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| Japanese calligraphy for "Karate-Do" |
Obviously I co-own a karate school and therefore the tips or suggestions I will name are things that we practice in our training and employ in running our business. However my intention is not to get you to join our school. Many of you reading this article are not even located in the NYC area and will likely never train with us. I am also writing the article from the perspective of someone with little to no previous experience in martial arts training, and will make it more of a beginners overview.
The video above is a series of video episodes on YouTube entitled "Enter the Dojo" and is like the dojo version of the TV series "The Office". The video is obviously made for entertainment but serves as a good basis for what to avoid in choosing a school. Thanks to one of my favorite websites 24 Fighting Chickens for directing me to this funny yet useful video.
By way of background I have trained in the martial arts (mostly shotokan karate) for over 25 years on and off. The first karate school I trained at was unfortunately very similar to the video above. Looking back there were warning signs when I first went into the school with my father but we didn't know what we didn't know and the internet was certainly not around back then. Warning signs included not being able to observe a class or having trial classes, not being able to even see the dojo floor from his office, high pressure sales techniques, contracts, a personally developed martial arts style by the self proclaimed "master", black gi's with many patches, having to volunteer my time every Saturday to go door to door handing out flyers for 2 hours for the "privilege" of being on a "tournament team" and a general unhealthy cult-like paranoia the "master" exhibited towards everyone including his students. "Deadly" combat secrets would only be shared when the student was ready and that every other martial arts school in the city was out to get him. I could go on but I think you get the picture.
Like every experience in life however, there is always something to be learned. I did learn how to survive in a pretty difficult environment and learned how to fight as if your life depended on it. I also learned about myself and what I wanted from my training. I knew I really enjoyed the martial arts but knew I wanted where my training would help me both as a martial artist and as a person. I wanted to be part of a larger tradition or a code that was being passed on from generation to generation. I also wanted hard physical training with practical self-defense benefits and to learn to be become a better fighter.
So I literally became an open book, opened the Yellow Pages and visited almost every martial arts school at that time in Toronto. I spoke to all the head instructors. I sat and observed classes. I experimented with a few martial arts styles including Tae Kwon Do and Wing Chun until I finally found the school and style was looking for which was Shotokan Karate under the teaching of Kancho Okuyama (IKA). Since that time I have moved and went through a similar scaled down exercise in Vancouver where I landed with a school that was affiliated with the JKA and I did the same when I moved to New York and eventually wound Way of Life Shotokan Karate. I am not recommending that every one go to the degree that I went to, and I had the benefit of knowing exactly what I was looking for through experience. My point is to know what your goals are, do your homework and don't just join the first school you see or join.
Let's discuss some of the factors you should consider when choosing a karate school from my personal experience:
• Martial Arts Styles- If anyone tells you one martial arts style is better than another they are either ignorant or dishonest. There is no such thing as a "superior" style. Each have their own origins, training methods and points of emphasis. Any style can be effective whatever your goals may be for training. As I mentioned earlier I have trained in several styles and can appreciate their strengths and weaknesses. I found Shotokan to be a good fit for my body type and to me it represented a balanced approach in terms of using both punching and kicking. I enjoy all styles especially when they are performed at a high level. All practioners can incorporate certain techniques from another style into their training and I would contend it makes you a better martial artist. No style is perfect. Be careful of schools or instructors who make claims their style is better or more effective than other styles.
• Quality of Instruction- This is obviously the most important factor yet difficult to ascertain if you do not know what to look for. I will break this into 2 parts: technical and instructional.
From a technical perspective, some people would say to look for the instructor's lineage- who did they train with and/or learn from. Others would say to look for technical standards and would guide you to larger associations that regulate curriculum and testing for belt levels. Others will tell you to not look at either of those factors, and look at how tough the instructor is- or to put it another way- would I want to be with or against the instructor in a real fight? In my opinion they all contain a degree of truth while at the same time remain incomplete. Lineage to me is the least important. Just because someone trained with a "master" does not autocratically earn them the same respect, nor does it mean they are as knowledgeable. And just because someone trained under an Asian master does not mean they are better than someone who trained under someone who was not Asian. Lineage does however tell you about what they likely emphasize in their training techniques and how they approach the martial arts. Associations from my experience have good and bad points. They are good at standardizing competence for belt ranking and for consistency in developing and adhering to a training syllabus. They can also provide opportunities for additional learning from seminars and cross school training sessions. Lastly they provide "portability" with your ranking should you move or change schools with one big caveat- so long as you stay within that association and therein lies some of the cons. Associations tend to be political in nature and we all know what happens in politics- power struggles, egos, agendas, favoritism and/or "in-fighting". In fact, that is why there are so many different associations, one beaks away from the other and starts their own association because they are dissatisfied with the previous one. Some associations are more open and recognize rankings from other associations while others do not. Associations also require additional fees that are paid back to the association so if you join a school that is part of one, be clear as to what these additional fees are and what to gain from them as a student. We are not part of any larger association at this time but does not mean we would not join one in the future- if- there is real value to our students and how open they are to our way of training. Finally just because an instructor is a good fighter does not make them a good teacher. Wayne Gretsky, Michael Jordan, Cal Ripken Joe Montana were some of the greatest players in their sport at that time (maybe ever)- but that hardly makes them a great coach. In fact, some of the greatest coaches were never the best athletes in their sport like Vince Lombardi. I have seen guys who were strong fighters, could beat almost anyone in a fight, but were either not interested nor capable of teaching others to attain their level of competence. In reality all 3 are important to a certain degree but equally as important is the instructional component. Also, how could someone new to the martial arts really ever be able to ascertain how good an instructor is from a technical perspective if they have never trained before? This is different once you have experience and know what to look for.
