Choosing a Martial Arts School

Choosing a martial arts school is important to you. Picking the wrong school can put a sudden halt to any enthusiasm you have for learning martial arts. But choosing the right martial arts school can make your journey into martial arts one of the best experiences of your life. At this point, you have several factors to consider. Everything is important because you won't want there to be any detractors prohibiting you from learning and getting the most from your training, AND from your money. Why are you considering starting martial arts? There are many reasons. From personal experience, I've found the top reasons for starting martial arts are: success * Physical Fitness * Self-Defense * Psychological Benefits * Interest in martial arts culture * Sport competition * Recent martial arts popularity It is very important to set your training goals so that your experience is beneficial for you. Not to mention, that reaching your goals in martial arts is an overwhelming feeling. I only wish that everyone in the world could experience this satisfaction.

The ever-important location factor. Just as location is important to successful businesses, so is the proximity of the studio to the successful martial arts student. Think about it, the farther the studio is from where you live, the harder it will be to attend when: * You are running late * You're tired * Car trouble Also keep in mind the added price of traveling to the martial arts school you choose. This is especially true in today's day and age of high gas prices. Location can be an easy excuse to skip class, try your best not to let this happen to you. If you are enrolling your children into martial arts, you need to consider the location for them as well. Will they be going to practice on their own? How will they get there. If you are taking them, will you have enough time to pick them up and drop them off and not be late?

One very important aspect you should consider when choosing a school is the schedule of classes taught. Many martial arts studios are now teaching more than one martial art, or some other type of mixed curriculum. Also, the instructor's schedules will vary depending on the school and certain schedules won't coincide with yours. The best practice is to find a school that offers classes 5-6 days a week at varying times. It is also more beneficial for the students if there is a separation between the children's classes and the adult classes. Be absolutely sure there are available classes that fit into your schedule.

One other aspect that most students fail to consider is the value of the available classes compared to tuition paid. Studio A offers: 5 classes a week (20 per month) for $150.00 a month. That's approximately $7.00 a class if you went each and every time. Studio B offers: 3 classes a week (12 per month) for $175.00 a month. That's almost $15.00 a class. Obviously, studio A is the better value for money paid. This is actually a case study between two schools that were compared in an actual martial artist student's decision between schools. Both schools offered similar styles and atmosphere. One studio simply offered more classes at a better price. This is definately something you should consdier when making your decision. Prices will vary widely between different martial arts schools.

Typically, martial arts studios base their pricing on the following factors: * Area and demographics. * Class schedule/amount of classes that are offered and available to the student. * Instructor credibility. * Length of classes. Of course there are more factors that are considered when instructors prepare price lists. You will have to shop around and compare prices for yourself and make your own decision. As a rough estimate, socal martial arts schools charge about 150.00 a month--more or less. If you are involving your family, ask for a family discount. Haggle a bit if you can also. Remember, your not buying a television from Sears. The price is not always firm. Look for options in pricing. Is a flat rate charged? Ask if you can pay less if you only plan on attending 1-2 days a week. Many will already have options like this, while some schools simply charge a flat rate. First of all, many martial arts schools will be named after or be affilitated with popular, well-known martial artist. However, that actual classes are often taught by someone else. This falicy of advertising isn't always detrimental to the quality of instruction. Often, the instructor heading the school is very qualified and has been given the "blessing" of the more popular instructor. But it is still something you should be wary of.

Hope this helps you find a Martial Arts School.