by Jon Crosby

Created on: November 25, 2008

With the popularity of mixed martial arts (and the UFC), there seems to be as many marital arts schools now days as there are fast food restaurants. For example, in the town where I live, there are four martial arts schools within one mile of each other. Interestingly, two of the schools offer TaeKwonDo and the other two purport to teach mixed martial arts. While there are no doubt many martial arts schools, the operative questions is, how do you know which of them is "good?" And, we cannot even begin to answer this question until we come up with an acceptible definition for "good," as it relates to a martial arts schools of any type.

For starters, I believe a good martial arts school, at a minimum, provides a curriculum that teaches the knowledge and skills of their particular art without compromise, with a heavy emphasis on safety in practice, and an adherence to traditional customs and courtesies. As an integral part of this, I believe that belt ranks should be achieved the "old fashioned" way - earned.

Unfortunately, for the sake of keeping up enrollments, too many martial arts instructors these days seem to be willing to award advanced belt ranks prematurely, for fear that the student may drop out. In my view, a good martial arts school makes it clear from the onset that failure is an integral part of growth and development. In other words, students should be taught that receiving a "no change" at testing does not indicate failure, rather, that they simply were not ready at that point in time for their next belt level. I have observed that students who received a "no change" appreciate their earned rank that much more once they retest and earn it.

As other writers have emphasized, it is important to find the proper "fit" when considering martial arts instruction. Not everyone is well suited to throwing arts such as Judo, Aikido, or Japanese style Jujutsu. Conversely, some people are equally uncomfortable with stirking arts such as Karate, TaeKwonDo, Tang Soo Do, or weapons arts such as Kendo. A good way to find out what is best for you is to visit several schools, take a free class, or, even better, sign up for a six weeks program to get a real feel for the art. Most importantly, I believe you need to seek out an instructor with whom you have good chemestry, someone who can motivate you to learn, and make you feel good about your progress. While there are many skilled practitioners, not everyone can teach. Keep in mind that it may take time before you are able to realize that you do or do not have good chemestry with the instructor, and whether he or she is the right person to teach you.

The study of martial arts is wonderful exercise and can provide a lifetime of enrichment, both physically and mentally. Perhaps once you have found that good martial arts school, you will be motivated to learn and develop to the point where you will some day open your own school.

Learn more about this author, Jon Crosby.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.