From an instructional perspective a new student has a much better chance of sizing up the quality of instruction. Think about the qualities some of the best teachers/coaches you experienced were and look for them when evaluating schools. For children, does the instructor make the classes fun and provide enough variety for the kids while still embracing rigor and discipline in their teaching methods? Does the instructor use more positive or negative reinforcement techniques? Does the instructor actually teach the kids martial arts or is the class more like a "play-gym" experience? Does the instructor ensure the safety of all students while training? How often to they make time for individual instruction in the class vs. the "sink or swim" or "one size fits all" mentality? For adults many of the items above apply as well. Other things to look for it the ability of the instructor to explain the "why's" behind techniques, allowing the adult students to ask questions during class and allowing the opportunity of applying their existing martial arts knowledge. Adults learn by "doing" and self-discovery by applying concepts to real life experiences (in most cases what they have learned by trial and error in the dojo). Most of all, can the instructor relate to each person, know their strengths and weaknesses and know how to best motivate the student on an individual basis? A good instructor certainly has to be very knowledgeable of what they are teaching, but should not have "all the answers" or "the only answer". The more you train the more you discover there are many ways to defend yourself in a given situation and many applications of martial arts movements in kihon, kata and kumite. That is the fun of learning the martial arts- you never stop learning no matter what belt color you are wearing. Be careful of instructors who have a "know it all" attitude because if they have stopped learning, your learning will only go as far as their self-imposed limitation.
• Class Sizes- Class sizes are related to quality of instruction. In theory, the smaller the class size the more individual attention (and quality of instruction) the student will receive. Generally this is true, especially for beginners, however I have experienced great instructors with large class sizes. Again it goes back to the quality of instruction. Do not limit your selection of a school from this criteria alone.
• Class Age Groups- Also related to quality of instruction. Adults and kids should be separated as they have different learning styles and needs. Safety reasons are also a consideration. As a parent would you want your kids training with adults? As an adult, do you want to be "king of the dojo" like Kramer was on a Seinfeld episode where he trained only with kids and kept beating them in sparring? The only exception would be for specially designed family classes.
• Class Schedules & Location- Like class sizes, do not limit your selection of a school from this criteria alone. It makes sense that there is no point in signing up for classes if you are not able to attend regularly. The schedule and location have to be convenient and fit your needs. However I have driven many miles out of my way to attend classes with a quality instructor where I could have just gone somewhere closer to home or in a time slot I preferred. One more point on schedules that relates to pricing. Please ensure you know what you are getting for what you are paying in terms of the frequency of classes you are able to attend. Some schools price their classes at a lower price point but restrict the number of classes you can actually attend each week. What may look cheaper on the surface may actually cost you more if you add it up on a per class basis. We do not do this as I will explain in the next point. We encourage our students to attend as much as possible.
• Pricing and Contracts- One of my favorite topics. To be blunt, there is a lot abuse still being employed out there and it must stop. If any school asks you to sign a contract walk away. If any school asks you to sign up on a "2 year black belt membership" walk away. These practices are dishonest and take advantage of new students. As interested and enthusiastic as you may be to join, how do you know what your life circumstances will be longer term? What if you move, change jobs or become ill? How do you know you will actually still enjoy martial arts training in 12 months or your child will still enjoy it? Once they have your money you will not see it again. Even worse in my opinion is the "black belt program" membership. Some new students and parents ask when joining "how long will it take for me to get my black belt". The only truthful answer is that it takes a long time, I can't say how long for sure or if you will ever attain a black belt, and it really depends on you. How frequently you attend classes. How diligent you are practicing at home. Your current level of physical ability. Your level ability to learn and apply the learning. How much you want it and what you are willing to do to dedicate yourself to attaining it. How you conduct yourself and embody the values and spirit of a true black belt. Like the old saying goes, "anything in life worth having is worth working for". Schools that take your money and falsely promise that you will have a black belt in a pre-determined time should be avoided at all costs. A black belt is earned not bought. Save the time and money just buy a black belt on Amazon. It is worth just as much and costs a lot less.
