Canadian Martial Arts Teachers Association
Step 1: Pick a school which has been in operation in the area for at least 5 years. According to official statistics, 75% of all martial arts school shut down their operation within the first two years. Look for instructors and teachers with experience. Be wary of classes run by teenages when there is no other adults present.
Step 2: Find a school that has a formal teaching plan and curriculum! Many martial arts teacher like to wing it! This is not a good idea. Like any school, they need to have a plan about what is going to happen on their training floor.
Step 3: Choose a martial arts school that shares the same values as you. For instance, you want to learn martial arts purely for self defense purposes, or are you interested in Self Esteem and Confidence building. Perhaps physical fitness is important to you. If so, choosing a school which specializes in tournament participation and winning the game might not be the right choice for you. Be wary of MMA clubs. These are fighters looking to make more fighters. This is more like a boxing club than anything else.
Step 4: Ask questions. Most of us make this critical error when enrolling or entering a program; we simply become shy for the moment. Ask all the questions which crop up in your mind to the teacher or instructor before you get admitted. Because you are the only person who really knows what you are looking for, all the questioning should be done by you and you can not delegate this responsibility to anyone else. Take a trip to the Canadian Martial Arts Teacher's Association website for a list of questions to ask.
Step 5: Make sure you try it first. If the school you are checking out does not have a FREE Introductory program move on! Also, if they don't want you watching class is it time to look elsewhere!
As you can see, choosing a good martial arts school for your own needs is not difficult. Spend some time on research and you will be on track to achieving a good martial arts education.
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