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