Q: What happens my first time at Dragons Den?

A: You will be welcomed warmly by “Aunty Pam” at our front desk. Upon expressing your interest in one of our programs, she will invite you to try the class out for yourself or sit in and observe your program of choice. An instructor will approach you, introduce themselves, and explain the class structure to see whether it matches what you are looking for.

Questions are encouraged; we want to make sure that what we do resonates with you.

Q: What do I bring with me?

A: Recommended apparel for your DSFMA trial class includes a comfortable shirt, athletic bottoms that do not impede movement, and either mat shoes or bare feet. No street shoes allowed on the mat

Rattan training sticks will be provided for the trial class, then a personal pair can be purchased from the front desk if needed.

Q: What do I need to know when I’m on the mat?

A: Dragons Den MMA enriches its Ohana by fostering an atmosphere of community and camaraderie, helping each other grow by providing a safe environment to challenge ourselves. The controlled environment is designed and structured to support “guided-play”; every combination, drill, class, and round is an energy exchange between partners with a common goal: self-improvement. Communication between classmates is important to avoid injury, a partner looking for an intense challenge paired with a partner seeking some exercise after work must find a compromise, a “mutual frequency”, that will allow for mutual benefit. Injured students are impaired and less capable of protecting themselves in a self-defense situation, we do not wish this for our Ohana, so sparring is carefully regulated for maximum benefit with minimal risk.

Q: What happens in my first class?

A: Your first class is designed to introduce you to the structure, rhythm, and training environment of Dragon Sticks FMA without overwhelming you. New students are not expected to “keep up” immediately or perform perfectly. Your first session will typically include basic footwork, introductory striking mechanics, partner drilling, movement fundamentals, safety orientation, and equipment guidance. You will train at your own pace while learning how classes are structured and how students communicate and work together during training. The goal of the first class is not perfection. The goal is familiarity, awareness, and beginning the learning process.