Among the list of questions I get asked most often, in several different variations is about which martial art a person should study. Generally which martial art, and more importantly which school to pick are fundamental decisions someone should make. My answer is often something along the lines of, "choose the school as well as system that you are going to stick to and stay with it for the rest of your life."
The fact is that the answer will probably be different for every person. What I will try to do in this article is give you a collection of general guidelines. I'll talk in very broad terms about different martial arts, and what to check out inside of a school. Ultimately every teacher, at every school, in every system will probably be completely different.
1. Dispelling a standard myth
Just like with religion and politics, lots of people honestly believe that what they do may be the best thing in the world. One only has to produce a cursory study with the psychological principle of cognitive dissonance to see why it is so. So many schools available claim to be teaching, "the ultimate, deadliest, most secret, guarded system of self defense ever invented by the gods of combat." To be quite blunt - they're filled with crap.
In one respect, much of these things may be a marketing stance. Heck, everybody really wants to study the neatest thing in the world. If such a thing existed everybody would study it. Some martial arts schools can become very cult like also, and that is where the cognitive dissonance comes in. The practitioners actually believe their marketing stuff.
The facts is that style isn't likely to fight in your case - you're. Every person is different and there is certainly not one best system for everyone. it could be quite scary for me to face a sumo wrestler in combat, but it would be also silly for me to expect to consider up Sumo and be good at it.
Claims of superior systems that can make you as deadly as being a Navy SEAL in one day also stem from American culture. It's unfortunate that we from the MTV and Internet generation are always looking for a shortcut, a quick fix. It makes many of us miss a lot of very valuable and important stuff.
2. Let's start with you
If I can help answer one or two key questions on yourself plus your interests, you should have done most of the work toward picking out a martial arts school that is best for you personally.
Before everything, what do you intend to get out of martial arts training? Yes, yes, I know you intend to learn self defense - put that relating to the list. But people study martial arts for many reasons. you intend to get some exercise, you would like to meet new people, you would like to get rid of stress, you want a new hobby, and you think the uniforms look cool. Really give it some thought and write down your reasons. Everything is valid and your reasons are your own. Then I would prioritize your reasons - which of them are more important than others. Maybe getting into shape is your main goal - if that's the case, which will help determine a place to study.
3. What style?
Now, let's talk a bit about systems or styles. A system is simply the type of martial art you may be studying like Karate, Kendo, or Kung Fu. The differences between styles may also enable you to to determine where to look.
The leading difference between most martial arts style is focus. Some arts like Tae Kwon do give attention to large kicking movements, while some - like Kendo give attention to a specific weapon. Body type and interest (as we discussed before) might help you're thinking that slightly about style focus. As for instance: I am built like a fireplug - short and wide, am somewhat slow and am very focused on the self defense aspect of training. Ketsugo Jujutsu turned out being the perfect style for me as it focused on unbalancing the opponent, the kicks were low to the ground, plus the fighting in close where we
short guys excel.
Beyond focus is often a scale of formality to informality. To me formality can be a measure of emphasis on things like training etiquette, ceremony, kind of dress, method of addressing seniors etc. Many Japanese and Korean styles are very formal. Over the far end of the informal scale you likely have a cardio kickboxing class at local gym. about the far end from the formal scale you likely have a style like Kendo which places a lot of emphasis on appearance and etiquette.
Neither formal nor informal is better or worse; it really is a matter of preference. I personally enjoy some of the formalities of traditional Japanese martial arts. For me they build character and shape a powerful mentality that carries over into day after day life. For others, the formalities is sometimes difficult to know plus they may need for something less formal.
The following is a list of styles I've arranged from most to least formal. This arrangement is from my very own best knowledge and is neither absolute nor inclusive. Many would rightfully disagree with where I have placed things on the list, but this is meant to be a general guideline.
Again, every single teacher in every different school is gonna be different. This is meant as a kick off point:
-Formal
Kendo / Kumdo
Aikido
Tae Kwon Do
Karate
Jujutsu
Kung Fu
Silat
Ninjutsu
Tai Chi / Bagua / Hsing-yi
Arnis / Kali / Escima
Capoeira
Kickboxing
Boxing
-Informal
While you're on the internet already, it would pay off to do some research. Search for a couple of sites for one or two from the styles I have listed here. Get some general information about focus and formality. See what strikes you as interesting. Make a small list of styles you might be interested in pursuing.
4. Practical Issues
OK, now you've done some soul searching and some research and you have a list of styles you could have an interest in learning. Now we've got to speak a little about lifestyle. If Kendo interests you, but the nearest school is 200 miles away - it may not be a practical choice.
You may certainly look through your phone book to search out schools near you or ask people you know if they know of any schools. A word to the wise: friends will always try to have you to come to their school and may get offended of you don't or should you visit after which don't desire to sign up.
That's definitely something to think about.
Some practical things to consider are school location and proximity to home / work, costs plus your ability to pay dues and other fees, class schedule and the way it fits into your schedule. Other things may also be crucial for you want parking, and facilities - write them down.
You ought to narrow down your potential list of schools determined by your criteria, but you ought to still plan on visiting multiple to give you a way of comparison.
5. Choosing a school
This are an inventory of things I suggest you seek when choosing a school or instructor. To me, these factors are very important than any other of the above factors and could make or break your martial arts experience.
oWhen you call the school, are all your questions answered, and answered honestly? Sometimes someone will answer the phone that may not have the capacity to answer your questions. They should pass you on to someone who can , or have someone call you back.
oEvery school you can get should offer one free trial class prior to a sign up. How else can you establish if you would like to study there? Your best bet is always to test several different schools to present you with some comparison.
oWhen you visit the school, is the practice safe, or are students allowed to train in dangerous ways or without proper supervision?
oIs the school itself hygienic and free from unsafe conditions?
oDo students and teachers show respect toward everyone? This extends beyond formal bowing and address to ensuring everyone seems to be learning and no-one is being abused.
oBe prepared that many schools as of late require a contract like a health club. Be sure to are clear on the terms from the contract in the event you do choose sign one, and don't be afraid to walk out in case you are uncomfortable considering the terms.
oBe very wary of cult-like schools that aim to up-sell you intensified black belt programs as well as the like. While a few of these is possibly legitimate, there's lots of scam artists in black belts out there. you ought to be very clear about what you might be paying for up front.
oDo the teacher and senior students display a lot of skill in the art they are teaching? This may be hard to see since great martial artists are often very subtle. However, the teacher and students should display knowledge, skill, and balance which could be more obvious.
oMost importantly, trust your instincts. If something about the school doesn't sit right with you, then it probably isn't right. Look out for the fast talking salesman who tries to sweep your concerns under the rug.
Keep in mind that choosing the right teacher and the right school is more important than the actual style. If you choose a school that you simply enjoy, study with a coach you like, and train with students that inspire you - you happen to be prone to stick to your martial art. The longer you persevere - the better you'll get. Hopefully you might discover an incredibly positive lifelong journey that will shower hidden benefits on you as my martial art has upon me.
Author Resource:
For more information about how to select your Martial Arts system and how to earn your Martial Arts Phd. Go to www.MartialArtsPhD.com
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