How To Choose The Best
Martial Art School For Yourself
And/Or Your Entire Family
Insider tips on what to look for
when checking out your first (or next) martial art school



 

Dear martial arts friend,

Very often when starting to look for a martial art school people are confronted with many choices and all of them may sound pretty good.

In this report I’m going to tell you exactly what you must look for when you first set out to choose and join a martial arts school.

Even if you ultimately decide NOT to join a school, you’ll still get some important information on how to make good decisions.

I started training in 1978 in a Tae Kwon Do school. I eventually received my 2nd Degree Black Belt in that system before I realized I needed to head in another training direction.  I have been training and teaching Wing Chun Kung Fu, Thai Boxing, and Kali since 1989, and Grappling/Jiu-Jitsu since 1995.

In today’s world, people have many choices whether it’s work, home or play. Sometimes this incredible array of choices can make the job of whittling it down seem quite overwhelming.

It’s the same thing in martial arts.

Now that you’ve started to research the world of martial arts, you may have discovered that you need expert guidance in order to make your best decisions about what to do.

Any martial art school that’s worth its salt will ALWAYS invite you to pay a visit and take a tour of its premises. At the same time, you can have an opportunity to talk to a member of the staff and get all the necessary information you need to make your best decision.

Just like you put a high value on your ability to make an informed decision for yourself, the martial art school must put place a high value on being able to provide you with the necessary information.

In this report, you’ll find the answers to several of the most frequently asked questions about getting started in martial arts.

So let’s get started!

• Question: Why Should I Or My Child Study The Martial Arts?

Everyone agrees that children should be exposed to as many diverse activities as possible to broaden their horizons, help stretch their interests and hone their skills.

But sometimes they forget that adults also benefit from these diverse activities. And in today's environment adults need exercise, to put it simply. And in some extreme cases, they need to know how to protect themselves. Martial arts will accomplish that for you.

 

• Question: With the many activities available today, why is martial arts training so important?

Actually, there are many reasons. Consider these: Sifu

1. Many activities are either seasonal or short lived in nature. They don't give children or adults the benefit of a long-term, continuous learning and growing experience.

2. Most sports activities are only physical activities and with little or no emphasis on the importance of mental, emotional and/or spiritual development.

3. Many sports activities are team oriented and while team-work is certainly important, it doesn't allow for individualized training, systematic personal growth and differences in ability.

4. Competition in many activities can be so fierce that if an athlete doesn't perform as well as another teammate he/she feels like a loser (which is horrible for self esteem).

5. Many public school or town run activities are sometimes unfair because the reason someone (a) makes the team, (b) gets to play a certain position, (c) makes the first squad, etc. is because they (or their parents) are friends with the coach or their children. This can be very frustrating to the child and parents as well.

6. Martial arts training, while usually done in groups, allows for the individual to develop, improve and grow at your own pace.

7. Many martial arts programs are extremely motivational in nature. This encourages you to stay involved for long periods of time, providing the benefits of self-accomplishment.

8. Most martial arts programs use some type of ranking system. If broken down properly, it enables you to have a series of winning experiences which many doctors and educators agree is essential to improve self-esteem and self-image.

9. Martial arts develop and improve concentration which can have a major impact on school grades and job performance.

10. Martial arts programs emphasize and teach self-discipline which many educators and national leaders believe to be a serious missing element in today's youth.

11. Martial arts teach hand-to-eye coordination, motor development skills and improve overall coordination which can help you in all other physical activities.

12. Martial arts programs teach respect for oneself and respect for others.

13. A good martial arts program teaches not just goal-setting but goal-achieving which becomes a practice for life.

• Question: What Is The Best Age To Start In The Martial Arts?  

The answer to this question really depends on the type of programs offered by the school. In general, a good starting age for traditional programs is at least six or seven years old. Don't worry that you’ve missed the boat if your child is older or if you are an adult who is considering martial art training for the first time. Martial arts can benefit almost anyone from four years old to senior citizens.

Studies have proven that specialized programs for children three to five years old are especially beneficial. Martial art is an excellent introductory activity for the little ones. One word of caution, though. Enrolling four, five or six year olds in a regular training program (with older kids/adults) will probably sour them to martial arts training more times than not. They will get bored and frustrated because they usually lack the concentration, balance and coordination required. Stick with the specialized programs for this age group. A good instructor will know very quickly if your child is ready and in which class they should participate.

• Question: There Are So Many Different Martial Arts. Which One Is Best?

To be honest, there is no such thing as best. That’s like asking which shampoo is the best.

This is an area in which personal preference will dictate what choice you should make. What is the most important benefit you want to get from martial art training?

It's not the art or style that matters. It's the school's philosophy, the instructors and their attitudes that make all the difference! However, just to familiarize you with the different arts, I've listed a few with a brief description.

• Question: Is Martial Arts Training Dangerous?

