Table of Contents

1. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE JOINING A MARTIAL ARTS SCHOOL
2. TRAINING IN THE MARTIAL ARTS

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE JOINING A MARTIAL ARTS SCHOOL

There are several aspects to consider when choosing a martial arts training school. Taking the time to find the right school in which to invest your time, energy and money is worth the search. Certainly, an awareness of the multitude of choices among the various martial arts styles and martial arts schools may appear confusing to the prospective student, but with the following guidelines, the task may be made easier.

• Determine if the instructor has certified credentials and by whom he or she is certified. The only national governing body for the sport of TaeKwonDo in the United States recognized by the World TaeKwonDo Federation and the United States Olympic Committee is the United States TaeKwonDo Union. Any instructor worth training under would be proud to show you their certifications obtained from this reputable organization. Unfortunately, there are many "organizations" "federations" "associations" and the like, which have no authority nor national recognition and yet ""certify" instructors. Be careful.
  
  
• Find a proficient and knowledgeable instructor with experience and compassion whose goals correspond with your own. A good instructor emphasizes both physical and mental health, social responsibility, respect for duly constituted authority and law, a love for all learning, and protection of the weak. He or she will help you to develop prudence, to recognize potentially threatening and dangerous situations, avoiding them if possible, and if necessary, defending yourself with courage and confidence. He or she will teach you how the study of the martial arts instills self control, self-respect and self-confidence which helps you in every other aspect of your life.
  
  
• While some schools stress solely the fighting and self-defense aspects of the martial arts, others teach these aspects as a part of a greater whole. Determine which you would prefer. Some place equal emphasis on exercise, stress reduction, physical fitness, enhanced coordination, sequencing skills, development of or improvement in a positive self-image and even just plain fun. These are just a few aspects of the arts. Regardless of the area of emphasis, your instructor should provide an environment which motivates you and makes you feel comfortable; not threatened.
  
  
• The instructors should be able to distinguish between exertion, which builds up endurance, and exhaustion, which leads to immediate and long-term trauma and injury. The goal of most instructors is to promote the well-being of their students through instruction in Martial Arts, allowing the students to realize their fullest potential, not only in the martial arts, but more importantly in life. Unfortunately, not all instructors are created equal. Yet genuine, qualified, loving teachers do exist; you just need to take the time to search for them. Finding one makes the effort worthwhile. Once you have found a good instructor, determine if he or she is actually the one who will be teaching your classes.
  
  
• The appearance of the facility should not necessarily alter your opinion of the instruction that takes place inside. Some of the best instruction can be at a "hole-in-the-wall" type place. Conversely, just because a facility looks like a modern health club, it does not necessarily indicate better instruction or more proficient techniques. The aesthetics of the school should not be of primary consideration, although the it should be clean, have ample room for training and be located in a neighborhood in which you feel comfortable traveling.
  
  
• Ensure that the schedule allows for flexibility in meeting times, find out the number of classes allowed for training per week, and that those times fit within your personal schedule. Is the school open during the many American holiday? Visit several schools and talk with the instructors before making any decisions to join. Many schools require long term contracts requiring payment whether you are training there still or not. Others offer month-by-month training.  Decide what works best for you.
  
  
• Lastly, what is the tuition for training? Paying for instruction is not like buying a car. A car remains the same car wherever you buy it and your job is just to try and get the best price. Proficiency, accuracy and depth of knowledge in instruction, however, varies widely. Be cautious, high tuition cost is not necessarily compensatory with the quality of instruction.

Training in the Martial Arts is one of the greatest adventures one could imagine. Hopefully, with these few tips you can ensure your training gets off to a good start.

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Copyright © 2005  [Han Guek Kwan LLC]. All rights reserved.
Revised: 04/14/08.