Choosing a Martial Arts School
When choosing a martial arts school there are several factors that need to be considered and in a certain priority to ensure that you or your child gets the most out of the training.
Martial arts is a combination of art form (kata) and sports (exercise and competition) and it is very interactive with the other participants. Though there are many important factors that should be considered before choosing a martial arts school where you can learn this art.
The first step is to identify your objectives for the participation. What are you hoping to achieve with martial arts? There are so many different styles out there now and while they share common objectives such as discipline, competition, self-confidence, self-defense, character building, fitness, etc. usually they primarily focus on one or two from the list. You need to decide what your top focuses are from this list and keep that in mind when you choose a school.
The next step is to find out what is in your area and then start making the rounds. You should visit at least one class in your category from each location. There are several purposes to this visit. It allows you to check out the cleanliness of the school to see if they take care of the area and check out the students to see how they wear the uniforms, how many students are there and how they interact with the teachers. Students that are dressed sloppy or not wearing the uniform correctly, are laidback with no focus or just a very small class might be some warning signs that this isn't the right place for you.
Primarily, you are just evaluating the instructor because he is the one that leads the classes, teaches the techniques and sets the tone. After watching him teach, do your research and find out what his qualifications are, any reviews there might be and have a conversation with him. Let him know what martial arts techniques you are trying to learn and ask if they have a program for that and how they teach it. Another key step is to take a class at each of the locations that have not already been ruled out. They are usually free and by taking a class you can get a hands on approach for the teaching style, pace of the class and your ability. Learning is the goal but if you are not having fun and if you don't feel like you are gaining anything then you will soon quit and either start the search over or decide that it just isn't for you.
The last step to consider is the budget which means that you need somewhere convenient and you need it to be within your budget. Prices can range based on style, size and association and you almost always have a registration fee, monthly fee and testing fees. Discuss your decision with family and friends and see if they can provide any input or knowledge about martial arts schools they have heard about. Word of mouth can be a powerful marketing tool for any business. Above all, be passionate about what you do and ensure that the same passion is shared at the school.
Martial arts is a combination of art form (kata) and sports (exercise and competition) and it is very interactive with the other participants. Though there are many important factors that should be considered before choosing a martial arts school where you can learn this art.
The first step is to identify your objectives for the participation. What are you hoping to achieve with martial arts? There are so many different styles out there now and while they share common objectives such as discipline, competition, self-confidence, self-defense, character building, fitness, etc. usually they primarily focus on one or two from the list. You need to decide what your top focuses are from this list and keep that in mind when you choose a school.
The next step is to find out what is in your area and then start making the rounds. You should visit at least one class in your category from each location. There are several purposes to this visit. It allows you to check out the cleanliness of the school to see if they take care of the area and check out the students to see how they wear the uniforms, how many students are there and how they interact with the teachers. Students that are dressed sloppy or not wearing the uniform correctly, are laidback with no focus or just a very small class might be some warning signs that this isn't the right place for you.
Primarily, you are just evaluating the instructor because he is the one that leads the classes, teaches the techniques and sets the tone. After watching him teach, do your research and find out what his qualifications are, any reviews there might be and have a conversation with him. Let him know what martial arts techniques you are trying to learn and ask if they have a program for that and how they teach it. Another key step is to take a class at each of the locations that have not already been ruled out. They are usually free and by taking a class you can get a hands on approach for the teaching style, pace of the class and your ability. Learning is the goal but if you are not having fun and if you don't feel like you are gaining anything then you will soon quit and either start the search over or decide that it just isn't for you.
The last step to consider is the budget which means that you need somewhere convenient and you need it to be within your budget. Prices can range based on style, size and association and you almost always have a registration fee, monthly fee and testing fees. Discuss your decision with family and friends and see if they can provide any input or knowledge about martial arts schools they have heard about. Word of mouth can be a powerful marketing tool for any business. Above all, be passionate about what you do and ensure that the same passion is shared at the school.
