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How to Choose a Martial Arts School

March 21, 2008

When you’re looking for a good martial arts school, it can be a little overwhelming. For one, there are a ton of martial arts styles to choose from, so if you live in a big city, you may have more choices than you know what to do with.

If you live in a smaller town, you might not have as many choices where style is concerned, but that still doesn’t rule out the fact that you need to try as many schools as possible before you make a final decision where you’ll train.

So, here are some tips to follow on how to shop for a martial arts school:

  1. Start with the end in mind. In other words, decide what your goal is for taking martial arts, so you’ll be able to pick a style and school that offers what you’re looking for. Do you want to get in better shape, to learn self-defense, to compete, or to earn a black belt someday? Do you want to learn how to high-kick and do cool-looking stunts, or to fight like an ultimate fighter? Do you want to learn weapons or to use your hands and feet? Do you want to grapple, to strike, or both? All these things will have a major influence on your decisions as you go about choosing a school. Write them down and keep taking notes as you go through the entire process.
  2. Before you shop, do your research. Browsing through the “Styles” section of this website is a good place to start. And, if you have friends who train, ask them about the styles they practice, and find out what they like and don’t like about their style and school.
  3. Remember, choosing a school is like buying shoes; that is, you never just buy the first pair that looks good. Instead, you try them on first to see if they even fit. Then, you look at a few more pairs to compare all your options. Once you’ve tried several different shoes on for size, you settle on the ones you like best. Same goes for choosing a martial arts school - never choose until you’ve checked out all your options!
  4. Make sure you get a “return policy”. That means if they don’t offer a trial period that allows you to back out of your membership, then go to another school.
  5. Never join a school that pressures you to sign a contract on the first day. If a school uses “hard-sell” tactics, that’s a good indication they are more focused on recruiting new students than taking care of the ones they already have. Try to find a school that allows you plenty of time to decide whether you like what they offer before they ask for a commitment of time and money.
  6. Never join for more than 6 months on your initial membership. Why? Because you might change your mind about what you want after a few months of training, and you need to keep your options open in case that happens. Most schools offer a six-month membership for beginners, and while it may be tempting to sign up for a longer term to get a discount, you’re probably better off paying a little extra at first in case you decide you want to train somewhere else.

So, there you have it - simple guidelines to help you when you’re choosing a martial arts school. Good luck with your search, and happy shopping!

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About the Author: Mike Massie has been teaching the martial arts for over twenty years, and is a well-known and outspoken advocate on the topic of ethical martial arts school management. He resides in Austin, Texas and runs a full-time martial arts studio in nearby Hutto, TX.

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