Picking the right school
Things To Consider When Choosing A Martial Arts School
Children… Are Martial Arts right for your child?
The Ladies…
Finding The Right SchoolA lot of people feel that the only way to get real self-defense training is to invest years in taking a martial art. They point with pride at the awesome strength, speed, precision, and power of the experienced martial artist, and contend that in order to feel really confident in an attack situation, one needs to painstakingly acquire the skills that have been time-tested over centuries.
The truth is that training in a traditional martial art has many benefits aside from self-defense skills, and that you can learn effective self-defense skills without traditional training.
The question is not “Do I need martial arts to keep myself safe?” but “What might I gain from martial arts training?”
Fitness A fit body is more able to defend you, as well as more able to get you through the day with energy, resilience, and enthusiasm. Martial arts are an unusually good way to get fit. Even within one martial art there is a lifetime of techniques and skills to master, hence it is easy to stay interested and motivated. Also, there is a place for everyone, regardless of their level of fitness. While the more vigorous martial arts provide the quickest results in terms of increasing your fitness, the gentler arts, ( such as Jiu Jitsu ) also provide a good workout, and are ideal for people who have been sedentary for a while.
Strength Martial arts are unparalleled for helping your body get stronger. Most arts include exercises and warm-ups designed to work the large muscle groups. In addition, martial arts fall into the category of “weight-bearing exercises”. In other words, they make your bones stronger and help forestall and reduce the effects of osteoporosis.
Coordination The intricacy of many martial arts challenges body awareness and helps you learn about how your body moves. Many people experience a marked increase in overall coordination that carries over to other sports and activities.
Fortitude Training in a martial art is demanding, no doubt about it. Knowing you have prevailed in a strenuous and difficult activity can give you the emotional strength to accept other challenges in your life. Moreover, many martial arts include some degree of physical contact; learning to deal with this contact can help you keep your head in an attack situation.
Focus Martial arts training require a high degree of concentration. Students must pay attention to every muscle at all times, at the same time they are paying attention to the teacher, to their partner, and to their own attitude. After a while, the ordinary demands of work seem easier!
Cross-cultural Awareness Most martial arts are the products of Asian cultures. Studying the traditions and conventions of a martial art can give you a window of understanding into the culture from which it comes.
Good times Martial arts are usually a group activity. You’re sure to meet people who share at least one of your interests! The shared demands of training can build friendship and camaraderie. Most schools also have social events and special training events. There are also a number of organizations designed specifically to bring martial artists together in a fun atmosphere of collaboration and mutual learning. One of these is The World Kobudo Federation gatherings every year.
If this sounds attractive to you, you may be asking yourself whether you are the “right” kind of person to train in martial arts. The answer is that there is no “right” or ”wrong” person. People of all backgrounds, athletic abilities, and ages have successfully begun - and kept on - training in a myriad of different arts. It’s important, however, to spend some time and effort finding a style and a school that’s right for you.
It’s more important to find the right school and teacher than it is to choose a particular style. Here are some guidelines for evaluating a school:
- The school should let you—in fact, encourage you
to—observe a class.
- The instructors should be unfailingly polite, respectful,
and cheerful to the students.
- Classes should look organized, with instruction appearing
to follow a lesson plan.
- Students should behave respectfully and attentively
at all times, and should continue their respectful behaviour when class
is finished.
- There should never be any roughhousing or dangerous
play, or displays of temper on anyone’s part.
- If there are women in the class, they should be treated
the same as the men, not given constant concessions to their supposed
fragility, yet not brutalized or otherwise singled out.
The key to recognizing a good school is to watch how they treat students without natural athletic ability.
Do instructors focus only on the stars, leaving the strugglers to muddle along as best they can?
Do they point out struggling students for ridicule?
Do they appear irritated at questions or requests for help?
If the answer is YES, All of these are trouble signs.
In the end, the best guide is your gut feeling. And don’t feel like you’re stuck for life with your decision. If it turns out that the school just doesn’t suit you, don’t give up on martial arts entirely. Be patient and persistent, and you will find the right place to train.