Because martial art is a physical activity, the possibility of injury will always exist. But in a well-run martial arts studio that possibility will be greatly reduced. The safety training equipment in use at the school helps in bringing this about but the school policy and the instructors' training and knowledge are vital.

There are two areas in which martial art injuries usually occur.

The first is in sparring (practice or simulated fighting) and the second is in grappling, where throws, takedowns and joint locks occur.

In either case it is imperative that the student be prepared for the activity. In a well-run school, students will not be allowed to spar until they have reached a certain level of proficiency and ability.

At our Academy, we place a heavy emphasis on “learning to train intelligently”. We practice a principle called “partner preservation”. Since all of our students either have to go to school or go to work the following day, the Academy cannot be the place where they come to run the risk of being hurt.

So although there will be the occasional bump and bruise, we have NEVER had a serious injury occur.

With the increased popularity of Brazilian Jiu Jutsu and Mixed Martial Arts, there’s unfortunately been reports of an increase of serious injury during training at schools which teach only (or primarily) these arts.

This can be due largely to the fact that many so-called instructors who open up schools have not spent that long in their own training. Since there is no real system in MMA sometimes the training is not properly organized or even supervised. If conducted properly however, the training can be very safe.

• Warning! Not All Martial Arts Schools Are The Same!

Okay, maybe you’re starting to see how martial arts can give children a head start and adults a jumpstart in life.

But how exactly do you go about finding the very best school?

• First, take your time. As I’ve said before this is not a decision to be taken lightly.
  Don't run over to the closest or cheapest school in the area and sign up. Instead, find out where all the schools are in your area. Perhaps the easiest way to do this today is to do a search on the Internet.
  
  You can also ask any friends or colleagues who may have trained or perhaps have children who take (or have taken) classes. Chances are if one of your peers enjoys an activity, it’s likely you will too.
• Make a list of the schools, their phone numbers and their approximate location in relation to your home. Remember that sometimes you may have to drive as much as 15 minutes to find a worthwhile school.
  
  Currently at my school we have a number of members who drive over 20 minutes to get to us. Why? Because to them we are worth the time and effort.
• Now that you have a list of studios, call each of them. Ask if they have programs for children and/or adults, the class schedule and their exact location.
• Make an appointment to visit each of the schools and to talk with the owner, head instructor or program manager.
• Now comes the most important part. Visit each of the schools at the appointed time. Be observant. Do they seem like nice people? Does the school seem organized, neat and clean?
• The instructor probably won’t have a problem with you talking to other students or parents who might be there. Ask how long they or their child have been attending and how they like the school and the instructors.
• Most schools will let you watch a class. If they won’t, thank them for their time and leave.

 The Instructor will be a font of knowledge and information during this meeting. You will be able to observe his/her general attitude, communication skills and personal hygiene. You should seek to discover:

• How the class schedule is designed. How many times per week do you attend class? (Twice a week is usually about right.)
  
  How long is each class? Children's classes should be somewhere between one-half hour to no longer than one hour. Longer classes often cause the child to lose interest.
  
  Adult classes are generally 45 minutes to one hour.
• What ranking system does the school use?  A well-designed, graduated system of advancement is extremely important for motivation and self esteem.
   

• Ask about how long it will be between each promotion. Many instructors pre-test or evaluate a new student prior to test time. In this way a student that is not ready for testing can be told, rather than to be tested and fail! Obviously failing a test for a new student does nothing to promote high self esteem and self confidence.
• What is the school’s sparring policy (if sparring is done in this art)? Is there a written sparring policy? Is sparring gear (protective equipment) required? How long do students attend class before they are allowed to spar?
• How does their introductory program work or do they even have one? An introductory program is important because it lets you try the martial arts and the school before committing to a longer program. Is their a uniform required for the introductory program?
• Inquire about their policy and recommendations to having parents watch classes. Ask about the prices of various programs. Do I pay weekly, monthly or yearly? What about long term agreements?
• Request information as to other fees and expenses such as special uniforms, sparring gear, association dues, testing fees and promotion fees.
• You should find out the prices for each of the schools you visit. Use them as a guide, but not necessarily a major criterion for your choice. Finding the right school for your child is the number one priority. The better schools sometimes cost a few dollars a month more, but are well worth it.
• Does the school belong to any association or federation (martial arts governing bodies) and are there any fees associated with that? Dues or fees of $10 to $20 per year are common, but may sometimes cost a lot more.  
• Find out what fees are associated with belt rank testing. Some schools charge a minimal amount while others charge a lot. If testing fees are required, find out the normal frequency of testing that you can expect. Also find out if there is a charge for promotion certificates and belts.
• These and others are excellent questions to ask and consider.

This may seem very involved and time consuming but it can all be accomplished in a thirty minute visit to the school. Finding the right program for your child or yourself can really skyrocket everyone’s self-esteem, self-confidence and personal growth.

By now you should have enough information to make a decision which school you like most and which one will help you or your child attain the goals you believe are most important.