How can you tell if a MartialArt School is any good?

Question

How can you tell if a Martial Art School is any good or worth training in?

--Yes, i have asked what is a good martial art to study...and i have been told that its good to try any and better to try different ones.

But what are things to look for in a school and how to tell if it could be any good?

Answer 1

First and for most u need to do a little research in the lineage ....... most styles weren't created in last 20 years........... and so u should find some information on the net.

This can give u following benefits first u can find other schools from same lineage and ask them about current school and instructors.

Second go to school and check out the instructor if he is any good , no matter how great the style or how many trophies instructor won ................  to you his best quality is how well he can pass on his knowledge ...... not how good he is in the fight............... after all he won't be fighting for u , u b fight for yourself

Answer 2

Always check out the school and talk to the students.  See what they think.  Does the senior instructor or master teach a lot or does he have the shodan's do all of the teaching.

Avoid any school that tries to sell you a long term contract up front.  Go month-to-month for at least a year or two.

If a school has a thousand trophies sitting around and brags about the hundreds of black belts it's produced in the last few years, run!

Tell the instructor you are looking at other schools and mention some.  Ask his opinion.  If he bad-mouths them, he is showing a lack of character.

If it has a Cobra Kai attitude, run as fast as you can!

If the instructor claims he has taught the _____ military and is the ______ national champion, he's probably full of it.

Look for a place that you feel comfortable.  That you can be friends with your classmates because no one succeeds alone.  Where the instructional philosophy meshes with your beliefs.  The fees are transparent and up front (including testing, registration, dues, uniforms, equipment, etc.).  No one is pressuring you to sign up now.

Good luck.

Answer 3

you look for a teacher who focuses on meditation and not fighting.  You ask how long have you practiced and who have you practiced under, and then you research their teacher.  You look for someone who is so passionate that it is infective.  You look for someone who has a good adult student base who also doesn't try to be too commercial with their promotions.  If it says this is a black belt school on the wall you walk out.  You look for students who try and be good partners and good role models.  You look for something that can be fun and that you will enjoy.  You avoid bullies and cheap studios.  It doesn't matter what style because it's based on the dedication of the teacher and the work they've put into their martial arts.  That being said i've had the best luck with aikido and kung fu schools.  You look for a heirarchy of respect, tradition, and selflessness.

Answer 4

The biggest thing to look at is the instructor. Not just the head instructor, but the people teaching the class.

Then consider price, class size, and age of other students.

Answer 5

Hi,

Thanks for your interest in my opinion!

As you can see there is a wide variety of opinions on here and you might end up more confused than you did before you asked!!

You cannot tell how good a class is just by judging the number of children in attendance or by prices of lessons!

When I was looking for a decent class I dropped in on a few different ones and watched . Some of the instructors were a little awkward to talk too whilst others hardly noticed I was there. So for me a warm welcome was a good sign and overall calmness throughout the class was equally important.

I am compelled to say try Muay Thai coupled with yoga as for me there is no better state of mind or feeling of well being practicing both, but that would be biased  and may not be suited to you.

Go to Mastersken.com and seek advice from Mastersken he will direct you and guide you towards a reputable camp.

Good Luck and love to you and your family.

Nicky

Answer 6

telling if a school is good is not about who's in it it's about discipline look at the class when the instructor gives a command    

all the class reply with yes sir or no sir

Answer 7

So you're asking how to tell if you're in a McDojo?

No school/instructor in their right minds, would guarantee to you that "You can get your black belt in just (X) months".

What's even worse, is if they follow up on that statement saying "-- with our 'special' training program" with whatever special fees they charge.

That's pretty much like saying "give me money now, and I'll have your black belt ready my next month"

A good school will bring you up the ranks, and advance your training, based on how well you actually perform. Ask for their fee rates and be the judge to see if they're fair, and that you're getting your money's worth. Martial arts shouldn't be as expensive as what they're charging nowadays. (It's crazy!)

Answer 8

It depends on what you are looking for in a school.  Are you looking to be a champion, to be a master, self-defense or something else?  Talk with the master or head instructor of the school and go with you gut feeling on them, look at class size, cost, testing speed.  Most schools will let you observe a class and  some even have a lesson for you to take as well.  If it feels good to you then it will be a good school for you.

Answer 9

try finding one without a lot of kids, especially little ones, the instructors will pay most attention to them, and they can be annoying and waste class time. try finding cheap schools too, there are a lot of expensive ones out there.  and a school with a teacher that is too old should be avoided too lol

Answer 10

Well somthing pretty simple to look for is Trophies and such sitting around.

Answer 11

look for a small class with people around your age or size. and if its cheap. also the dojos with almost no advertising are often the best ones. then try speaking to the instructor when you get there find out how long and in which styles he has been training.