You’ve been thinking about it for a while. Maybe you’ve searched “adult martial arts classes in Regina” a few times. Maybe you’ve driven past the gym. Maybe you’ve read about the benefits of BJJ or kickboxing and thought, “I should try that.”
But you haven’t walked in yet.
That’s normal. Most adults who eventually become long-term members at Ascendant Martial Arts sat on the idea for weeks or months before showing up. The unknown is what holds people back — not knowing what to wear, what the class looks like, whether they’ll be able to keep up, or whether they’ll be the only person who has no idea what they’re doing.
This post removes every one of those unknowns. Here’s exactly what happens at your first class.
Before You Arrive
You don’t need to prepare anything special. No gear to buy, no forms to memorize, no baseline fitness to hit.
Wear comfortable athletic clothing — a t-shirt and shorts or joggers is fine. Bring a water bottle. That’s it.
If you’re trying BJJ in a gi class, we’ll sort that out when you get here. For kickboxing, no-gi, wrestling, or MMA, athletic wear is all you need.
What Happens When You Walk In the Door
This is the part most people are anxious about, so let’s walk through it step by step.
When you arrive, you’ll be greeted at the front desk. Someone will show you where to change and where to put your belongings. Then you’ll be taken to the training area for your class and introduced directly to your coach.
Here’s the part that matters most: your coach will help you find a training partner before class starts. You won’t be standing on the edge of the mat trying to figure out who to pair up with. That awkward moment most adults dread? We’ve built our process specifically to eliminate it.
By the time class begins, you’ll know where you are, who your coach is, and who you’re working with.
Which Class Should You Try First?
Most adult beginners at Ascendant start with either kickboxing or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Both are solid first choices, but they offer different experiences.
Kickboxing
Ascendant’s kickboxing program has a dedicated beginner class, which makes it an especially good entry point if you’re brand new to martial arts. The pace is structured for people who are learning fundamentals — you won’t be thrown into an advanced session on day one. Kickboxing tends to attract adults looking for a high-energy workout with a skill component. You’ll be moving, striking pads, and sweating from the first class.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
BJJ doesn’t currently have a separate beginner class, we have one starting May 4th though, so you’ll join the regular session. That sounds intimidating, but it’s not — experienced students are paired with newer ones specifically to help them learn, and coaches pay close attention to first-timers. BJJ is more exploratory than kickboxing in the early stages. You’ll spend more time figuring out how to move your body and move your partner through different positions.
If you’re not sure which to try, you can do both during your trial week. Many members eventually train in multiple disciplines.
For a deeper look at what BJJ training involves, see The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Regina.
What the Class Actually Feels Like
Let’s be honest: your first class is going to be physically demanding. That’s true regardless of your fitness level. Martial arts uses your body in ways that a gym or a run doesn’t prepare you for, and muscles you didn’t know existed will make themselves known the next morning.
We set that expectation upfront. But we also make something very clear: go at your own pace.
If you need a break, take it. This is where a lot of new adults struggle — not with the physical difficulty, but with the guilt of stopping when their partner wants to keep going. At Ascendant, that’s handled. When you step off to catch your breath, your partner joins another group temporarily. When you’re ready, they come back. No awkwardness, no pressure, no one watching the clock.
That system exists because we’ve coached enough beginners to know that the fear of holding someone else back is often a bigger barrier than the actual physical demand. We remove it.
How Experienced Members Treat New People
This is one of the things that consistently surprises first-timers.
Ascendant has a genuinely welcoming culture, and it shows up most clearly on someone’s first day. We regularly pair newer people with experienced members specifically because our long-time students are eager to help. They remember what it was like to be new, and they want others to enjoy the experience.
You won’t be treated like an outsider. You won’t be ignored. And you won’t be hazed through some sink-or-swim trial by fire. The culture here is built around the idea that everyone was a beginner once, and the best way to build a strong training community is to make sure new people feel welcome from the first handshake.
What Most People Say After Their First Class
We’ve heard a lot of post-first-class reactions over the years. The most common one isn’t about soreness or technique or anything specific about martial arts.
It’s that they enjoyed themselves more than they expected.
Most adults come in bracing for something intense, uncomfortable, and humbling. And while it is physically challenging, what catches people off guard is that the pacing felt manageable, the coaches were approachable, and they actually had fun. They pushed themselves but didn’t get buried. That balance between challenge and accessibility is intentional — it’s how you build a program that adults stick with, not just survive.
What Happens After Your First Class
You’ll probably be sore the next day. That’s normal and it fades quickly as your body adapts.
More importantly, you’ll have a clear sense of whether this is something you want to continue. Most people know after one class. Not because one session transforms them, but because the environment either felt right or it didn’t. At Ascendant, the overwhelming majority of adults who complete a trial week sign up for a membership — because once the uncertainty is gone, the decision is easy.
The Hardest Part Is What You Think It Is
It’s not the cardio. It’s not the techniques. It’s not being the newest person in the room.
The hardest part is stepping onto the mat for the first time.
Everything that happens after that gets easier — not because the training gets easier, but because the community around you makes it feel that way. The second class is easier than the first. The second week is easier than the first week. And before long, the thing you were nervous about becomes the best part of your day.
Ready to Find Out for Yourself?
Ascendant Martial Arts offers a One-Week Trial for $30. You get multiple classes across any of our adult programs — kickboxing, BJJ, no-gi, wrestling, or MMA. No experience required. Just show up in athletic clothes and we’ll handle the rest.
Book Your Trial → ascendantmartialarts.ca