| After an eleven year break I began looking for a | | | | My Goal!" So what about after Black Belt? First-hand, |
| karate school in order to train again. I had a serious | | | | I've experienced the problem of weak post-Black-Belt |
| advantage in that I had already spent a lot of years | | | | instruction. (See 'Affiliation' above.) |
| training karate and had earned a Black Belt. So I knew | | | | A school has to be a business to survive - However, |
| exactly what I wanted in a school. And what I didn't | | | | for the business to survive, the students - and the |
| want as well. | | | | quality of instruction - have to come first. (Read |
| Good quality karate instruction I would recognize. But | | | | 'Contract', next.) |
| this time around was different; I had three children I | | | | A contract is not necessarily a bad thing - It's true that |
| hoped would be interested in learning. Having been part | | | | some people need a contractual commitment of |
| of a very good children's program in the past, I knew | | | | money in order to stick with their own training, or their |
| what I wanted for them, too. | | | | child's. You will find arrangements from month-to-month |
| No karate program is perfect. There are things I | | | | payment, to yearly contracts, to prepaid "Black Belt |
| haven't agreed with at all three schools where I've | | | | Guarantee" programs (remember to run, not walk |
| trained. And that's a good thing, it means I'm thinking for | | | | from this last one.) I participated in a yearly contract |
| myself. (Even when I'm wrong. It happens a lot.) I'm | | | | arrangement with the unaffiliated group and ended up |
| sure you will find things you don't agree with. | | | | getting burned a little. And I had a long track record |
| So this 'list' is meant to help you think for yourself, | | | | with the school! (See 'Business' above.) |
| about what you want to see in a karate school. Let's | | | | Separate kids-only and adults-only classes - It takes us |
| get started. | | | | adults longer than kids to get the hang of some of this |
| Instructor / school owner with too much ego - I believe | | | | stuff, in general. And we should be taught differently. |
| this tops my list of worst traits. Unfortunately, it may | | | | Look for a family class if you and your child want to |
| take time to fully assess. And don't let the sight of | | | | train together. |
| students bowing to the instructor fool you. That's a | | | | Six-foot high trophies in the window - Open |
| good thing (I'll mention it again later.) | | | | tournaments. When integrated into the program |
| Affiliation with a bigger organization - National or | | | | properly, affiliate tournaments are a great teaching tool. |
| international; visit the website. The one unaffiliated | | | | And a whale of a lot of fun! Open tournaments, |
| group I've trained with had avoidable problems, things | | | | however, are another beast altogether. They might be |
| that might have been solved by being part of a larger | | | | a lot of fun, they might be a terrible experience or |
| group. "No affiliation" could very well mean, in fact | | | | somewhere in the middle. I've never been to one. But |
| probably does mean, too much ego. (Follow the link | | | | I've heard enough stories from people who have. And |
| below for one example.) | | | | their experiences support my understanding that |
| Time to Black Belt should be at least 3 ½ years | | | | throwing a lot of unknown people together from a lot |
| - Minimum. With all tests passed and none missed, but | | | | of unknown, unaffiliated karate schools invites less than |
| will most likely take longer. When you find those "Black | | | | desirable results. Enough said. |
| Belt Programs" that guarantee this milestone (some | | | | My suggestion is to read through this list again and |
| even in two years) turn around and run, don't walk. | | | | write down questions that come to mind. Any good |
| Engaged instructors and students - you may not have | | | | instructor will gladly answer them, and will have |
| the background to know if the karate is good quality, | | | | questions of his or her own for you. Any good karate |
| but you'll know if the instructors and students are | | | | school will allow you to join in a few classes with no |
| motivated. Do they speak respectfully to each other, | | | | financial obligation, just ask. If they won't, move on to |
| do they bow respectfully, do they remain focused and | | | | the next school on your list. |
| work hard the entire class? Are they having fun while | | | | I've been very fortunate in finding high quality karate |
| doing these things? | | | | instruction; the good schools and teachers are out |
| Students follow the pace of the class - And does the | | | | there. Learning good karate offers you so much more |
| instructor push until all students are obviously | | | | than what you see as a spectator. It's well worth the |
| challenged? | | | | effort to prepare for your karate school choice. |
| Black Belt is not the end - The sign says "Black Belt Is | | | | I wish you well in your search and training. |