As a martial arts school owner who is proud of his school and the way he teaches and runs his school, I would like to add some additional comments to Master Robert's post. I agree with some of what he said, but I also feel a lot of his comments lean toward one particular school or way of training.

> Thinking of taking Martial Arts? Choosing a Martial Arts school can
> be intimidating, but not if you do some research first. Knowing these
> nine questions to ask before you pick any school for yourself or your
> child will ensure a positive experience.

> 1. Do you have belt test fees? And if so, how much are they? If they
> do, make sure you ask what they charge for each belt, so you know
> your true costs.

***Also find out how often you will be taking tests. A $30 test fee may seem like too much if you test every two months, but may not seem like much if you test every 6 months.

> 2. Do they mix adults with kids when training? Most schools consider
> an adult to be 12 or 13. You do not want to pair up with a youth if
> you are an adult. It slows down your training.

***Some schools also understand the benefit of allowing some select younger students the ability to work with and in the adult classes. I have some 12 year olds that are taller than some of my adults. I would pay less attention to the ages that are in the adult classes, and more attention to how the adult classes are managed. I personally like the idea of having my more seasoned young students get the oppurtunity to work their skills against an adult opponent. I feels it can better prepare them. At the same time however, I don't want my adult students bored while working with someone half their size. We use a rotation in class to let everyone work with different size and skilled partners.

> 3. Do they do tournaments? Many places will say yes, but you don't
> have to participate. Well let me tell you, the four weeks before the
> tournament, most schools are so busy getting ready for it, you will
> be a punching bag until the tournament is over.

***This comment is more than a little jaded. I would simply ask how the classes are handled prior to the tournament. I know a lot of instructors that offer special tournament training classes outside of the regular class to solve this problem.

> 4. Do they allow the public to watch the classes? I really dislike
> being watched while I teach or practice. Do you really want to be
> trying to learn an advance move that looks real funny, with people on
> the side lines laughing at you? Most of my students don't, so we do
> NOT allow it, except during the kid's class. All parents are allowed
> to watch their kids if they want to. If the school doesn't allow that
> - watch out.

***Yes, parents should always be allowed to watch their children when they are in class. I also feel that prospective students, spouses, and friends should be allowed to visit from time to time to watch the adult class. How else are they going to decide to try classes themselves? No one should be laughing at you for trying something. If they are, the instructor should ask them to leave. Instructors are always watched. I would be concerned if I had an instructor that was conerned about the public seeing them teach adults. I would wonder if perhaps they were trying to hide or keep people from seeing what they are doing.

> 5. What style do they teach? I am a traditionalist. I like to teach
> and learn only one style. Many incomplete styles have to bring in
> different systems to complete their style. Not a good thing. Imagine
> speaking a quarter English, a quarter French, a quarter Spanish, and
> a quarter Russian. You would never learn to write. Try to stick to a
> complete system that isn't just the flavor of the month.

***The above is an opinion. Many styles have influences from multiple sources. Many other instructors recognize the fact that their are multiple styles out there that compliment each other. A prime example would be if you teach a style of karate that doesn't have any ground techniques in its system. A good instructor will want their students to be well-rounded. Imagine going to school and only learning math. Although you could add and subtract, you wouldn't be able to spell. That is why our education system teaches us a variety of different information.

> 6. What type of screening process do they have? Can just anybody
> train? Remember, you will be learning a martial art, and in the
> course of things, someone will be punching and kicking at you. It's
> nice to know that the instructor screened his students (All my
> students go through an ongoing screening process, starting with the
> very first interview and first lesson).

***SCREENING??? This sounds more like a secret club than a school. Everyone needs to learn to defend themselves. Martial arts schools have also been a place for people to learn not only to improve their defense skills, but also their own being. Yes, some people won't work out, and will quit, but they deserve the right to try the classes and see if they can become a welcome part of the school.

> 7. How often can I come in? I allow my students full access to the
> training hall all day long, five days a week. If you can only come
> down twice a week, that's ok if that works for you. I just know that
> working with adults, their schedule is always changing, so we have to
> change with them. Just be aware of what you can and can't do. If all
> the sudden you cannot make your seven o'clock lesson, do they have
> another time for you?

***Good comment, make sure that your schedule fits the school.

> 8. Who teaches the class? Are they paid instructors or just teenage
> helpers trying to get their next belt? A paid instructor usually
> knows that they are being paid by the student. The unpaid teenager
> often doesn't care if you stay or go, learn or not.

***Paid or not, teenage or adult, look for instructors that actually care about their students. I have worked with and trained under several PAID instructors that were less help than the teenage brown belt that was willing to take the time to show me what I didn't get the first time the instructor showed me. Best advice, speak with all of the instructors and watch them teach before joining.

> 9. Do they have contracts? I love this one. I have done it both ways.
> I have signed contracts and I have not signed them. Let me tell you,
> the person that does not have a contract is no professional. They
> usually are the worst run schools. You must absolutely know up front
> what is expected from you, the student, and what you can expect from
> the school. How many times have you heard "get it in
> writing"? Well do it. The only reason not to sign a contract is
> the length of time you are committing to. Remember, they are
> committing to you as well. Contracts are not one sided. If you are
> not going to be in the area for the term of the contract, don't sign
> it. All my agreements have a clause allowing you out if you get sick
> or move. One last thing, would you buy a house, rent an apartment,
> purchase a car, or sell a house without some sort of contract? I
> think not. So don't fall for "we don't have contracts
> here". A month to month club is just that, a month to month
> club. It takes two to commit. If the school is willing to commit, so
> should the student.

***WHOA!!! Must sign a contract, is a red flag for me. MONTH TO MONTH CLUBS are often more concerned about their students than some BUSINESS that teaches martial arts. If you have signed a year long contract, what it the motivation for the instructor to continue to teach informative, exciting, and useful material. I mean as long as he improves closer to your RENEWAL date, maybe you will forget about the other 10 months of crappy classes. Contracts should only be considered after you have been with a school for enough time to decide you will stay for a long time. I offer month to month and contracts. I let me students choose what works best for them. I am not going to force someone that doesn't want to stay at my school to keep coming to class just because he signed a contract. Which would you rather work with, an eager 12 year old that wants to learn, or an adult that feels he is being ripped off and is only try to get his money's worth out of the class until the contract ends.

> There are many other things to be aware of, but I feel these are the
> most critical.

***10. Check prices. Make sure you are not paying too much for lessons. Some fo the best instructors I have ever trained with were simply people who had a love for martial arts that taught very inexpensive classes at local community centers and recreation departments.

11. Watch several classes before joining. See what you are getting yourself into. If you are nto allowed to watch, then ask yourself what the instructor is trying to hide. They may say that they don't want you watching classes and learning for free, but how much can you really learn just sitting through a few classes? I mean this is an age where you can watch videos online for free if you were nto interested in being actually taught be a real instructor.

12. Talk to other students. Try to speak to them outside of class or away from their instructor. Ask if you could e-mail them with questions or call them to ask them about the class. Studnets who like the class and students who don't like the class will both be willing to talk to you. Choose your own students too, not a spokes person the instructor sent to speak for him / her.

If you have any questions about a school in your area
> or want some advice, feel free to email me at the contact address
> below. I will be happy to help you make the right decision.

***Take into considerationalso finding out from local community members what they think about the schools you are interested in. I bet they will have more insight than someone who doens't live in the area. Perhaps they know the instructor and remember something that happened years ago that someone from outside of the town wouldn't know.

> Master Robert
> http://www.kungfutemple.com

***Just my opinion

Sensei Frank Beall
www.ustaikarate.com