General Notes on martial self-defense and martial arts programs
The old Motown song says "You better shop around". This applies to martial arts schools as well as boyfriends. Finding a good school where you are happy is more important than finding the "right style" of martial art or the best possible self-defense program. Dont suspend your judgement just because this is an unfamiliar activity. Trust your instincts. Use common sense. Be courteous and expect the same from teachers and senior students.
Watch out for hype
Many teachers will say that what they teach is the best, the most effective or similar lies. Leave immediately if the teacher claims that you will be invincible or completely safe after taking his or her course. Martial artists who claim that their style is thousands of years old should be treated with skepticism. Teachers who make grandiose claims about themselves can be crossed off the list. (Grandiose claims about their teachers are normal.)
The student-teacher relationship should not be materially different than it is in any other classroom. You should feel comfortable with the teachers. Ask whom they studied with and what sort of certification they received; legitimate instructors will be glad to tell you.
Not everyone can afford a modern school with lots of equipment. Some of the best schools are in the teacher's garage. A school should look like someone cares about it. It should be clean, tidy, and safely maintained (no exposed wiring, no sharp objects lying on the floor, etc.). Often the teachers' certifications will be displayed as will pictures of their teachers. A large number of trophies can indicate tbat the school concentrates on sport competition rather than self-defense or cultural matters.
Talk to students in the class. Ask why they do what they do. If they sound like advertising brochures or cultists leave quickly.
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Martial Arts
Martial arts training differs from self-defense training in several important ways. Theres no time limit; you can continue for as long as your interest lasts. Many of the training methods and techniques are superb but only bear fruit after many years of practice. Goals of martial arts training can include self-defense, physical development and mental growth, competition, experiencing a foreign culture, or socializing with friends who share your interest.
While you are at the school you should watch a class. A martial arts teacher who will not let you observe should be viewed with suspicion. Who teaches the class, the instructor or senior students? Are they good teachers; do they demonstrate and explain techniques, answer questions, offer individual feedback? Do the students appear relaxed or are they uneasy or uncomfortable? Do they ask questions during class? How do they interact with each other and with seniors? Be sensitive to atmosphere.
Emphasis
All schools will say that what they teach effective self defense. However, each school emphasizes different things. Many schools (and we must be blunt here), especially Karate and Tae Kwon Do, are primarily geared towards competition. Tournament fighting is very different from self-defense. Skill at one does not necessarily give skill in the other. Paradoxically, many Judo dojos and boxing gyms make no bones about the fact that they teach a sport for competition, yet they are among the most street-tested martial arts around. Go figure.
Many schools take great pride in the number of techniques and forms they teach. While having a wide range of skills is good, it is less important than being able to use a few of them well. How much drill time does the class allow?
Forms (also known as katas, kuens, poomses or djurus) are a traditional part of many martial arts. However, forms just by themselves do not teach good martial art. A class where students do not practice their techniques on other students or with equipment such as pads, bags, or kick shields is not a good sign.
Sparring (or push hands in Tai Chi) is a useful and important phase of training. It is only a part. A firm foundation in basics is more important. Unsupervised sparring, especially by beginners, is not safe.
Business Matters
There is a wide range of business styles among martial arts schools. Some charge by the lesson, some by the month or year. Remember that you are comparison-shopping and may change your mind or move in the next couple of years. Most people stay with a martial arts school for less than a year. Pressure to sign up right away should be viewed much the same way as pressure to buy a used car. Long term contracts (more than about two or three months) should be avoided. There are a couple of franchised schools who sign all of their students up for contracts and programs sell the contracts to a collection agency. If a student quits he or she still has to pay for lessons.
Most places in the Portland metro area charge between 45 and 80 dollars a month. Two uniforms (so that you will always have a clean one), a mouthpiece, protective equipment such as boxing gloves and special items like practice weapons are standard.
There are often hidden costs to martial arts schools. Some require you to buy accident insurance. Some have expensive tests for rank. Others require a lot of equipment. Seminars with visiting instructors may be rare or common.
