| The majority of the best-known martial art styles | | | | routinely weave tales into their sales spiel. For |
| were invented in the East. For instance, Japan | | | | example, they'd explain that the kung fu skills |
| gave the world aikido, karate, and judo. Korea | | | | classes they teach follow a system that was |
| developed hapkido and taekwondo. For its part, | | | | developed in ancient China by the buddhist priests. |
| China invented kung fu. The history and mystique | | | | Or, they'll promise to educate your youngster |
| that surrounds each of these styles is steeped in | | | | the'ultimate' defense systems that were |
| the culture of those countries. The West's | | | | developed by japanese ronin. |
| contribution has been to transform the karate | | | | Leaving aside the issue of credibility, such stories |
| styles into a for-profit industry. | | | | divert attention from the quality of the coaching. |
| If you're meaning to enroll your child into kung fu | | | | They distract you from making an objective |
| skills classes, it's important to appreciate the way | | | | choice. In short, ignore these stories when |
| in which the industry works. There are many | | | | selecting a studio for your youngster. Actually, |
| superb dojos that offer experienced instructors | | | | avoid the dojos that tell them. |
| who are extremely invested in making sure that | | | | The Self-Defense Model |
| your boy or girl has a good experience. There are | | | | To begin, martial arts classes can give your boy |
| also many instructorss that are way more | | | | or girl valuable skills they can use to defend |
| targeted on your wallet than providing expert | | | | themselves from an attack. However, many |
| instruction. | | | | dojos seem intent on perpetuating the |
| Below, we'll take a tour thru some of the darker | | | | misconception that such training is the same as |
| areas of the self-defense skills industry. The goal | | | | self-defense. The result is that sbeginners by |
| of this article is to inform you so you are going to | | | | mistake believe their coaching carries over |
| be able to choose a top quality dojo for your | | | | seamlessly into 'real world' circumstances. Unless |
| child. | | | | they are prepared to deliver a finishing blow (few |
| The Franchise Model | | | | folks are), such situations usually lead to the child |
| The martial arts industry has attracted a lot of | | | | being wounded. |
| folk who are primarily targeted on business and | | | | Martial arts does not always equal self-defense - |
| profit. Rather than offering superior instruction at | | | | and should not be compared to it without |
| a reasonable price, they water the classes down | | | | instruction on finishing blows. There are many |
| to attract the masses. Then, they charge | | | | other reasons to pursue the training. For instance, |
| exorbitant fees. They'd even guarantee to'fast | | | | you might want to provide your son or girl with a |
| track' your child or daughter to black belt status | | | | conduit for exercise. You may want to give them |
| without regard for their individual development. | | | | the benefit of learning patience and self-discipline. |
| Every instructor needs to get by. That's why | | | | Many mothers and fathers also enroll their |
| they charge for their karate skills classes. The | | | | youngsters into self-defense skills classes so their |
| difficulty is that lots of commercial 'schools' are | | | | children can participate in contests. |
| little more than franchised factories throwing out | | | | Finding the best dojo for your child means doing a |
| high-priced black belts. If you need your child to | | | | little due diligence. Spend the time to speak with |
| target system and style with an eye toward | | | | those who are operating the schools. If you have |
| building a lifelong passion, these sort of faculties | | | | questions, ask. In the final analysis, if you need |
| are inappropriate. | | | | your son or daughter to develop a taste for the |
| The Story Model | | | | coaching, avoid the three commercialized models |
| Many dojo owners are aware that folks are | | | | noted above. |
| attracted to motivating stories. To that end, they | | | | |