| So, you want to study martial arts huh? | | | | more questions, observe a class, and look out for red |
| Congratulations!! But finding a good school is not as | | | | flags. |
| easy as it looks. There are a lot of pretenders out | | | | Red flags to watch out for: |
| there, and if you want to be sure you're getting quality | | | | - Out of shape students: If there are tons of students |
| training, these simple steps will insure that you don't get | | | | that are out of shape and fat, and they are wearing |
| scammed. | | | | high level belts. I can almost guarantee you the school |
| 1.You have to ask yourself what you are looking for. | | | | is NO GOOD. |
| What do you want to learn? Do you want to train to | | | | - The teacher lets the students do their own thing: If |
| do stunts or be in movies? Do you really want to get | | | | there is no instructor actively working with the |
| in some great shape? Do you want to learn or | | | | students. I can almost guarantee you the school is no |
| improve your fighting capabilities or become a | | | | good. |
| professional fighter? These are all questions you | | | | - Teachers that do not want to answer your |
| should ask yourself before looking for a school. Think | | | | questions: At a good school, you should be able to ask |
| about everything you want to learn from a school and | | | | any question you want related to martial arts and get it |
| write it down in a notebook so you don't forget. | | | | answered. Remember to be respectful, but make sure |
| 2. Make a list of questions: After you have made a list | | | | to ask every question that pops into your head. If the |
| of things you want your soon to be Martial Arts school | | | | instructor is not trying to listen to you or answers in a |
| to be able to effectively teach you, then you need to | | | | round about BS way. Don't waste your time. |
| formulate a list of questions to ask each school. For | | | | - Forcing you into a contract: If they want you to sign a |
| example, if I want to learn how to fight on the street a | | | | contract on your first visit. DO NOT DO IT!! This may |
| question you might ask is, "Do you offer fighting or | | | | be the biggest red flag. Things come up in our life, and |
| sparring training?" or, "Is it full-contact?" This will help | | | | a school that usually does this is after your money. If |
| you to narrow down your options once you begin | | | | they have a month by month option, even if it is more |
| contacting schools. | | | | expensive. I recommend doing this for at least a |
| 3.Hit the phones: Now grasshopper, it's time to hit the | | | | month, and do not pay for anyhing before a trial run. |
| phones. The best places to start are the yellow pages | | | | Places like this want to "hard sell" you and force you |
| and the internet. Call every school that looks like it | | | | into a contract. If they do, you will be forced to pay, or |
| might be in your area that you feel you may be | | | | get sued. Don't do that to yourself. |
| interested in. Make sure that you ask them the | | | | - Extremely high costs: Does the school charge $300 |
| questions on your list. If they answer "no" to any of | | | | a month and you cannot afford this. Move to the next |
| your questions, it's time to move on. | | | | school. There are plenty of very good beginner |
| Additional questions to ask: | | | | schools that do not charge and arm and a leg. |
| - Do you teach the class: Ask if the master of the | | | | 5. Ask to do a trial run: By now, you have probably |
| school teaches the class. If they do, this is a good sign, | | | | looked past all the flashy scammy lights, bad students, |
| but don't count them out if the students teach. Just ask | | | | and fake instructors. You have probably narrowed it |
| this next question. | | | | down to 2-3 schools. Now it's time for the final test, |
| - How many years have the instructor and master | | | | take the school for trial run to see if it is right for you. |
| trained in martial arts: If the instructors teaching the | | | | Many very good schools will recommend that you try |
| class have trained for more than 5 years and they are | | | | out the school for a couple of weeks to a month to |
| still studying with the master, it may still be worthwhile | | | | see if it is the right fit. Usually, this trial period is free or |
| to check out the school if they have answered the | | | | cost a few dollars. If they don't offer it, request it. Most |
| rest of your questions to your liking. | | | | good teachers are more concerned with having good |
| Things to watch out for: A lot of schools word things in | | | | students than they are with money. By taking you on |
| a way that may fool you. Don't fall into these traps | | | | as a student, their reputation is on the line. These are |
| - Our style is too deadly to use in an efficient sparring | | | | usually more "old school" instructors. Once you get in |
| session: 9.9999 times out of 10, this is BS. If you cannot | | | | the trial run, do it. Once you complete the trial, all you |
| effectively practice a style in an unpredictable setting, | | | | simply have to do is pick which one is best for you. |
| there's a good chance it's not going to work for you in | | | | Here are some additional "red flags" to watch out for. |
| a tight situation. | | | | Red flags: |
| - You cannot visit our super secret school without first | | | | - Class is very short with very low impact work out: |
| paying a fee: hmm... sounds like you have something to | | | | Again, if you are looking for a good school, you want |
| hide, a scam or cult perhaps? Who knows. Don't get | | | | to go for around and hour and a half to two hours. An |
| caught up in the hype. | | | | hour can be okay if it is highly targeted, and/ or high |
| - You don't need to be in shape to be a good fighter: | | | | impact. |
| Again, 9.9999 times out of 10 this is pure BS. Visit a | | | | - Students cannot fight: If you are trying to learn to |
| school like this at your own risk. | | | | fight and you can beat all of the students in the class, |
| 4. Visit the schools: Once you have spoken with the | | | | what are you there for? What can a school like that |
| schools and found the ones that answer all of your | | | | honestly teach you about fighting? Get out of there. |
| questions to your liking. It is now time to visit the school. | | | | The same can be said if you are looking to learn |
| Remember not to get caught up in the hype. Anyone | | | | flashy moves only (note: please understand 9 times |
| can claim to be a mega martial arts expert. All they | | | | out of 10 flashy moves will get you beat up on the |
| have to do is go to office max and get a certificate | | | | street.) If the high level students cannot do backflips or |
| made up. Take a few pictures in a cool gee, make up | | | | butterfly kicks and that's what you are there to learn. |
| some fantastic tale about your lineage, and buy a | | | | What can the school teach you? Get out of there. |
| really high level black belt of some online store. Very | | | | After this, you have, hopefully found 1 school. If you |
| few are the real deal, and even some of those guys | | | | have followed my steps correctly, there is a very |
| have got caught up in the money making game. Don't | | | | good chance that the school will be able to show you |
| be impressed by big schools, tons of students, and | | | | a thing or two about martial arts. Now all you have to |
| cool outfits. Right now, you're only purpose is to ask | | | | do is stick to it. Good luck! |