| One of the questions I get asked most | | | | absolute nor inclusive. Many would rightfully |
| frequently, in several different variations is about | | | | disagree with where I have placed things on the |
| which martial art an individual should study. | | | | list, but this is meant to be a general guideline. |
| Generally which martial art, and more importantly | | | | Again, every single teacher in every different |
| which school to choose are fundamental decisions | | | | school is going to be different. This is meant as a |
| someone should make. My answer is usually | | | | starting point: |
| something along the lines of, "choose the school | | | | -Formal |
| and the system that you are going to stick with | | | | - Kendo / Kumdo |
| and stay with it for the rest of your life." | | | | - Aikido |
| The reality is that the answer is going to be | | | | - Tae Kwon Do |
| different for every person. What I will attempt to | | | | - Karate |
| do in this article is give you a set of general | | | | - Jujutsu |
| guidelines. I will talk in very broad terms about | | | | - Kung Fu |
| different martial arts, and what to look for in a | | | | - Silat |
| school. Ultimately every teacher, at every school, | | | | - Ninjutsu |
| in every system is going to be completely | | | | - Tai Chi / Bagua / Hsing-yi |
| different. | | | | - Arnis / Kali / Escima |
| 1. Dispelling a common myth | | | | - Capoeira |
| Just like with religion and politics, many people | | | | - Kickboxing |
| honestly believe that what they do is the best | | | | - Boxing |
| thing in the world. One only has to make a | | | | -Informal |
| cursory study of the psychological principle of | | | | While you're on the web already, it would pay off |
| cognitive dissonance to see why this is so. So | | | | to do some research. Look up a few sites for a |
| many schools out there claim to be teaching, "the | | | | few of the styles I have listed here. Get some |
| ultimate, deadliest, most secret, guarded system | | | | general information about focus and formality. See |
| of self defense ever invented by the gods of | | | | what strikes you as interesting. Make a small list |
| combat." To be quite blunt - they are full of crap. | | | | of styles you might be interested in pursuing. |
| In one respect, much of this stuff is a marketing | | | | 4. Practical Issues |
| stance. Heck, everybody wants to study the best | | | | OK, now you've done some soul searching and |
| thing in the world. If such a thing existed | | | | some research and you have a list of styles you |
| everybody would study it. Some martial arts | | | | might be interested in learning. Now we have to |
| schools can become very cult like as well, and this | | | | talk a little bit about lifestyle. If Kendo interests |
| is where the cognitive dissonance comes in. The | | | | you, but the nearest school is 200 miles away - it |
| practitioners actually believe their marketing stuff. | | | | may not be a practical choice. |
| The truth is that style is not going to fight for | | | | You can certainly look through your yellow pages |
| you - you are. Every person is different and | | | | to find schools close to you or ask people you |
| there is not one best system for everyone. It | | | | know if they know of any schools. A word to the |
| would be quite scary for me to face a sumo | | | | wise: friends will always try to get you to come |
| wrestler in combat, but it would also be silly for | | | | to their school and may get offended of you |
| me to expect to take up Sumo and be good at it. | | | | don't or if you visit and then don't want to sign |
| Claims of superior systems that can make you as | | | | up. That's definitely something to consider. |
| deadly as a Navy SEAL in 24 hours also stem | | | | Some practical things to consider are school |
| from American culture. It is unfortunate that we | | | | location and proximity to home / work, costs and |
| of the MTV and Internet generation are always | | | | your ability to pay dues and other fees, class |
| looking for a shortcut, a quick fix. It makes many | | | | schedule and how it fits into your schedule. Other |
| of us miss a lot of very valuable and important | | | | things may also be important to you like parking, |
| stuff. | | | | and facilities - write them down. |
| 2. Let's start with you | | | | You should narrow down your potential list of |
| If I can help you answer a few key questions | | | | schools based on your criteria, but you should still |
| about yourself and your interests, you will have | | | | plan on visiting more than one to give you a |
| done most of the work toward picking out a | | | | sense of comparison. |
| martial arts school that is best for you. | | | | 5. Choosing a school |
| First and foremost, what do you want to get out | | | | The following are a list of things I suggest you |
| of martial arts training? Yes, yes, I know you | | | | look for when choosing a school or instructor. To |
| want to learn self defense - put that on the list. | | | | me, these factors are more important than any |
| But people study martial arts for a variety of | | | | other of the above factors and can make or |
