Mini-FAQ: Finding a Martial Arts School

Finding a Martial Arts School

You’ve decided to begin training in a martial art, you’ve read the first of our Mini-FAQ articles, you’ve talked with friends and folks online, and you now have a pretty good idea what martial art you want to study. Now comes the hard part, finding a martial arts school to train at…

Looking for a good martial arts school may be as simple as opening up your local phone book and letting your fingers do the walking. In fact, if you haven’t already done so, it’s likely this will be your first step to see what schools are in your area and what arts they teach. Searching on the internet has rapidly replaced the phone book and has become one of the best means to find a martial arts school. One of the advantages of the internet is that schools have discovered that by having a web presence, not only can they advertise their school and “get the word out”, but they can provide present and prospective students with much more information as it relates to their art and school. As such, research on the internet can give you a great deal of information about local schools, but not all of the information you need to make a sound decision will be present, and you need to be prepared to ask questions of your prospective school owner/instructor. We’ll talk about some of those questions as we proceed with this article, but some of the considerations you need to think about are (and not necessarily in order):

Convenience
Instructor qualifications
Atmosphere
Affordability – contracts/commitments, hidden charges, special programs
Commercial/non-commercial
What if the art I want to train in is not available in my area?
What to look out for…

Convenience is usually one of the first things a prospective student considers. While modern life certainly allows us to travel further, demands on our time and associated expenses often dictate how far we are willing to travel to train in our martial art. Sometimes we are fortunate and are able to locate a good school close to home that trains in the art that you are interested in. If you live in a city with lot of martial arts schools, you will obviously have a lot more choices and have a better chance finding a school that teaches the art you want to train in and/or is convenient. If you are like most folks, then you don’t live in a city where there is a big variety of arts and a school on every corner, and if that is the case (or even if it isn’t), then don’t despair, because it’s possible that you still haven’t exhausted all the places to look in your search. So after you have looked in the phone book and searched on the internet, you should also contact local community and recreation centers, park departments, civic organizations, YMCA’s, church groups, and other "like" groups, and see if they offer martial arts training. Many times, these non-commercial groups do not put ads in the phone book or maintain a web presence, but rely on internal (to the organization) advertising and word-of-mouth. So being able to find these gems can be tough, and usually require that you get on the phone and call them, but they can also be worth the extra effort. We’ll cover the topic of commercial versus non-commercial schools and the business side of things a little later in this article.

So you’ve looked, and looked and looked and… well you get the idea, and you still haven’t been able to find a local school that teaches the art(s) you want to learn. Now what? Unfortunately this leaves you with two choices, either consider traveling further away to train (if available), or train in an art locally that may not be a perfect “fit” for you, but at least comes the closest to what you are looking for. How far you are willing to travel depends on your circumstances, and must be weighed against the convenience and associated expenses of the travel. If you have found the art you are looking for locally, or have decided on a different art for the sake of convenience, then what’s next?

Once you have identified a school or schools in your area, the next step is taking the time to visit that school, observing or participating in a class, talking with the instructor(s) and if possible, the students. You should also be getting all the particulars as it pertains to the business side of joining, like monthly tuition, fees, etc.

When you call a martial arts school, you’ll notice that most will not disclose the cost of training over the phone (or on the web), but will invite you to the school to discuss the matter in person. Don’t be put off by this as it is a common sales tactic in order to get you face to face to make the sale. Just be aware that this could also mean that you are in for a high pressure sale’s pitch which is used by some larger “chain” commercial schools. Still, don’t let this put you off! At the very least a school must generate enough money to keep the doors open and the lights on, and if the school is commercial, then they also want to make money. This is not necessarily a bad thing, and as previously mentioned, we’ll talk a little more about the business side of things later.

When you visit a school, you need to be prepared to ask questions, so have them prepared in advance. Ask all of the questions you have about the art, the school’s emphasis, and make sure that the art and school you are getting into is the “fit” you are looking for. Be prepared to discuss your goals and reasons for training.

After you’ve talked about the art and the school, ask the instructor about his/her credentials and qualifications. Is the art well known? Don’t take the instructor’s word for it, ask others and research more on the internet. How long has the instructor been training in his/her art, and how long has he/she been teaching? Who issued credentials to the instructor? Was it an individual or a major organization? Check and make sure that the organization is a legitimate one, and if necessary, contact that organization to verify the instructor’s credentials. If you can’t tell if an organization is major or not, or legitimate or not, then a little web research and checking with others in the martial arts community can be valuable. Ask the instructor for references, and follow up on them. The problem with checking on the legitimacy of an instructor is that there is no true central authority in the United States which issues credentials to instructors and ensures that what they are doing is legitimate. So the old adage of “let the buyer beware” certainly applies here. The important thing is that any instructor should be willing to present their credentials to you, and provide you a means to verify them. If they do not, then you should leave and not come back. You are a consumer and they are offering a service. As a client, you have a right to know. So if you ask and they get bent out of shape because you asked, this should be a big warning sign that something may not be right.

