Frequently Asked Questions

What can happen if I choose a bad karate school?

How do I avoid getting taken advantage of?

Are all karate schools the same?

Will martial arts teach my child to be aggressive?

Does it take a lot of time to study martial arts?

Should the instructor be a "World Champion"?

What are some "secrets" most martial arts schools don't want me to know?

What mistakes can I avoid when choosing a karate school?

Why should my child study martial arts?

What can happen if I choose a bad karate school?
There are several problems that can occur:

1) Wasted Money - All too enough, parents run down to the closest school - or worse - look for the cheapest school, and enroll their child, only to find that weeks later their child doesn’t want to go any more. Now, they have wasted their money on a program that did not meet their needs or expectations.

2) Trying New Things – As a parent, you know how difficult it can be to introduce something new to your child. Once they have had a negative experience with anything, it is twice as difficult to get them to try it a second time. If a child does not like their martial arts program, they believe ALL programs are the same, so they will not want to try any other activities.

3) “Life Skills” Education - By not getting your child into a quality martial arts school, they are going to miss the opportunity at “Life Skills” training that is not given any place else – Listening, Goal Setting, Time Management, Leadership and Public Speaking. Imagine your child is at a job interview and it is down to two people – your child and one other candidate. Both have equal schooling and skills, but your child brings up they have skills in Leadership, Time Management, Public Speaking, Commitment and Goal Setting. Who do you think the boss will want to hire?

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How do I avoid getting taken advantage of?
1) Promises of What You Want to Hear – Not all martial arts schools are created equal! Do your research. There are a variety of teaching methods and styles. Call all of the schools in your area and more importantly, visit them! Schools have been known to make all kinds of promises over the phone. By visiting the school, you can truly SEE what their program teaches and if they are going to be able to benefit your child.

2) Don’t Sign a 24 Month or Longer Contract – Just about every school will offer an Introductory Membership. This can range from 1 free class to a discounted 1 month program. The bigger question is “What happens next?” A non-professional school will want you to sign a 2 year, or even longer contract, right away. The reason behind this is due to the fact that your child will not want to come back after a month or two of classes, but you end up paying the school for years. A school that offers month to month agreements is just as bad. The trouble with month to month agreements is two fold. First, the school can raise its rates ANY TIME it wants to. So you could sign up for a low rate, but within six months, that rate could be doubled. Second, if there are not enough students paying for the month the school will not be around for long. A professional school will generally offer a standard 12 month program for new members. This locks in your rate for 12 months so it cannot be changed.

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Are all karate schools the same?
No! This could not be any further from the truth. Each school is going to be set up and run in its own fashion. There is no standardization from one school to the next. Don’t settle when it comes to your child’s education. Make sure you find the school that best suits your needs.

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Will martial arts teach my child to be aggressive?
Martial Arts doesn’t teach children to be aggressive – Television does! Children watch TV shows and watch cartoon characters or super heroes punch and kick the “bad guys” and destroy them. It isn’t any wonder that these same children then go to school and use similar techniques on another child that has been mean to them. Quality schools will teach children several Conflict Resolution techniques so that they don’t have to punch or kick another child.

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Does it take a lot of time to study martial arts?
Basic Martial Arts classes meet twice a week on average. Classes should range between 30 to 45 minutes. Anything longer, child psychologists agree isn’t beneficial. The class tends to become boring and drawn out. In a quality martial arts school, a student should be able to reach Black Belt in 3 to 4 years training two days a week.

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Should the instructor be a "World Champion"?
It is next to impossible to look at an ad or talk to a school where the Instructor is NOT a world champion of something. The key to remember is that the rank of the instructor, or the world titles they have won, doesn’t mean that they can teach your child. The analogy I like to use is Mike Tyson. He may be one of the greatest boxers in history – but I would never let him near my children – let alone teach them boxing.

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What are some "secrets" most martial arts schools don't want me to know?
1) Most schools don’t have a teaching background – For all too long the standard for teaching has been the highest rank belt would teach the class. There are hundreds of instructors teaching a class simply because they were the highest belt rank available. Some have gone through a very short seminar on teaching and then are left to fend for themselves. Make sure your instructor is not only training, but continuing his or her teaching education as well.

2) Instructors that have not earned a rank – With no standardization in martial arts, there are schools that take advantage of that fact. A person with little, or no martial arts training, can open a school and call themselves a “Grandmaster” and be elevated to 8th Degree Black Belt. Can you imagine if your elementary school teacher didn’t have to get a degree and just one day decided to become a teacher. They walk down to the local elementary school and sign up to be a teacher. How effective would they be? I certainly would not bet my child’s future on them.

3) 5 schools close and 5 new schools open every month – Too many people have the belief that because they have earned a Black Belt, that they now can open a school and teach martial arts. My analogy for that is just because you graduate from high school, doesn’t make you a high school teacher!

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What mistakes can I avoid when choosing a karate school?
1) Shopping strictly on price alone – If a school is charging $40 per month there is reason. Professional schools will charge between $129 and $199 a month. If you are not interested in “Life Skills” education, the $40 to $80 a month school or program will be all right. But, if you want a better education, you will want to find a higher quality school. Also, just because a school is the most expensive doesn’t mean it is the best. Shop by the value you are getting from the school, not just the cost of the program.

2) Choosing a school simply because it is the closest to your home – This is one of the worst reasons to select the school that is going to educate your child. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking just because the school is close, you won’t have any trouble making classes. If your child is not having fun, it doesn’t matter if the school is across the street, or a couple of miles away.

3) Choosing a school that doesn’t have a “family atmosphere” – It is easy to tell what type of clientele a school caters to simply by watching classes. If the school is full of adult males in their early twenties, the school is probably pretty militaristic and hardcore. This would not make for a good match for a young child. Look to see if multiple family members train. Are there programs and classes for everyone interested? A professional school will be able to offer a variety of programs under one roof for the entire family to enjoy.

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Why should my child study martial arts?
Martial Arts offers a variety of benefits to children of all ages - Increased Focus and Concentration, Better Grades, Goal Setting, Teamwork, and Self-Confidence just to name a few. No other activity teaches both mental and physical benefits to the extent of Martial Arts. Martial Arts is also the perfect compliment to any other sport or activity – better eye-hand coordination, stronger legs, better balance, and better cardiovascular ability.

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