| A lot of people nowadays are getting into the | | | | industry that defines what standards a good |
| martial arts and choosing a school without | | | | school should uphold. Also there are a wide |
| even knowing which style of martial arts the | | | | range of martial artists who are full-time |
| school teaches. Some schools are not totally | | | | commercial school owners and some who are |
| clear on what their style is as many are | | | | part-time hobbyists. |
| practicing and teaching a hybrid mix of | | | | |
| multiple arts. Is this a problem? Should you | | | | Most people's perception is that the more |
| know which style you practice? Are clearly | | | | expensive the school the better the martial |
| lineated styles even important? The easy | | | | art. Sometimes this is true but sometimes the |
| answer to all of these questions is yes and | | | | local community center has a great martial |
| no. Unfortunately there are hidden costs | | | | artist offering a great service. Expensive |
| involved in choosing the wrong style of | | | | schools usually offer excellent training |
| martial arts. | | | | facilities and great customer service |
| | | | together with well-structured programs. |
| Here's why: | | | | |
| | | | Cheaper schools or classes generally offer |
| · Choosing a style based on popularity | | | | lesser facilities and sometimes inferior |
| rather than something that fits your personal | | | | instruction, but very often there are some |
| strengths | | | | hidden gems to be discovered. Don't overlook |
| | | | these people just because of price. |
| Just because a style is the most popular | | | | Conversely don't overlook the big schools |
| thing going doesn't mean that it is right for | | | | because they are "too expensive". Make your |
| you. Taekwondo has held the interest of many | | | | decision based on quality and not price. |
| a young person due to its dynamic and | | | | |
| spectacular kicks. If you are athletic and | | | | · Opening the Yellow Pages and |
| flexible then this might be the art for you | | | | choosing a karate school just because the ad |
| but if you have bad knees and worse | | | | looked good |
| hamstrings, then think twice. | | | | |
| | | | Looks can be deceiving and just because an ad |
| Not too long ago, Tae Bo was the big thing. | | | | in the Yellow Pages looks good doesn't mean |
| At first glance some people thought this was | | | | that the karate school is the right one for |
| a martial art, especially as the founder | | | | you. It just means that they are better at |
| Billy Blanks was a former karate champion. | | | | marketing and design than some of the other |
| However, some of them were disappointed to | | | | schools listed in the same pages. Check into |
| find out that Tae Bo was a new style aerobic | | | | a few of the schools by calling them and |
| workout using martial arts techniques that | | | | visiting them and then make your decision. It |
| has little to no self-defense value. | | | | might end up that you still go to the school |
| | | | with the cool ad and that's fine, but at |
| More recently Mixed Martial Arts has become | | | | least you looked around a little first. |
| hugely popular and the Ultimate Fighting | | | | |
| Championship (UFC) is attracting record | | | | So what is the moral of the story? Do your |
| numbers on its Pay-Per-View events. | | | | research first, before you begin your martial |
| Consequently, many young people are hoping to | | | | arts practice! A little extra time spent up |
| ride the next wave of popular martial arts. | | | | front will more than likely pay dividends |
| However if you want to keep your good looks, | | | | later. The martial arts often turns into a |
| straight nose and nicely-shaped ears you | | | | lifetime endeavor. You probably won't be too |
| might want to reconsider. | | | | happy if you spend some significant time |
| | | | practicing a certain style of martial arts |
| The bottom line is that you should try to | | | | only to find out that there is nowhere else |
| find a martial art that matches your | | | | to go unless you change your style. |
| strengths and not your weaknesses. | | | | |
| | | | I speak from personal experience here so |
| · Picking a martial art that has | | | | please listen to what I'm saying. I spent the |
| conflicting values with your core beliefs | | | | first ten years of my martial arts practice |
| | | | studying a style of karate that had been |
| The majority of martial arts have a certain | | | | invented by my instructor. I was lucky |
| amount of traditional "baggage" that comes | | | | because this particular instructor was |
| with them. This "baggage" can sometimes | | | | actually very good at the martial arts and |
| include some rather esoteric practices and | | | | had developed his style based on what he felt |
| mystical thinking that you may or may not be | | | | was the best from some of the mainstream |
| comfortable with. Most people are able to | | | | karate styles. |
| accept these practices at face value and in | | | | |
| many cases the various martial arts schools | | | | Consequently, when he decided to end his |
| water down some of the stranger customs and | | | | study of the martial arts due to family |
| forms of etiquette in the interest of | | | | commitments, the transition into my current |
| blending in with our popular culture. | | | | style of Shotokan Karate was not too |
| | | | difficult due to the similarities with my |
| Some people however feel that their own | | | | first style of karate. Fortunately I have few |
| personal religious preferences and ideals are | | | | regrets based on the life lessons I received |
| being compromised and therefore can feel more | | | | from my first instructor. Some of you may be |
| than a little uncomfortable. If this | | | | less fortunate and will have to change |
| description fits you then you might want to | | | | altogether. |
| check out your chosen style's practices and | | | | |
| customs before you make your final decision. | | | | For a comprehensive guide on how to choose |
| This factor is usually not an issue but it | | | | the right style and the right school for you |
| doesn't hurt to check out this aspect of your | | | | just download my FREE Report, "Karate for |
| martial art before making a commitment. | | | | Newcomers: How to Find Out Everything You |
| | | | Need to Know to Start Your Karate Practice". |
| · Enrolling in a martial arts school | | | | You will find it at |
| based on price rather than quality | | | | |
| | | | Good luck and best wishes on your journey in |
| This factor can work for you and against you. | | | | karate. |
| There is no regulation in the martial arts | | | | |