How to choose the right Martial Arts School for yourself or your Children
Choosing a Martial Arts school to study at is a big decision. This will be a place where you will spend quite amount of time and dedication to. Understanding a few pointers when choosing a school that is right for you can be very useful.Before you start your quest on the school that is right for you or your children, you need to ask yourself the following questions.
- What exactly do I want to learn or what do I want my children to learn?
There are many styles and types of martial arts. There are traditional schools who focus on a traditional program and teach values and philosophies within their art and then there are more sports style schools that are dedicated into the competition side of the art and treat it more like a sport with the focus mainly on competitions. Usually there is less tradition and philosophy taught within these programs. Both have their value and purpose, choosing which one suits your needs best is the key. If you do not know what a specific martial art is exactly, research it. Some arts focus on kicking, some on break falls and rolls. If you have physical limitations, these are also something to consider.
2. What time allowances do I have available in my schedule to dedicate to this art?
Like anything, to get good and progress you need to dedicate time. With martial arts in order to progress at a steady rate, the average is twice per week. Most martial arts schools will highly suggest a minimum of two classes per week. Due to the muscle memory training it takes in the beginning to remember sequences and movements. Training less than that per week will slow your progress down and training more than that will speed it up. A good balance however is two times per week. There is something else that should be mentioned if you or your children are involved in other activities. Find a balance. Training in other sports or activities takes up a lot of extra time and can sometimes finds a student spread too thin. When you train at a martial arts school remember that there are gradings you will need to prepare for in order to progress in rank, extra classes such as sparring classes or weapons classes that you may need to do in order to get ready for gradings or tournament training you many need if you plan on competing. Seminars, movie nights, camps, are all extra things that are also a part of a dojo. So make sure you understand the time that is required. It’s the matter of quality versus quantity. It’s not about how many sports or activities you or your child do, but which ones you do well and can dedicate your energy and time at.
3.What is my budget that I can allot towards my training?
When it comes to costs of training in a martial arts school, there can be quite the range. First understand that there are part time schools and full time schools. There are schools that operate out of a church basements or recreation centres with none of the frills that a full time school have. These usually have fewer instructors per class, less equipment, less availability of instructors and class times. Full time schools are opened specifically with the whole concept in mind. Kids classes have lots of instructors, much more equipment and resources, merchandising is usually sold at the location, and the school usually has better hours to come and train in between classes on your own, or to reach staff at in between classes. Keeping all of this in mind, you get what you pay for. Other added costs that are involved, gradings, safety equipment, uniforms, seminars, tournaments, are also just a few extra costs to keep in mind. Martial Arts schools are really no different than dance studios, or other sports. The costs can add up depending on the level of which you are prepared to dedicate.
Once you have a better idea in your mind about what’s involved, now you can go about choosing a school. Here are 5 tips to consider when selecting a school.
1. Research on line, or talk to people who have trained at a specific school.
The best form of advertising is world of mouth. So listen to what people have to say, but call and make an appointment to go and actually watch and or try a free class.
2. Go and see the school itself. The standard things to look for:
- Is it clean?
- What does the bathroom and change room facility look like?
- Is the main training area maintained, organized and clean?
- What else is offered? Is there a gym with weight or training equipment to use?
- Do you like what you see and can see yourself doing the training?
- How many staff is there- both on the actual training floor and out in lobby helping?
- What are the hours of operation and availability to use facility when classes are not on?
3.Try a class- or at the very least watch one- start to finish.
