Choosing a Martial Arts School

[disgruntled]

This is usually the hardest part for people wishing to start Martial Arts. There are so many different styles to choose from and many different schools. I decided to write this to help people get started. I will break the post up into sections covering common questions and concerns.

How do i know that Martial Arts is for me?

Martial Arts is a little expensive and people are often scared to put up a lot of money to join a school if they do not know much about Martial Arts. Most schools will offer a free introductory class to give you a better understanding of what the style is like. But another good option is checking out local community centres. most community centres offer 4-6 week courses and will often have a Martial Arts class. This is a great way to get to try a Martial Art and get a feel for whether you will be dedicated enough to go to class on a regular basis and get your money worth. After the session is over then i recommend that you look into an actual school.

How do i choose a style?

Sadly, the first thing you have to consider is location. If you really want to learn Hung Gar, but there are no schools in your city, then that option is out. Similarly, if the only school is fairly far away and you will not be able to have the time to always travel there, or are not willing to, then that school is obviously not worth considering. Make a list of all the Martial Arts schools around you and then research the styles. After you get a bit of an understanding of each style, then i strongly recommend that you go watch a class. this is the only real way to know what the school teaches, because although you can get an idea of what each style teaches, schools themself vary widely. the best example of this is Taekwondo. Some schools are more traditional, some focus on Kata, some on competition, and some on self defense. Observing the class will also help you determine if the school is a McDojo (which i will cover later)

What do i do when i go watch a class?

Call ahead of time and find out when is the best time to watch a class. Different days usually have different amount of attendences and different focuses, the instructor will know which class will best serve as a proper introduction to there style. In addition, letting them know when you are coming will give them time to prepare some material, panphlets, etc. for you to take home. When you do go to watch the class, show up early. This will give you time to talk with the instructor and ask any question that you night have. In addition, I recommend that you talk with some students to get a better feel for what the class is like and to see if the other students are friendly. While watching a class, be respectful. Never go into a Dojo with your shoes on. Do not be disruptive during class. If some one is watching class with you, limit how much you speak. Turn off your cell phone, or at least mute it. Although you are not expected to follow all the rules, such as bowing before entering the training area, be mindful that you are in a respected area, and act accordingly. I advise that you stay until the end of class. You are bound to think of questions while watching the class and that will give you time to ask the instructor your questions. You might want to bring a note pad. when discussing Martial Arts with the instructor, avoid discussing other styles and/or schools. The instructor is almost garenteed to be biased to their style, and might find questions about other styles offensive. Also it is important to note that there are many school rivalries/feuds that you are unaware of, thus it is important to avoid those topics until you better understand the school.

How much does Martial Arts Cost?

Granted this will change depending on where you live, but i will share my opinion based on Canadian Currency and Schools, which i believe will give you a fair idea of costs. It is important to understand that a Martial Arts schools is still a business and needs to support itself. Thus they will often will have incentives for members to sign term contracts. This does not mean that it is a McDojo, but it is something to consider (more on that later). The most common "contracts" are a year long membership, or paying for your membership in three month chunks. Normally, if you wish to pay monthly the costs will be higher. The cost of a month will vary, but the average range can be any where from $70 to up to $120. Having said that, there are always "hidden" costs that you must consider. Often you will have to buy a uniform or a school shirt (this is very common). If you wish to test for ranks, the testings will be an additional charge (the price of testing often increases as you test for higher ranks). There might be a membership price to be affiliated with a federation. Schools might have an initiation fee, but schools that have an initiation cost, often have a coupon on their website or advertised some where that waves the fee. And the last major cost would be equipment. Sparring based Martial Arts would require more gear than more non-contact Martial Arts.

What is a McDojo?

A McDojo is a dojo that is a black belt factory. Its major concern is generating money. Therefore, obviously these places are to be avoided (after all it is much cheaper to just buy a black belt from a Martial Arts supply store). Here are some warning signs that your Dojo is a McDojo:
- They guarantee a black belt within a certain time.
- There are a lot of hidden fees or you are pressured into signing contracts
- You have to buy their equipment.
- There are several senior belts that are not very skilled.
- You are pressured into testing when you are not ready.
- The 'Master' (or other appropriate term, Sifu, Sensei, etc.) rarely teaches the class.
- The school claims to teach secret Martial Arts techniques (there are no secret Martial Arts techniques that involve mysticism, Martial Arts is based on human physiology).

i hope this helps!

[sirdarksol]

I would add to the "how to identify a McDojo" the following

-The dojo charges for testing fees and has many regular testing days which are usually heavily booked (a dozen people testing every week, for example).

-The dojo promises ridiculous capabilities. The extreme of what I have seen is "Learn to kill people at a distance of 20' with only a thought." More often it's "Learn to defeat any opponent in one month" or "Learn the ultimate in self defense in 24 hours." This kind of goes hand in hand with the dojo guaranteeing mastery in a certain time. Nothing worth learning can be learned quickly.