How do you know which TaeKwonDo school is right for you? What do you look for?

Question

I started learning TaekwonDo when i was 9, took some time off every now and then due to school or other activities, and eventually received my 1st degree black belt at 16. During my martial arts career, I was at 2 schools, the first i was fine at, but my family was moving to another city so i decided to keep it up and continue. The second school was alright as well.

I guess i started losing interest because it started to become less challenging and at the time, i was junior worrying about which colleges to apply to and such.

2 years have gone by, I'm 18 now, and i don't want to leave TaekwonDo behind. I'd also like to start competing possibly. So my question is what do you look for in a school? How do you know if it'll be challenging enough? What type of credentials should i look for?

Thanks.

Answer 1

You're interested in competing so maybe it's best if you move away from the self defense aspect and go into the sport part. As you probably know the organizations are ITF and Kukkiwon which is connected to WTF style Olympic Tae Kwon Do. I would find a school that is affiliated with Kukkiwon/WTF style.

ITF is more based around the self defense, if you want to compete i wouldn't go for this type of school.

Try to find a kukkiwon school that is geared towards WTF Olympic style. Kukkiwon schools offer the art just like ITF schools but the main difference is this:

ITF-Self defense

Kukkiwon/WTF style-Sport oriented.

At some point i also lost interest in Tae Kwon Do but as soon as i started to do sparring and compete i loved TKD all over again.

Answer 2

Credentials are over rated. Anyone can drop down a couple grand or go to some unknown tournament and get some fancy looking document or trophy, but that doesn't prove a thing. I look at the students. Mostly mid advanced to almost instructor. I don't judge the new people because they can throw off your judgment on the school. If I'm feel intimidated or unwilling to face anyone of the advanced ranked students on the street the school gets ranked high. If the advanced rank students are in shape, then that's another good point. Check their balance as they practice. Would you do that in a fight? How powerful do they hit? Is their allot of camaraderie  between students (you want them to be close as friends, it means they have been through allot together as students).  If you are not being pushed, then you have to move on.

Typically a school that has a demo team don't tend to push their students like you are looking for. Though demo teams are fun, and on occasion you may find a good school that has a demo team, it's a typical sign of a McDojo.

Your previous schools may consider you a traitor. But if they are unable to give you what you need to better yourself then you must move on. Whether you train another style is not relevant, it isn't the system, but the way the school trains. Don't allow what system they study affect your judgment of how good they are.  

Answer 3

I'm going for my yellow belt and I love this school. The other students are really helpeful, nice and encouraging as is the Grandmaster. The enviornment is very nurturing which is something you want from a school. The same as you want f rom a college that the Grandmaster takes time out to teach students, that they don't just put you against older belts without training first and that the other students are helpful.

Also ask them about their goals for the students what their expectations are their. Most important ask to sit in a class first to see if you like it and how a class is run. That way you see firsthand.

What state do you live in now?

Answer 4

First off the question:  If you are in college, then your school probably has a TKD club.  I would start there.

I don't think your old schools are going to think you are a traitor.  Chances are, they are not going to find out either.

You should choose a school that is close to you, with an instructor that you like and are comfortable with.

Jimmy- credentials are not over rated.  While you can buy fake certificates, the real ones can be verified, especially kukkiwon certificates.  Training local police, FBI or other law enforcement, or being a member of the local chamber of commerce, or recognition for local charity work, or former international coaching or ref certification are all good credentials to look for Tae Kwon Do instructors.

As for learning another martial art, that is really up to you.  I have trained in several and I have my likes and dislikes about all of them.  

I think the style is less important than the teaching.  The more you like and respect the teacher's style, the more and better you will learn.

Good luck!

James