| reasons. You want to get some exercise, you | | | | break your martial arts experience.oWhen you call |
| want to meet new people, you want to get rid of | | | | the school, are all your questions answered, and |
| stress, you want a new hobby, and you think the | | | | answered honestly? Sometimes someone will |
| uniforms look cool. Really think about it and write | | | | answer the phone that may not be able to |
| down your reasons. Everything is valid and your | | | | answer all your questions. They should pass you |
| reasons are your own. Then I would prioritize | | | | on to someone who can , or have someone call |
| your reasons - which ones are more important | | | | you back.oEvery school out there should offer at |
| than others. Maybe getting into shape is your | | | | least one free trial class before you sign up. How |
| main goal - if so, that may help determine a place | | | | else can you determine if you want to study |
| to study. | | | | there? Your best bet is to try out several |
| 3. What style? | | | | different schools to give you some |
| Now, let's talk a little bit about systems or styles. | | | | comparison.oWhen you visit the school, is the |
| A system is just the type of martial art you will | | | | practice safe, or are students allowed to train in |
| be studying like Karate, Kendo, or Kung Fu. The | | | | dangerous ways or without proper supervision?oIs |
| differences between styles may also help you to | | | | the school itself hygienic and free from unsafe |
| determine where to look. | | | | conditions?oDo students and teachers show |
| The main difference between most martial arts | | | | respect toward everyone? This extends beyond |
| style is focus. Some arts like Tae Kwon do focus | | | | formal bowing and address to making sure |
| on large kicking movements, while others - like | | | | everyone is learning and nobody is being |
| Kendo focus on a particular weapon. Body type | | | | abused.oBe prepared that many schools these |
| and interest (as we discussed before) will help you | | | | days require a contract like a health club. Make |
| think a little about style focus. For example: I am | | | | sure you are clear on the terms of the contract |
| built like a fireplug - short and wide, am somewhat | | | | if you do decide to sign one, and do not be afraid |
| slow and am very interested in the self defense | | | | to walk out if you are uncomfortable with the |
| aspect of training. Ketsugo Jujutsu turned out to | | | | terms.oBe very wary of cult-like schools that try |
| be the best style for me as it focused on | | | | to up-sell you to intensified black belt programs |
| unbalancing the opponent, the kicks were low to | | | | and the like. While some of these may be |
| the ground, and the fighting in close where we | | | | legitimate, there are many scam artists in black |
| short guys excel. | | | | belts out there. You should be very clear about |
| Beyond focus is a scale of formality to informality. | | | | what you are paying for up front.oDo the teacher |
| To me formality is a measure of emphasis on | | | | and senior students display a lot of skill in the art |
| things like training etiquette, ceremony, style of | | | | they are teaching? This may be hard to |
| dress, method of addressing seniors etc. Many | | | | determine since great martial artists are often |
| Japanese and Korean styles are very formal. On | | | | very subtle. However, the teacher and students |
| the far end of the informal scale you might have | | | | should display knowledge, skill, and balance which |
| a cardio kickboxing class at local gym. On the far | | | | might be more obvious.oMost importantly, trust |
| end of the formal scale you might have a style | | | | your instincts. If something about the school |
| like Kendo which places a lot of emphasis on | | | | doesn't sit right with you, then it probably isn't |
| appearance and etiquette. | | | | right. Look out for the fast talking salesman who |
| Neither formal nor informal is better or worse; it | | | | tries to sweep your concerns under the rug. |
| is a matter of preference. I personally enjoy | | | | Remember that choosing the right teacher and |
| some of the formalities of traditional Japanese | | | | the right school is more important than the actual |
| martial arts. For me they build character and | | | | style. If you choose a school that you enjoy, |
| shape a strong state of mind that carries over | | | | study with a teacher you like, and train with |
| into day to day life. For others, the formalities | | | | students that inspire you - you are likely to stick |
| may be difficult to grasp and they may wish for | | | | with your martial art. The longer you stick with it |
| something less formal. | | | | - the better you'll get. Hopefully you will discover a |
| The following is a list of styles I have arranged | | | | very positive lifelong journey that will shower |
| from most to least formal. This arrangement is | | | | hidden benefits on you as my martial art has |
| from my own best knowledge and is neither | | | | upon me. |