Frequently Asked Questions
What Should I look for in a Martial Arts School?
It is important to realize that when you are looking for a good Martial Arts school, you are really looking for a good instructor. Whether you are looking for yourself or your child, the basics are the same. Every school is different because every instructor is different from school to school. Don't get confused by claims of black belt degrees, tournament wins, or martial art styles. The only style that matters is the teaching style of the instructor and how you or your child will respond to him or her.
Be sure to visit the school and watch an actual class. Beware of schools that only offer private or semiprivate trial classes. You need to see an actual class to see how the instructor interacts with the students. The best would be about a 1-month trial program. Make sure you or your child participates in a regular class taught by the regular instructor.
Other indicators of a good Martial Arts school are organization and cleanliness of the school. Do a walk around and check out the entire facility. Does it look professional, warm and inviting? Are handouts presentable and well written? Is it well kept?
It is also helpful to talk to some of the students and parents. Are the students mannerly, respectful and well behaved? Ask the parents questions about what they like and don’t like about the school and instructors. Remember, instruction in the martial arts is quite possibly one of the most important activities you or your child made undertake. Take some extra time and energy to be sure the school you have chosen is the best.
Will my child become too aggressive if he studies the martial arts?
No. Students learn self-restraint and discipline as part of the training. This is one of the great things about any martial arts training. Students are taught when it is appropriate to use what they learn. The martial arts tend to “normalize” students. If the student is too aggressive or too passive (neither state being optimal) they will be brought toward the center to assertive.
Will the martial arts really teach my child discipline?
Yes. Actually, the martial arts are probably the foremost tool at your disposal for teaching children self-discipline and respect. Self-discipline is inherent in the structure of a typical martial arts class. In a good school, the students are motivated to learn how to control their actions, and to behave in a respectful and disciplined way. Eventually, the self-discipline students exhibit every day in class will become second nature and start showing up outside of class - at home and at school.
Should children and adults be in the same class together?
Generally, it is not a good idea to have classes with mixed age groups in them. Because a young child, a 15-year-old teen and an adult are at different developmental stages, teaching them together would prevent each age group from receiving proper instruction and training. The exception here might be an occasional or 1 time per week family class that would enable families to train and enjoy the martial arts together.
What will my child learn in the martial arts?
While the physical aspects of the martial arts are most well known, they are but the tip of the iceberg. Confidence, Respect, Self-Discipline, a Positive Attitude and the “never give up” attitude are just a few of the character benefits inherent in martial arts training. While every student is unique and therefore develops at their own pace, these qualities usually start to manifest themselves in 2 – 3 months. We make participation fun so regular exercise becomes enjoyable and a habit habit. The martial arts are specifically designed to develop individuals with strong minds, bodies, and character.
What is the right age to start in the martial arts?
The martial arts may be started at any age. While there are martial art styles that are better for certain age groups than others, as long as there is an interest, it is a good time to start. Remember to watch actual classes to get a feel for the particular style of martial art, teaching style of the instructor and atmosphere of the school. All of these are important considerations when deciding to start training in the martial arts. Most schools will start young children at 4 or 5 years of age. It is important here that these students are in a class with other children their own age. The developmental stages of a 4 year old and an 8 year old are quite different and way these respective classes are taught should reflect this difference.
My child doesn't stick with anything. What if they want to quit this to?
Eventually every child will say "I don't feel like going to class today", or "I'm to tired" or even “I don’t like it anymore”. Your child probably doesn’t really mean that, it’s just that they don’t want to go to class right then. This is a critical time in your child’s development and a built in “teachable moment” for you and your child. With your help and the help of their Martial Arts instructor, your child has an opportunity to learn about determination and commitment. After class, they will of course feel good about themselves for having gone to class. Don't worry about "pushing it on your child". If you didn't push them to go to school, they wouldn't do that either. There's a big difference between helping a child follow through on a goal they’ve helped to set and have agreed to achieve and forcing something on a child. One good strategy is to make sure your child is doing something less interesting to him or her a half hour prior to going to martial arts class. For instance, a child doing homework or chores will usually jump at the chance to take a break and go to class. On the other hand, a child playing video games may not want to stop shooting aliens to go to class. If your child is outside playing with friends, is it any surprise that they don’t want to stop to go to class?
Another good strategy is to help your child set short-term goals when they begin classes. For example, each new belt level is a goal. Once they achieve that goal, their new belt, they can then decide if they want to continue with the classes, but with the understanding that there will be no quitting until the next belt is achieved. Usually a child is so excited to receive their new belt they would of course want to stay and learn their new material.
How much can I expect to pay for Martial Arts Lessons?
It is very difficult to put a value on martial art lessons. What is it worth to know that you have the skills to protect your family should the need ever arise. What is it worth to know that your child is developing the self-confidence and strength of will to stand up against negative peer pressure? What is it worth to know that your child is being pumped full of positive character traits to help offset the negative, caustic behaviors they see on TV? And there is so much more. How do you put a price on that?
Fortunately, it’s good to know that it's worth a lot more than it costs. Practically speaking though, never shop for the martial arts based upon price alone. Schools tend to charge what they think they are worth. If a school is charging $50-a-month, there is a reason it's so cheap. If a school is charging $150-a-month, there is usually a reason the instructor feels it is worth more.
What's interesting is that, in most cases, the schools that charge a little more for the quality of their instruction tend to be bigger and have many more students than the bargain-basement schools that charge apologetically. Most good schools will charge anywhere from $85 - $150 per month and some will charge a registration of about $99 - $199. This registration fee might include your first month dues and, possibly, your uniform.
What rank should the instructor be?
Rank almost never equates to the quality of an Instructor. This is a critical point to understand. Just because someone has received a high rank within an art doesn't make him or her a good teacher. Teaching is a separate skill from the art itself. Ensure that the instructor you choose is good at both teaching and the art they teach. Unfortunately, due to a lack of standardization in the martial arts, credentials, while looking impressive probably don’t mean a lot to your or your child as students. Just because someone was “World Champion of this” or “Head Coach of that” or “Instructor for the military” doesn’t necessarily mean they are good teachers. Better to ask the Instructor “How long have you been training in the martial arts?” or “How long have your school(s) been open?” Larger schools are also a good indication of good instruction. A poor instructor will have a hard time keeping a larger student base.
Unfortunately, the rank of the instructor will actually mean very little to your classroom experience or the quality of your classes. Finding an instructor who cares about the students their development is much more important than credentials or rank.