| So after seeing so many different martial arts movies, | | | | Find out who the Sensei (chief instructor) is. Talk to him |
| you want to see if you can do that kind of stuff? | | | | or her: find out what kind of training they had and who |
| Good luck -- it's not easy to learn. It takes years of | | | | taught them. Ask them their rank and how long they've |
| discipline and proper schooling to understand how to | | | | been practicing. You also need to know what style of |
| keep your mind and body in focus long enough to | | | | martial arts they teach. |
| perform the kinds of feats many martial arts masters | | | | The most common of the combative arts are: tae |
| perform. Your desire is a good start and the right | | | | kwon do, kung fu and shotokan karate. Each style will |
| school can help. But how do you know if you're | | | | stress something different in their techniques. If you |
| choosing the right school? | | | | don't like being thrown (takedowns) or grappling, then |
| So, with all that in mind, how do you find a martial art | | | | the grappling arts of judo and aikido are not for you. |
| school that will teach you the martial arts the way you | | | | A style like tae kwon do will stress kicks, while |
| want? It's not impossible, since there are still traditional | | | | Okinawan Goju-Ryu karate will offer a nice balance of |
| martial arts schools around the country, but it does | | | | hand and leg work. Is your own personal goal fighting, |
| take a little effort. | | | | competition, or strictly self defense? Ask the Sensei |
| Martial arts history dictates humility in instructors, so an | | | | what his particular school focuses on. |
| instructor following tradition likely won't have much in | | | | Before you sign a contract with a martial art school, be |
| the way of marketing. That means you have to go out | | | | certain that you are absolutely comfortable with the |
| of your way to find the instructor, via word of mouth, | | | | martial art school's environment and the instructors. If |
| or search for all martial arts schools in your area. | | | | you are offered the opportunity to take an introductory |
| When you find a martial art school that appeals to you, | | | | course as a trial run, by all means do it. |
| go visit. Sit in and watch a session or two. Go on | | | | An introductory session will allow you to work with one |
| different days at different times to see how the | | | | or more of the instructors one on one or in a small |
| instructors handle each class and interact with the | | | | group of other beginners to see if the style is right for |
| students. | | | | you. |
| A good school will always allow visitors to drop by. | | | | Questions are always helpful. The best martial art |
| Take note of how large the classes are. Are men and | | | | instructors will tell you, "There's no such thing as a |
| women taught together? Do the instructors and | | | | stupid question." No matter what, a real martial art |
| higher-ranking belts treat beginners with respect? Do | | | | school isn't going to make you feel stupid for wanting |
| they have children's classes? And if so, how are the | | | | to learn. So if you're curious -- about either tradition, a |
| children treated? What principles are the students | | | | stance, or anything else -- be sure to ask. |
| taught? | | | | |