This is probably the biggest deciding factor when selecting a school. Pay close attention to how the class is taught. How many instructors are there? Is the number of students per class balanced with enough instructors? Or is the instructor struggling to teach everyone. Is everyone getting the help they need? How is the structure of the class set up? Are beginners, intermediate and advanced students all in the same class or are there specific belt level classes? Are kids mixed with adults? There is no correct way to teach a class. However these are things to look for and to consider. Having enough instructors per class is a big selling feature. This means that the classes are structured in such a way that everyone will get the help they need. In my opinion, having kids and adults training together is not the best. Kids need to train with other kids of the same age, size and learning ability. Adults and children learn differently. Many schools have slight differences in curriculum between adults and children as well. Kids can be intimidated by working with an adult along side of them. Bottom line the way an instructor needs to teach kids and adults are different. Probably the biggest deciding factor when it comes to the class, is how does it make you feel when you are training or watching it? Do you feel excited? Do you feel welcomed and part of something? Are you enjoying and learning something? These are the things to listen for in your gut.
4.What is the history and credentials of the instructors?
Keep in mind most schools have a Head Instructor, and other teaching staff. Ask questions. Find out how long the head instructor has been involved in the arts, their level, if they still train themselves, and the same for all other instructors who teach classes. If you are interested in martial arts for your child, ask them if the teaching staff have has up to date Police Checks and FIRST Aid and CPR training. Look for these credentials when you are in the school. You want to make sure that you are training at a school that is qualified and not just some person who puts on a black belt and calls them self a Sensei. Is the school affiliated with any national or international organization? Many accredited schools have these types of affiliations.
5.Once you have considered all of the above, the last thing to ask yourself is this:
How do I feel when I am at this school? How do I feel towards the instructor and other students? Is this a place I want to be part of? If you can answer these questions with positivity and a yes, then you have made your choice. Listen to your gut. Don’t be fast talked into choosing a school by anyone. When a school can offer good quality instruction, clean and safe training environment, happy and helpful staff and students, good and acceptable rates for what they are giving a customer, and a positive learning environment which encourages their students to be their personal best, then there is no selling needed. The student will know they have found their school in their gut.
There is an old saying which I’m sure was said way before the first martial arts school was opened, but is one that many martial arts schools use. “ The journey of a thousands miles begins with the first step” This is true. Choosing a journey in the martial arts can be a life altering experience. I have heard time and time again from students, “ I’d never be where I am now without my training in Martial Arts”, or “ Choosing to do study martial arts saved me”. I am sure many other Martial Arts Instructors have heard along the same lines themselves, or have said it themselves. Choosing the right school is very important. The lessons you or your child will learn from their training can be life altering. So this is why its important to know what you want to learn, where you want to be and who you want to associate yourself with. Good Luck on you journey!
Tracy Warrener has been fortunate to have been raised within the Martial Arts since the age of 4 years old and is a 4th Degree Black Belt in Goju Ryu Karate. She has had the opportunity to study with some amazing Martial Artists. Sensei Richard Kim, Sensei Peter Urban, Professor Don Jacob, Sensei Jim Wilson, Professor Wally Jay, just to name several. Of course her main Sensei is her father, Sensei Don Warrener. Throughout the 40 plus years of her involvement in the Martial Arts, she has worked her way from being a student of the martial arts to a Martial Arts Sensei ,teaching hundreds of students. She has ran and managed martial arts schools teaching students of all ages, worked within the community teaching at fitness centres, schools, businesses and Women’s Shelters, the benefits of Karate. One the causes close to her heart is teaching and empowering young girls and women the importance of self defence and awareness. Her program called Look Strong! Act Strong! Be Strong! focuses on easy self defence techniques and mind self defence techniques. In 2013 she was awarded The Silver Lifetime Achievement Award in the Masters of the Martial Arts Hall of Fame in California for her contribution to Women in the Martial Arts. She is also a Certified Reflexologist and Reiki Master. She has starred in three of her own DVDs produced by Rising Sun Productions on Reiki, Reflexology and her Look Strong ,Act Strong ,Be Strong Self Defence Program. tracy.warrenerentertainment@gmail.com
http://www.warrenerentertainment.com/beginners-guide-to-karate/
http://www.warrenerentertainment.com/taekwondo-wtf-basic-poomsae/
