CLUB http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/seattle-martial-arts/ FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (Updated October 15, 2010) *** Please read this before sending any question(s) *** Q: OK, I've applied to join the club mailing list; what now? A: Introduce yourself with a short note to the list moderator, at seattlemartialartsclub-owner@yahoogroups.com. At a minimum, provide your first name, and what you hope to gain through your membership in the club. Two or three sentences are enough, though you may write more if you prefer. In order to keep spam-bots off our list, memberships are manually approved. There are no other special qualifications, such as minimum years of experience; but you must be a human being. Due to the nature of this group, anonymous lurkers are not welcome. When you are approved for the mailing list, please RE-SEND your introductory note through the list itself (i.e. to seattlemartialartsclub@yahoogroups.com, NOT to the moderator) so that other group members can see it. (You may also wish to add seattlemartialartsclub@yahoogroups.com to your email contacts list, if doing so keeps group emails from being sent into your Junk Mail folder.) Q: Where do you meet? A: We meet at the school adjacent to Bitter Lake Park. The school's address is 13040 Greenwood Ave N. When it rains, we are in the covered area next to the parking lot; otherwise, we are on the playground. (You can find a map in the Files section of the Yahoo group.) Dress warmly, in layers, but do not worry about getting too cold outside. You will be exercising, after all. Q: When do you meet? A: We usually meet on 7pm on Tuesdays and/or Wednesdays, when there is sufficient interest; sometimes on the weekends too. Individual meetings are coordinated through this mailing list. When there are less than 2 RSVPs (with at least 24 hours notice), then there is no meeting. If these days and times are inconvenient, you are welcome to propose alternate meeting times. Q: Can I drop by unannounced? A: No, see above. Q: Can I watch, before deciding whether I want to participate? A: Sure--and you may decline to participate in any exercise that makes you feel uncomfortable. Q: How long is practice? A: Typically 60-90 minutes. If you plan to show up late or leave early, that is OK, but please let the rest of us know beforehand. Q: What do you practice? A: We start with sticking hands, pushing hands, and other partner exercises, and progress to sparring for those who are interested. Q: Do I need to bring sparring gear? A: No, it's not that kind of party. Participants are expected to avoid injuring themselves and others, even without any protective gear. Q: Is this a martial arts class? A: These meetings are not intended to substitute for participation in a martial arts class: there is a minimum of explicit "teaching". However, you can expect to learn and improve through your interactions with other group members. Most members continue to attend classes at other schools. This club is dedicated to open and friendly practice, not to evangelism or recruiting.