Practicing Martial Arts can be one of the most rewarding challenges a person chooses to undertake. As a Martial Arts instructor I have had the pleasure of watching rambunctious children develop into dedicated students, awkward teenagers earn a new sense of self-confidence and adults of all ages achieve fitness and personal goals they thought possible. Martial Arts has made all of these scenarios a reality. Unfortunately, I have also been privy to the numerous horror stories involved in joining a Martial Arts school. With the many benefits available to people of all ages, choosing the Martial Arts school that best meets your individual needs is the most important first step in realizing your goals.

In selecting a school it is first important to assess what you hope to achieve from your Martial Arts training. People join Martial Arts for any number of reasons including self defense, competition, physical fitness, mental conditioning, or simply as a social activity. There is no wrong' reason for deciding to practice Martial Arts but it is important that you are aware of the level of difficulty, physicality and commitment you are willing and able to accept.

Armed with your personal goals it is now possible to select the Martial Art and school best suited to your needs. Using the local phone book or internet it is a good idea to list all the schools with convenient locations to your home or weekly schedule. Accessibility is important, especially in your early days of training, as not wanting to go out of your way to attend class can be an easy excuse when you've had a long day at work. Once you've noted the local schools the next step is to research the different Martial Arts available to you. This task is not as daunting as it may seems as most school have websites detailing their style or a quick call to the school will likely put you in touch with someone who can explain the Martial Art practiced there. From the descriptions you should be able to narrow down your selections to those that best meet your needs.

Upon selecting the schools that most interest you, you can now contact these locations and inquire about how to get started. Most Martial Arts schools offer introductory packages for about $25 and provide you with a uniform, private class and group class. Don't be afraid to try each of the schools. It is okay to let the staff and instructors know that you are trying out several different schools in the area but don't assume that you

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