After you’ve asked questions about the art, the school and the instructor, the next thing you need to do is ask to observe multiple classes. If possible, you should watch as many classes as possible and observe classes at all levels, from beginner to advanced. If you are not allowed to observe any and all classes, then walk out the door and find some place else. Contrary to what you might have been told, there are few secrets in the martial arts that cannot be observed by outsiders. Yes, there are secrets taught in some arts to their most advanced students, but without context and previous training in that art, most of what you observe will not make sense anyway.

When observing a class, there are a couple of things you should look for. First, look at the chemistry between the instructor and the students. Is the atmosphere more authoritative or familial? Many martial arts schools tend to be taught like “mini-Boot Camp” and if that is what you are looking for, then that’s great. Others tend to be much more “family like” with the instructor being more like a “big brother/sister”. Most will be somewhere in between, and take a different approach depending upon the age/level of the students (kids need more discipline than adults). Next, watch the instructor(s) and see how they teach. Do they teach and make corrections in a manner that you are comfortable with? Are they helpful and positive? Next, watch the students more than the instructor, particularly the more senior students. Since you are there to learn and be taught, the best reflection on how good the instructor teaches is by the product they produce; in this case, their students. Do the students look good, seem to be enjoying their training, and have a good attitude? How instructors and students interact is key in finding a good school, but don’t dismiss how students interact amongst themselves as well!

Now that you’ve visited the school, talked with the instructor and/or students, and observed multiple classes, affordability should be the next thing to consider.

In the world of martial arts, there are two types of schools, commercial and non-commercial. The commercial schools are out to make money, and often the instructor/owner’s livelihood is tied to the school. As a general rule of thumb, a commercial school will have to meet obligations such as rent, utilities and insurance first before any profit can be made. The school is a business, and like any business, a steady flow of income is important to not only keep the doors open and the lights on, but to ensure that the instructor/owner can make a living. Because of the necessity of business, many of these commercial schools employ various means to ensure a steady flow of income even during slow times of the year. One of the most common means to ensure this is by using contracts, and if you belong to a fitness or similar club, then you are probably already familiar with these. These contracts can vary in length and often have incentives to encourage signing a longer contract. Whether you are for or against the use of contracts, please keep in mind that these are legally binding contracts, and failure to fulfill the terms of the contract can result in the contract being turned over to collection agencies who will take every legal means to collect the money that is owed. So if you must sign a contract, at least initially do yourself a favor and obligate yourself for the shortest time period possible. Once you have been training for a while and have decided to continue your training long-term, then you can always sign a new contract later on.

In addition to contracts, many commercial schools will also charge additional fees, such as initiation fees, organizational membership fees (these are usually annual), testing and promotion fees, and probably other fees that the author has never considered. While some of these fees are often necessary, others are used to simply generate additional revenue. Your tolerance for these fees may vary, but just because a school charges them does not make it a “bad” school. The final proof of “good or bad” comes down to the final product; happy and competent students.

Non-commercial schools are those that either train out of locations like YMCAs, recreation centers, garages, and the like, or operate at an outside, commercial location, but make just enough to pay the rent and utilities. Generally the prime motivation for instructors who teach at places like Y’s, recreation centers and the like, is simply to teach for the love of the art. However, many times they are looking to establish themselves there first, and then take a core of students with them when they go commercial. There is nothing wrong with this since it is a valid way for an instructor to move into a commercial status and already have students. Another possibility is that a commercial school will teach at a non-commercial facility with the goal of moving students to their main commercial school later. They will usually accomplish this by only ranking students to their first belt, and if you want to go further, you go to the main school, and pay the bigger fees! You can usually spot programs like this by the number of very junior students, high turnover, junior instructors (who are themselves learning to teach), and close association with a local commercial school.

One other possible problem with a non-commercial school that is worth mentioning is that you may find that the instructor teaches in order to gratify their ego. Please understand that all instructors to a certain extent teach for ego. There are few things more gratifying than seeing your students advance and become skillful in their art, but if you find an instructor that insists on being called “master” or some other high sounding title, and expects his/her students to bow and scrape, then you might want to reconsider your choice of schools/instructors. Please note that basic dojo courtesy such as addressing the instructor properly or bowing is normal, but it can be taken to a point where it become extreme. Also, this is not exclusive to non-commercial schools, as you will find this also exists in commercial schools too.

For the most part, non-commercial schools are in it for teaching students and propagating their art, no matter the location. If you find a non-commercial school that teaches from a YMCA, recreation center, garage, or similar facility, then you will likely find there is no contract and payment is month-to-month. You still may find that some other fees apply, but generally those tend to be minimal. For non-commercial schools which teach at “commercial like” locations, then you may or may not be asked to sign a contract. Remember, schools in those circumstances still need to pay the rent, utilities and insurance!

So which is better, commercial or non-commercial schools? Since the quality of instruction can vary with both and the student’s proficiency is the end product, the only way to determine which is better is by doing your research. Both can be good, or both can be bad, it all depends on the school and the instructor.

