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A Parents Guide To Picking A Martial Arts School
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What to look for in a Martial Arts school.
As instructors, even before we opened our own school, we have been asked what people
should tell friends or family in other cities to look for in a martial arts school.
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The Instruction
The martial arts style is less important than the personality, teaching style and
teaching qualifications of the Chief Instructor(s).
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Are the Chief Instructors old enough to have the experience and maturity to handle
difficult situations that might arise.
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Watch a few classes to see if the Chief Instructors seem to genuinely like teaching,
know the students’ names, use positive reinforcement, and maintain control of the
classes while keeping it fun.
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All of the people in charge of teaching classes should be at least a black belt
and have been certified to teach by some national martial arts group. If colored
belt students are used, it should be in supporting roles to keep order.
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How important are the Chief Instructor’s competition history and trophies?
An instructor’s personal martial arts accomplishments do not give any indication
as to his/her teaching ability. It is more important that the instructors be able
to communicate well with children and adults, be able to demonstrate proper technique,
keep classes fun and interesting, and motivate students through positive teaching
methods to develop self-confidence and achieve their goals.
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Check to see if the Chief Instructor is affiliated with a national martial arts
organization that provides on-going training and quality control.
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The Classes
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Inquire about the number of classes that you or your child can attend each week. The
more options you have, the better. Anything less than two times a week is too little.
Make sure that the class times are flexible so that if a hectic week forces you to change your
schedule you can still attend class.
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Ask if parents and spectators are allowed to watch classes. A closed-door policy
is a red flag that something is wrong with the teaching methods in the school. (It
is normal, however, for schools to ask parents to not talk to students during their
class because it can distract the student and result in an injury.)
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Are classes fun or is it the same thing day after day? While repetition is important,
classes should be an interesting, fun learning experience.
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The School
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The most convenient school may not always be the best school for you. Assuming you
like the instructors and the program, you may find that the little extra drive is
well worth the effort. Finding the right school and instructor cn greatly increase your
overall martial arts experience.
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Does the school look bright and smell clean? How often is it cleaned?
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The Membership
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Any schools you are considering should ask you to try a free class or two before
you sign up for any martial arts program.
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It is our policy at David Holler's Taekwondo to offer No contracts it is strictly month to month with no hidden costs.
It is common in our industry to have one, two, and even three year memberships (Contracts). It is also a practice among
some schools to charge large down payments (enrollment fees) in the hundreds a dollars that may tend to reaccure when
you finish one program and enter another phase of training. If you call and inquire about costs and you are unable to
get pricing information that is a red flag. Before your child gets excited you should know how much the training will cost.
Ask about Down Payments(enrollment fees), length and terms of contracts, Bank drafts, monthly fees, are there more down
payments after completing one program to enter another, are there testing fees and make sure to ask about black belt
testing fees these can be in the hundreds of dollars.
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Ask how often the students test and how much testing costs. Specifically ask
how much it costs to test for Black Belt (at some schools this could be hundreds
of dollars). Also ask what equipment the students are required to have, when
they are required to have it, and how much it costs.
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Make sure that the rates are reasonable, but do not make a decision based solely
on price. The cheapest place may not be the best deal and the most expensive
school may not offer the best program.
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