Our pricing structure is simple. Monthly, 3 month and 6 month rates with 3 and 6 month packages discounted. We can not in good faith offer anything longer than 6 months. No contracts, no annual membership fees, no hidden fees and certainly no black-belt or other programs. We offer unlimited classes that you can attend in your age/level group. We also offer a free week trial with no obligation or 50% off your first month + a free uniform if you sign up on your first day.
• Ranking and Testing- This is another way karate schools generate revenue and therefore is related to pricing. Belt tests are accompanied with a price. The more belts (or levels within a belt level e.g. white belt, white belt first stripe, white belt 2nd stripe etc.) the more the school will generate. While I believe charging for belt tests is fair (e.g. academic testing almost always accompanies a fee outside the dojo), the practice of testing for stripe levels and even stripe levels themselves should be stopped in my opinion. There is hardly a distinguishable difference between a white belt and a white belt with 2 stripes in terms of level of skill. The only difference is that you paid a lot more for the piece of tape that is on your belt than what it is worth. For that matter the more belts there are in a school the more watered down the noticeable difference is between levels. In the old days there were generally only 2 belt levels, white and black. At the turn of the century the founder of Shotokan Karate (Gichin Funakoshi) adopted the Judo colored belt ranking system to reward progress and motivate students. To this end the ranking system is effective. However rankings should be relatively flat. The only time we award stripe levels is when a student failed a test and we want to demonstrate we recognize their progress (mainly for kids), but we do not charge for the stripe nor do we charge if a student fails the test.
• Facilities- In short it matters but it does not matter. I have trained in dingy studios, school gyms on one end of the spectrum to fancy and ornate dojos on the other. Quality of instruction to me was always the most important. That being said the condition of the space (fancy or not) in terms of cleanliness and general upkeep is a factor to consider as it speaks to both how the school is run as well as for safety concerns (you certainly do not want splinters in your feet) . It does not have to be fancy with the snack bar, retail store to purchase items, luxurious change facilities, Asian music playing in the background, matted or hardwood floors and/or lots of training equipment. From my experience, these tend to be "McDojos" as I will explain next, but is not always the case.
• Avoid The "McDojo" or "Belt Factory"- Everything I have outlined above in terms of what to avoid regarding pricing, contracts, ranking, testing and even facilities embody the "McDojo" or "Belt Factory". They are in business primarily for generating money through false promises and dishonest pricing strategies accompanied by poor quality of instruction. For example, I know of one local school that will not freely provide pricing to prospective students. Rather they want you to book an appointment to meet with them to build an "individual pricing plan". If your gut tells you this seems fishy... you are usually right.
• Avoid the "Cult-Like" Dojo- On the other end of the spectrum from the McDojo yet also makes false promises . These schools almost have a cult-like attitude towards their Sensei that he or she enjoys and creates. They can do no wrong. They are perfect and project an attitude on invincibility. They make false claims like the "no touch knock-outs" or "kill face" or (see videos below) and expect their students to make great irrational leaps of faith about the claims they make. I am not saying that energy is impossible to harness and use in the martial arts. Energy is something you most certainly can generate internally and can harness with repeated practice..... the universe is made up of energy.....but it manifests though kinetics and proper body alignment e.g. learning how to generate more power/energy from a punch using your hips. I have never experienced anyone who can knock some out with even touching them nor do I believe it is possible. It gives the martial arts a bad name in my opinion. Another characteristic of the cult-like dojo is in the students themselves. I have seen people take an unhealthy view of training where is consumes them and becomes their entire life. As much as I love the martial arts, there is more to life than perfecting a punch or kick. Sometimes these students want to form groups outside the dojo for additional training or even social purposes. As much as I love training with my dojo counterparts, I do not need to hang out with them 24x7. Balance like everything in life is the key to health and happiness.
I hope the sharing of some of my personal experiences will help you in selecting a martial arts school. More than anything, be clear what you want from your training, do your homework and please do not pick a school on the sole basis that it is closest to home or has nice facilities. There is no right or wrong goal to train, whether it be for exercise, learning a new skill, self-defense, camaraderie and/or tapping into ancient traditions. Have a clear goal and do not be afraid to experiment until you find what you are looking for. Like many things in life, you may find your goals and needs change over time and the reason you join is not the reason you continue.
Since 1988, Way Of Life Shotokan Karate has been committed to teaching traditional karate and values for a modern world. Under the leadership of Norman Smith Sensei, Way Of Life Shotokan Karate instructs hundreds of students at our various locations from beginner to advanced levels of all ages that come from across the New York City metro area. Our unique way of combining martial arts training, etiquette and philosophy with the modern concepts of fitness, self-defense and competition is unparalleled. We ensure your training is vigorous, while maintaining a safe and fun learning environment that encourages students to reach their fullest potential.
Way Of Life Shotokan Karate Do martial arts school is now offically open at 501 East Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck NY, 10543 serving the local Westchester County communities of New Rochelle, Larchmont, Mamaroneck, Harrison, Rye, Port Chester, Mount Vernon, Scarsdale, White Plains and Yonkers as well as the Bronx and NYC metro area.
