10 Tips for Choosing the Right Martial Arts School for You

Picking a martial arts school for you or your child can be a confusing process. There are some amazing schools out there as well as some that are not so great. Combine this with all of the different types of martial arts, and it is easy to feel uncertain. Here is a list of ten easy tips to help you find the program that is right for you.

1. Always take the time to visit check out the school in person. Websites and phone conversations can be helpful, but you really need to set foot in a school to understand what they offer. If possible, take a trial period. Martial arts is an experience that can’t be explained. By visiting a school in person, you can be sure that it has the friendly, warm atmosphere you want.

2. Pay attention to how instructors treat students and how they treat you. Are they patient and clear when they explain things? Do they use positive reinforcement and provide supportive instruction? Are they abusive or do they blame students for not learning? Also, watch how senior students treat junior students. The instructors may be on their best behavior because a prospective student is watching. Senior students may not have the experience to know to hide things you may not like and give you a glimpse of how teachers normally treat students in the school. All martial arts schools and their instructors are really different, so its best if you make sure it is the right environment for you.

3. Is the environment safe? Do the instructors seem well trained and have good awareness of what the class is doing at all times? This is especially important for children, but adults can be put at risk by poor instruction as well. Is the equipment new or in good condition?

4. Avoid a hard sell. A good program will usually sell itself with gentle guidance from the instructor. If an instructor has to take an aggressive approach to selling his classes, he might be compensating for a poorly run school. Though it is not always the case, aggressive selling tactics can sometimes follow free introductory programs. Though this is frequently simply a method to get you into the school to see how great it is, it can often precede a hard-sell. In these situations, the school owner gives you the free classes expecting to get something in the end.

5. Always go with your gut. You should feel excited and energized, not intimidated, pressured or uncomfortable. Martial arts is an experience, and you want it to be a good one! If you don’t like what you find at a school, keep looking. There are other schools that will provide you with a positive, exciting experience.

6. Make sure you meet the instructor who will be teaching you or your child in advance. Many large schools will have you interview with a salesperson, and you want to be certain that you like the primary teacher.

7. Feel confident that the instructor is competent in the area that you most need help. Martial arts has a lot of benefits (fitness, self confidence, discipline, self defense, etc.), but if you are going for a specific reason, be sure that the instructor is very skilled in that area. Here are a couple of examples:

Discipline for a child - Martial arts of almost any kind will help children with discipline because it is a structured activity that reinforces courteous behavior and respect. But if your child is having specific issues with discipline (or any other area of behavior), you need to be certain that the instructor understands child development and the emotions and motivators behind behavior.

Self Defense - martial arts by definition should help you or your child learn how to defend yourself. But not every self defense situation needs to be a violent event requiring a violent response. Does the instructor understand the roots of conflict so that you can learn how to diffuse situations before they become violent? Does he understand how to avoid dangerous situations? Can he help you understand how to deal with the fear that comes up with you are in trouble (something that can help you in everyday life, not just emergencies!)?

You also want to check the terms for ending enrollment. If you move or have some other life changing event, will you be able to terminate your enrollment? Some schools will have you keep paying even if you are no longer attending classes, sometimes months or years after you’ve withdrawn from the program! Some will let you out of your contract, but only after paying a high fee. On the other end, if you go to a school that only offers month-to-month, you may find the school lacking in its support to your commitment to learn. It is best to find a school that supports your efforts towards the dedication of becoming a skilled martial artist through a written agreement, but allows flexibility if conditions in your life change.

9. Bottom line. Do you really, really like what you see and feel? When you find the right school, you should feel as if you have found a second home (or at least that you would like it to be a second home). You should be excited about the next time you are going into the school. You should easily see yourself training there for months and years to come.

10. What style is the best? More often than not, the style of martial arts doesn’t matter as much as the relationship you are able to build with the teacher and other students. The exception to this is if you have a specific interest, such as learning weapons or working on kicking. Ask the instructor about what he teaches and how it fits with your own interests and goals.

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