Selecting a martial arts school is just like anything you will do as a consumer, it requires research, diligence and caution in committing yourself and your money, but some of the things you need to watch out for are:

The instructor and staff – qualifications, police record, etc
Hidden charges, and special programs

Unfortunately, martial arts instructor’s are not generally some wise old master that has spent their whole lives in a monastery and have no human weaknesses. They are human too, and with that, the whole range of human “issues”, from police records, mental illness, to fraudulent martial arts credentials is a possibility. As these instructors are often in contact with young children, it is important that they not be a threat to the safety of those children, but unfortunately, you all too frequently hear about instructors (and coaches) that molest children. The law in most States requires that those working with children undergo a background check, and are forbidden from being around children if they have a record as a sexual offender. If you are signing up for training at a facility like a YMCA or Rec Center, it’s a good bet that the organization has already checked out their instructors, but it would be worth asking again when you sign up, just in case. In the case of a private school, they may or may not be following the legal requirements for your State. So when in doubt, ask bluntly if instructors and staff who interact with children have had police checks run on them before they began their employment. Another option would be to check the local sexual offender registry in your locale to see if any of the staff members might be listed. Better safe than sorry!

We have already mentioned about verifying the instructor’s qualifications, and will not cover it again except to remind our readers that they are consumers and are purchasing a product, so you have a right to know if the person delivering that product are qualified to do so.

One of the other things to watch out for is hidden charges and “special programs”. These special programs have become very popular over the years and are just another means to collect revenue. Some of these programs like “Black Belt Club” “Leadership Club”, etc, are very popular. With each of these programs, students receive an additional benefit for paying the additional fees to belong to these programs. These benefits can include additional classes per week/month or special classes (like weapons) which others who are not in the program do not receive. While it is not a problem in providing additional classes for students who have paid for them, it is the opinion of the author that offering “special” classes to those who pay extra at the exclusion of those who do not, has some potential ethical problems, and here is why.

A martial art is meant to be taught in its entirety. If ground fighting, self-defense or weapons are a part of that art, then it is the responsibility of the instructor to teach all students equally all parts of their art, and give each the opportunity to advance. If you are withholding a part of the art because they do not want to or cannot pay extra, then you are restricting the student’s ability to advance in the art because of their inability to pay. While most might see nothing wrong with this, we are not talking about someone having access to cable TV’s premium channels; we are talking about an art that is incomplete without those parts. When a student signs up, they do so to learn the particular martial art, and not that “art minus”. Now this is assuming that the “special” classes include things that are a part of the art’s curriculum, but if the topic of those classes are not a regular part of the art, then no big deal. On the other hand, if the instructor is offering classes in things that are outside of the art’s curriculum, then it’s time to ask the all important question of where the instructor learned this outside material. It goes right back to the instructor’s qualifications. For instance, weapons such as the staff (Bo), Nunchaku, Sai, Tonfa are an integral part of Okinawan Karate. However, they are not found in Tae Kwon Do, and I would wonder where the instructor learned those weapons and what makes him/her qualified to teach their use. The same goes for schools which teach ground fighting, which is not a normal part of Tae Kwon Do, Karate or other striking arts.

One of the trends is to teach other arts within the school and offer it as an “extra”, for of course “extra money”. If the instructor(s) has actual training in these other arts, then that is great, but often times you will find that the instructor “learned” the art during a weekend or longer seminar. Yes, you read that right… a weekend seminar. For instance, it is not uncommon to find a Tae Kwon Do (or other) school that teaches Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) or Krav Maga, both of which have organizations which are set up to teach these arts during weekend (or maybe week-long) seminars. Sorry, but learning any art in a few days does not mean you have mastered the art no matter what the person’s previous experience (being qualified in one art does not make you an expert in another), and being qualified to teach it, is even more dubious.

Please note that in the case of BJJ, many schools want to offer training in this art because of the popularity of the UFC and MMA, and as long as the instructor as paid their dues and actually trained in the art for a while, then you’ll be fine. Instructors in BJJ are sometimes not black belts, but because of the nature of the art may be ranked as blue or purple belts. Just make sure that they have earned their rank, whatever it is, from a real BJJ organization (and do your research). In the case of Krav Maga, which is an art that is centered on self-defense and personal combat, it is often taught to offer a self-defense curriculum in that school. However, if a martial art has to be supplemented by another art to make it effective for self-defense, then why bother learning the first art? If the first martial art has become so diluted that it cannot be used for self-defense, then that can be a problem.

In closing, training in a martial art can be one of the most gratifying activities that you can take up, and it is a journey that will take a lifetime. It is hard, but that difficulty can strengthen the mind and body, and some of the individuals who share your passion for the martial arts will become lifelong friends because of the real camaraderie in training together in an activity that will push you to your mental and physical limits. It can help you remain calm in a crisis, defend yourself and your family when in danger, and hopefully make you a better person. It can develop an awareness, sensitivity and desire for excellence that will become a part of your everyday lives. Oh, and it’s fun too!