Having said all that, it’s probably worthwhile taking a moment to consider the case of children and women in the martial arts.
Children… Are Martial Arts right for your child?
That’s probably a question that every parent asks at one time or another. Here are a couple of things to be considered when trying to answer that question
The martial arts are a great alternative for those children who don’t enjoy team related sports. A martial art provides a way for your little competitor to learn not only the physical skills of athletics but also mental skills such as concentration and memory.
A well-run martial arts school is far safer than nearly any other physical activity your child is likely to be involved in, including sports such as soccer. "Kids are always showing up for class with injuries they've gotten in another sport," says Chris Goedecke, author of "Smart Moves: A Kids' Guide to self-defense" (Simon & Schuster Children's, 1995) and a karate black belt.
A martial art helps to build confidence. Some kids begin martial arts with self-confidence problems, because they are small or fragile or being bullied, and they quickly begin to look and feel more confident. "Martial arts training can also be an introduction to good manners since there is the requirement to observe the respectful ways of dojo etiquette.
According to instructors, another advantage of the martial arts disciplines is that they help to discourage aggressive behavior outside of class. Since children who "bully" others often have self-esteem issues, the self-confidence enhancing aspects of the martial arts may help to discourage bullying behaviour.
There are a number of factors women martial arts practitioners deal with in terms of gender differences. One is that at first, most don't have the upper body strength that many martial arts styles require. That goes away with time and with continued conditioning, but to those new to martial arts, it can be quite embarrassing should you be the only one struggling on push up number two while others are completing their tenth. Again, that's not a problem. With continued training, your strength is built up, and your instructors are always there for you help.
There are those instances too that can occur when you are doing techniques with a male partner and they are "taking it easy" on you. Not only does this not help you in any way, but also it can be somewhat demeaning. Take heart, this happens with “the guys” also, perhaps not as often, but it does happen. This too is overcome with time.
Keep in mind, that if you are working with true martial artists in a well run school, their “taking it easy on you” is a way of showing respect for as a person. Just know that as your partners become aware of your abilities to “handle yourself”; you will be treated just like anyone else.
Also it will help if you watch how the other women in the class are treated. Ask yourself if you would feel comfortable in their situations.
So, now we know a bit more about the world of martial arts. But we still don’t know which form of martial arts would be best for you or little Johnny. Most schools offer a free class. This is a good way to see how a school is run. You can meet other practitioners of that school or parents whose children are enrolled and ask them questions.
As in life, some schools are better than others. Instructors have different styles. Some teach through fear and intimidation, some through motivation and respect.
Avoid schools that try to sell you a belt. Belts in most martial arts start at White belt and progress until Black belt, the highest level. White, Yellow, Orange, Green, Blue, Brown, and Black are common colors of different ranks of progression. Some schools use different colors.
Particularly with respect to children’s programs if a school tries to sell you a program in which a belt is guaranteed as long as you pay a set amount of dollars, then take a step back and be cautious. A belt is earned through work and motivation. Everyone, and this includes children, is different and proceeds at their own pace.
A martial arts school can really only guarantee professional instruction to you or your child. If your child listens, practices and works hard, he or she will excel. But like in public schools, for every “A” student, there are a lot of “B” and “C” students.
Most honest schools will sell you time, such as a one year program. What belt is achieved in that time is determined by hard work and effort. Avoid schools that try to sell you terms longer than a year, especially for a child. The child may not want to continue after a few months. If your child progresses and enjoys his/her lessons this is the best way to gauge a school and its instructors. One-year programs are the longest in which you should enroll your child.
Martial arts are a great way for your child to burn off excess energy, develop discipline and gain confidence. Shop around, take free lessons and ask questions. Choose the school in which you feel the most confidence and to which your child seems to respond the best.
Some schools charge a testing fee. This fee can range from $20 to $300 depending on which belt level you are testing for. These testing fees are charged in addition to monthly fees, so make sure you understand all of the costs you will have to pay at whichever martial arts school you choose. The Canadian Centre for Grappling Arts does not have a testing fee, you pay only a few dollars for your belt – when you earn it.
