A Parent’s Guide to Selecting a Martial Arts School.
As instructors, even before we opened our own school, we have been asked what people should tell their friends or family to look for in a martial arts school.
| WARNING: Not all instructors have earned the belt level that they claim to have. A black belt is no different than a college degree. Ask the instructor to show proof of their belt level (a true rank certificate will be from the martial arts country of origin). Any legitimate black belt instructor will produce their credentials upon request. Some instructors will make up their own art and name themselves 9th or 10th degree black belts without accreditation. Some recreation and after school programs do not check the credentials of instructors so there are also some instructors claiming to be black belts that have never earned a black belt or have paid for online certifications to hold a black belt. These instructors are called pseudo masters (fake belt-ranked masters and instructors) and can do more harm than good by teaching improper technique. Another red flag is an instructor who will not or cannot produce credentials upon request from a national or international governing organization and only boast of their instructor’s accomplishments. Chances are they do not have the experience or hold the rank that they are advertizing. |
The Instruction
The martial arts style is less important than the personality, teaching style and teaching qualifications of the Chief Instructor(s).
• Ask if the Chief Instructors are in the school during all the classes and if they teach most of the classes.
• Are the Chief Instructors old enough to have the experience and maturity to handle difficult situations that might arise?
• Watch a few classes to see if the Chief Instructors seem to genuinely like teaching, know the students’ names, use positive reinforcement, and maintain control of the classes while still keeping it fun.
• The Chief Instructors should be at least 4th degree black belts. Beyond that, teaching style is more important than rank. That being said, many 4th and 5th degree Chief Instructors have better teaching and communication skills than instructors with much lower rank who are considered the “black belt beginners” of martial arts.
• All of the instructors in charge of teaching classes should be at least a black belt and be certified to teach by a national martial arts group. If colored belt students are used, it should be in supporting roles to keep order.
• How important are the Chief Instructor’s competition history and trophies? An instructor’s personal martial arts accomplishments do not give any indication as to his/her teaching ability. It is more important that the instructors be able to communicate well with children and adults, be able to demonstrate proper technique, keep classes fun and interesting, and motivate students through positive teaching methods to develop self-confidence and achieve their goals.
• Check to see if the Chief Instructor is affiliated with a national martial arts organization that provides on-going training and quality control. Without this, the training provided will be outdated and unrecognized by any accredited instructors.
The Classes
• Inquire about the number of classes that you or your child can attend each week. The more options you have, the better. Anything less than two times a week is inadequate. Make sure that the class times are flexible so that if a hectic week forces you to change your schedule, you can still attend class.
• Ask if parents and spectators are allowed to watch classes. A closed-door policy is a red flag that something is wrong with the teaching methods in the school. (It is normal, however, for schools to ask parents not to talk to students during their class, because it can distract the student and result in an injury.)
• Are classes fun or is it the same thing day after day? While repetition is important to master the basics, classes should be an interesting and fun learning experience.
• What activities does the school offer besides classes, belt tests and tournaments to promote a family atmosphere? Look for activities such as lock-ins, parties, picnics, etc.
The School
• Assuming you like the instructors and the program, the more convenient the location, the more likely you are to attend classes regularly and get the most out of the program. If you choose a school all the way across town, even though it may be less expensive, you may also attend less because of traffic and the longer drive time.
• Does the school look bright and smell clean? How often is it cleaned?
The Membership
• Any schools you are considering should ask you to try a free class or two before you sign up for any martial arts program.
• One-year memberships are standard in the martial arts industry among full-time instructors. Many schools also offer an introductory special to allow new students to try classes for one or two months for a fee. When you are ready to sign the one-year membership contract, it is better to have the option to make an annual payment or monthly payments. Also, check to see if they offer a suspension period within the contract if needed.
• Ask how often the students test and how much testing costs. Specifically ask how much it costs to test for black belt (at some schools this could be more than $300.00). Also ask what equipment the students are required to have, when they are required to have it, and how much it costs.
• Make sure that the rates are reasonable, but do not make a decision based solely on price. The cheapest place may not be the best deal (recreation centers and programs without their own facility tend to use instructors without verifying their backgrounds and teaching experience) and the most expensive school may not offer the best program.
• Most importantly, is the black belt certificate accredited (recognized worldwide) or is it a school certificate. Accredited black belt certificates are almost always issued from the martial arts country of origin and will be recognized by all schools within the discipline worldwide(example: Taekwondo masters cannot sign a certificate and have it recognized as a black belt. the Kukkiwon and ITF in Korea are the only issuing authority for black belt certification). Non-accredited school certificates are not recognized by non-affiliated schools (schools not under the same ownership or master instructor) and will not allow a student to keep their black belt. So if they were to move away from the issuing schools, the student would to have to start over at white belt.
Contact Information
The address for Grand Haven is
1045 Columbus Ave.
Grand Haven, MI 49417
The address for Hudsonville is
Grand Haven, MI 49417
The address for Hudsonville is
6581 28th Ave.
Hudsonville, MI 49426
Hudsonville, MI 49426
Phone
616-846-1907.
