American Fitness Professionals & Associates

By: Meghan Gardner, Director “Carry love in your heart and a knife in your pocket at all times.” -Meghan Gardner

There are a number of things to consider when looking for a Martial Arts School. Your first step should be to decide what you want out of the martial arts. If you are looking for self defense, some styles have a sharper learning curve than others.

Tae Kwon Do, Kenpo and Shotokan (usually considered “hard styles”) tend to start with linear movements, which some people find easier to learn. T

herefore, the effectiveness of the techniques might be more potent at an earlier stage in training. This is not to say that Aikido, Ju-Jutsu and Judo are not effective - with years of training they can be devastating. But it takes a great deal of practice and commitment to reach this level. If, however, self defense is not a priority, just about any style might meet your needs.

Aikido and Tai Chi (usually considered “soft styles”) place particular emphasis upon philosophy and the integration of the arts into every-day life. Again, this is not to exclude other styles. These are merely two of the more popular examples. Some schools have a heavy emphasis on discipline and tradition, requiring intensive workouts or long hours of meditation.

There are some Tae Kwon Do schools that are heavily committed to the arts as a sport. These schools tend to participate in a great deal of tournaments. The Katas (series of moves and techniques memorized in a pattern) may be flashier than the Katas of a traditional school. As well, the sparring is geared more toward the pursuit of points in a match - instead of self defense maneuvers (generally, no contact below the belt or to the back).

Some schools train in full contact sparring. Others disallow anything but the lightest touch to the target. You might be interested in the training of weapons. There are many martial arts weapons available to the student - nunchaku, bo, escrima, knife, kama, tonfa, various swords and many more.

You need to find out which weapons are taught in the school as well as what rank you would begin training in the weapon. If the pursuit of a black belt is your primary goal, then you might be more comfortable with a rank system. These styles offer various levels which are obtainable through testings and denoted by belts of different color.

Some traditional schools have only white or black belt, and perhaps a brown belt in between. As well, there are a small number of schools that are rankless. Keep in mind that ranking systems are not universal - an orange belt in one style may be a green belt in another and vice versa. Testings for rank can vary in criteria. Some simply require the display of techniques learned since last testing. Others mandate the testing of cumulative knowledge.

Testings might require performance in sparring, self defense or even the breaking of wooden boards with hands or feet. Some schools test the students on endurance, requiring great physical activity over prolonged periods of time.

The amount of time and level of commitment required to achieve black belt varies from style to school. Some offer regular testings that allow a student to progress at a faster pace, sometimes achieving black belt in under two years. Others require a minimum commitment of five or more.

As well, there may be minimum age requirements for children to receive a black belt. Tuition can vary greatly for martial arts schools. Some hold classes through nonprofit organizations (recreation centers, universities) and can charge lower fees depending on the program provider.

Some have store front training halls that might require higher tuition and possibly contracts. Contracts can offer a lower monthly fee in exchange for a longer term commitment.

Be sure to read the wording of the contracts carefully.
Some contracts do not allow premature termination - even in the case of illness or job transfer. As well, they may be worded to allow the student “up to one class a day”, which literally means that there may not be ANY classes on a particular day.

The most important aspect of the martial arts school is the instructor. Try to get a sense as to how they operate. Do you approve of their teaching methods? Watch how they interact with the other students.

Remember, the race or gender of the instructor, as well as the physical size, is unimportant. Being Asian (or any other race, gender, or physical size) is not a requirement for a good instructor. Keep in mind that schools that teach the same style may differ drastically in their philosophies, teaching manner and even the techniques themselves. Be absolutely sure to visit numerous schools before making your decision.

It is recommended that you observe at least one class and participate in at least one class before signing any contracts. You can find quality schools not only in the store-front training halls, but through your local recreation centers, high school (continuing education programs), universities and colleges as well as your town’s health clubs.

The following are some questions you might wish to bring with you to each school you visit. Before or after class, request some time from the instructor and ask those questions that concern you. Ask for any literature the instructor might have about the school.

Then you’ll have something to compare with each of the other schools you visit.

1) Do the instructors teach each class? Or do they oversee an assistant instructor? Are the classes divided by ability (e.g.. novice/intermediate/advanced)?
2) Does the school emphasize self defense as well as the art? 3) What type of contact is made during sparring?
What safety gear, if any, is required for sparring?
4) How much is tuition? Are there contracts? Are the contracts optional?
5) Does the school attend tournaments?
6) How often are testings held? What is the fee for each testing? What are the requirements for each testing?
7) What is the instructor’s background/credentials/affiliations?
8) What are the school’s hours of operation? Do they offer classes that fit your schedule? How many classes can you attend each week/month for your tuition?
9) Are there additional costs? Membership fees?
Required purchases of books/videotapes/training supplies? 10) Does the school offer a free trial period? A

About the Author:

Meghan Gardner has been training in the martial arts for 18 years and is the Instructor Director for Guard Up, Inc. located in Waltham, MA. Guard Upis a full service health facility offering specialized courses in martial arts, boxing, self defense, fencing, and Japanese Swordsmanship.

Meghan also travels around the country providing assault and theft prevention seminars and workshops for companies and organizations. More information on: Meghan Gardner, Director Guard Up, Inc. www.GuardUp.com