| I am often asked the question, if I were to get some | | | | Do you have long legs? Then maybe a school that |
| great martial arts instruction, which style should I study? | | | | emphasizes kicking would be in order. |
| If the person asking is serious about obtaining | | | | Do you have 'meaty' arms? How about a progressive |
| martial-arts instruction, then we continue the | | | | style with Western boxing mixed in? |
| conversation by exploring what's available in this | | | | If you are a woman, then a Gung Fu style like WIng |
| person's area. After all, there's no use suggesting | | | | Chun might be the perfect choice. |
| Russian Sistema, if there isn't a teacher available in the | | | | So, if you had all of the options in the world, I'd advise |
| person's city or surrounding area. | | | | you to choose a style where the ideal practitioner has |
| For the purpose of this article, let's take a | | | | a similar build to you. (After all, the sky is the limit.) |
| "the-sky's-limit" attitude. If you could take any martial | | | | Does the Teacher Have the Ability to Teach You? |
| arts style in the world, which would you choose? | | | | There are good teachers and bad teachers. This is |
| You need to ask yourself a few questions: | | | | one of the reasons that you can't always a say a |
| What's Your Martial Goal? | | | | particular style is good or bad. It depends on the |
| If you want to enter competitions and tournaments, | | | | teacher. |
| then you might be happy with a larger school, with | | | | My teacher is a genius -- after all, I am not particularly |
| several instructors all wearing gis (martial arts | | | | athletic, yet over the years, he helped "me" develop |
| uniforms). | | | | into a competent martial artist. Not an easy task. |
| If, on the other hand, you want to learn pure, efficient | | | | I know that I wouldn't be this good without the |
| self defense, then maybe you should look for a small | | | | instruction of someone so talented at tailoring the art to |
| class, taught by someone out of his (or her) home -- | | | | the individual. |
| garage, backyard, or down at the park. | | | | And that's what it will all boil down to -- finding martial |
| Observe classes of potential schools. See if the | | | | arts instruction, that not only gives you skill, but helps |
| schools' goals are in alignment with your own. | | | | you develop the confidence to use the techniques |
| What's Your Build? | | | | should the need arise. |
| If you are a small individual, then don't get a lot of | | | | While you are searching for the perfect martial-arts |
| martial arts instruction in grappling arts. That's not the | | | | class, read this free ebooklet on conquering fear in a |
| best for you. Chooses a style where you can rely on | | | | fight.... |
| your speed. | | | | |