How to Choose a Martial Arts School That’s Right For YOU

A commitment to martial arts is an investment in time & money. Knowing exactly what to look for in a school will give you the confidence to make the right choice.

Martial arts schools aren’t regulated to insure quality of instruction or business practice, so the only way to really protect yourself is to educate yourself.

There are many styles of martial arts and schools range from health-club-like facilities to open warehouses. Without proper guidance, you may not know what to look for beyond price and amenities. A wrong choice in a school can be an expensive lesson if you don’t know how to shop around.

This 7 Step Guide was put together by a Board of Martial Arts Advisors that include World Champions, Successful School Owners and a Martial Arts Hall of Famer!

It will insure you make the best decision in choosing a martial arts school that’s right for you – Guaranteed!

1. DETERMINE YOUR REAL GOAL:

First of all, why martial arts? What do you specifically hope to gain from martial arts practice? The clearer you are the more you can narrow down your criteria. You can start by rating the following by order of importance:

• Fitness – physical health and conditioning that’s more exciting than the gym?
• Mental/Emotional health – focus, discipline, stress relief, self confidence?
• Self defense – real life street defense and combat training?
• Fun hobby – artistic physical expression or cultural interest?
• Sport competition – test your skills, see what you’re made of?

2. QUALIFY AN INSTRUCTOR:

The instructor is more important than the school. Besides the obvious expectations in aptitude and experience, a competent instructor has the ability to effectively teach.

A quality instructor will display a genuine interest in helping you achieve your goals, and is essentially a role model.

Consideration an instructor’s other attributes, such as:

• Track record, Championship Titles or coaching World Champions
• Degree in psychology, sports medicine, kinesiology or supportive fields
• Military or law enforcement background
• Involvement in a credible martial arts organization

3. OBSERVE THE CLASS:

Observing a few classes will usually give you all the answers you need. No matter what anyone tries to “sell” you on, watching the classes will reveal the school’s true area of focus.

It’s the best demonstration of the instructor’s ability to teach. It’s also the perfect opportunity to see how their curriculum is implemented into training, and see the students’ results.

The class dynamic will either accelerate your learning experience or hinder it. Know how to identify some key points.

• Is there a big age difference among students that may restrict your practice?
• Is there a significant difference in the students’ skill level or physical abilities?
• Do you like the instructor? …the teaching style?
• How much individual attention do students receive?
• Does the curriculum support the areas of martial arts you wish to focus on?
• Do the advanced students model the results you’re looking for?
• Are the students supportive of each another or are they competitive, trying to outdo each other?

Notice if there’s a lot of unnecessary [filler time]. How much of the class time is instructional and experiental?

The students provide tremendous insight. You can often tell more about a school by the students’ results than anything else.

4. CHOOSE YOUR STYLE:

In order to choose a style, start by matching your main goals to one of the following AREAS OF FOCUS:

• Fitness – Emphasizes physical conditioning based on martial arts techniques. Classes may implement a general combination of styles.
• Tradition – Focuses on both external and internal training for the development of the mind-body-spirit relationship. There is usually emphasis on culture and philosophy.
• Combat – Focuses on street defense or military/law enforcement application. Training includes weapons and high stressed scenario exercises.
• Artistic Expression –  Implements forms or choreographed techniques. They typically have more aesthetic beauty, as movements are fluid and graceful like a gymnast or dancer.
• Competition – Training is in accordance to criteria of the specific sport. The emphasis is on winning recognition that is based on a fixed set of rules.

Once you identify the Area of Focus that supports your GOAL, choosing a “style” is easy.

5. EVALUATE THE FACILITY:

A big mistake is to judge a school by the facility. A large facility with nice equipment doesn’t mean it’s a high quality school, and a small school doesn’t mean it lacks quality instruction.

Does the school have the amenities and equipment that support your area of focus, (such as a boxing ring for kickboxing or Muay Thai, proper mats for Grappling, large mirrors for forms, etc.)?

A large facility and expensive equipment equals higher fees. Be aware of extra equipment, large offices, etc. that do not directly add value to your training. Decide what’s important for your training and what you’re willing to pay more for.

Another key point to consider is the convenience of the school’s location and schedule.

6. RATE THE SERVICE:

Poor customer service can ruin your martial arts experience at any level. Good service will save you a lot of unnecessary headache. Some schools have great sales and marketing techniques to get you in the door. But, it’s the level of ongoing service that really counts.

7. COMPARE VALUE TO PRICE:

Price is a huge determining factor for many people. A common mistake is to compare price without comparing value. There’s a reason this the last step.

Now that you know how to properly evaluate a school, you know what you’re really comparing.

Consider all the benefits before you focus on the price. This way you can place some sort of dollar value on each component of a school and then shop around.

• How much time and money will a quality instructor save you in the long run?
• Is a nice facility worth the extra cost?
• How much value do you put on convenience, like location and schedule?
• Consider the teaching style and class dynamic – what’s that worth to you?

Tuition isn’t the only cost. Keep in mind that some styles require more training gear and equipment.

Most martial arts schools require you to commit to a contract. It’s simply a written agreement between you and the school, and it can always be negotiated.

They should be willing to explain the details of the contract to your full understanding and agree to make any changes you feel are important, [as long as it’s mutually beneficial].

You should also ask about:

• Discounts or incentives for paying in full
• Discounts for additional family members
• Training equipment – and if they must be purchased directly from the school
• Fees for belt testing, federation or association member fees
• Cost for any other mandatory programs
• Membership freezes in case of injury, maternity, etc
• Policy for relocation or moving
• Fees for early cancellation

It’s also a good idea to ask how the billing is managed.

If the school out-sources their billing, you’ll be dealing with a billing company for the payment of your tuition fees. If you ever have to deal with the billing company you can expect the type of service you get from a collection agency. They can also make negative reports on your credit.

With all this information, you’ll intuitively know if the school is right for you. Using these 7 Steps for choosing a martial arts school guarantees success. The only variable is YOU!

1. Determine Your Real Goal
2. Qualify an Instructor
3. Observe the Class
4. Choose a Style
5. Evaluate the Facility
6. Rate the Service
7. Compare Value to Price

Martial arts is one of the best ways to invest in your personal growth. Choose a school and instructor that’s right for you and your life WILL improve! It has to, right?

If you’re already practicing martial arts or want a more in depth guide on How To Choose a Martial Arts School, check out this Ezine Article.

I wish I had something like it years ago. It would’ve saved me thousands of dollars and years of practice!

It includes valuable tips and a guideline for evaluating a martial arts school that you can take to the bank!

Click here to check it out!

I wish you a wonderful and fulfilling martial arts journey!

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