Looking at taking some classes

[McCarley]

I've been looking into taking some martial arts with my wife a couple times a week and have narrowed it down to 4 possiblities:

Muay Thai
Ju-Jitsu
Wado-Ryu
Ninjitsu

I narrowed it down to those four by their location, availability of classes and general interest in what they say on their websites. When I go in to check them out, what sort of things should I be looking for or asking about to know they are offering genuine training?

[Chris Correia]

Even if you aren't interested in very traditional training, I think something you want to find out via a web site or live visit is how are they connected to other schools? Do they certify, under which organization, and what might that mean? (Anyone can print up certificates.)

Granted, a solo instructor who trained somewhere under someone and knows their stuff and can kick ass can be a very good teacher. But, all things being equal, an instructor who is still a student, who falls under someone in a tradition, if not an organization/association, who still regularly studies under someone, offers advantages to the free running Joe/Jane.

Beyond that, it depends on what you want. If you wanted to be a skilled MMA fighter or taekwondo sport sparring competitor then you want to ask about their teaching and training experience, and how their fighters/students/traineee fare in competition.

If you want to focus on overall self development, maybe even get a bit of spiritual grounding, along with the fitness and self defense, then a traditional karate or taekwondo system may be to your liking.

If you have a variety of motivations, then the only real way to figure out what you might want is to visit each school and see if you can imagine yourself in there. Something might connect.

The only caveat to that is that in terms of overall self development, sometimes that best happens under the biggest challenge. So, a woman wants to do Tai Chi because she likes the way it looks and imagines the balance and peacefulness, etc. But she might actually benefit herself a lot more in taekwondo or boxing.

[iamfire]

Good morning,

I started taking Goju-ryu karate with my kids back in May, and lucked out enough to choose one of the best schools I could imagine for both them and me (Amatos Goju-ryu).

As always, I did my research on what to ask and how to evaluate. Here's what I discovered that was important to me and my family:

1.) Patience of the instructors. We were complete novices, but the senseis took time and time and time again to show us the correct way to do the moves. When we improved and asked for more toughness, they willingly obliged.

Thus, I would ask the instructors, what's your mode of teaching? If I want to be treated tougher/softer, will that be honored? (the tougher part turned out to be very important to me, 3 months later.... I love pushing myself now that my confidence is high. And my kids....wow, one of my girls went up to the sensei a few months ago and said, you treat me like a girl, can you be more difficult with me? He was, and she was thrilled).

2.) Experience of the instructors. The senseis are 3rd degree and above - the two main beginner senseis are 5th degree. But experience by itself isn't as useful as experience + teaching ability.

I would ask, how long have your senseis been teaching? From whom did they learn?

3.) Machismo attitude (for lack of a better word). Watch a class or two - is there any 'bully' factor from any of the students? If so, does the sensei put a firm stop to it?

I would ask, how do your senseis stop bullying? Remember, that can occur in adult classes as well.

4.) Payments. Can you take a lesson or two for free to 'try it out'? Are contracts required? If so, is it cheaper to pay by year? Are uniforms included? What about belt promotions, do you pay for that as well? A useful resource I found regarding dojos and contracts is the forum Martial Arts BS, Fraud, Investigations, and Standards.

5.) Levels training. Visit the dojo - do you see only lower and only higher ranked belts, but nobody in between? That would indicate people tend to drop out after the first few belts. If so, I'd wonder, why didn't they stay?

6.) Katas. Okay, this is a personal bias of mine. Lots of karate/martial arts places put the emphasis on 'self defense' and 'karate'....and ignore the benefits of katas. Not everything is fighting; katas, while not blindingly fast, really can help give your muscles the muscle memory useful for more advanced techniques.

These are what I can think of off the top of me head - hope it helps!

Best wishes,

Barbara

[Gradstudent78]

Originally Posted by McCarley

I've been looking into taking some martial arts with my wife a couple times a week and have narrowed it down to 4 possiblities:

Muay Thai
Ju-Jitsu
Wado-Ryu
Ninjitsu

I narrowed it down to those four by their location, availability of classes and general interest in what they say on their websites. When I go in to check them out, what sort of things should I be looking for or asking about to know they are offering genuine training?

I'd be cautious of taking ninjutsu from anyone, not that there aren't good school out there, but I'd put a lot of research into it. I'd ask about where they got their training from and how they put together their current curriculum.

[Jokerz]

Originally Posted by Gradstudent78

I'd be cautious of taking ninjutsu from anyone, not that there aren't good school out there, but I'd put a lot of research into it. I'd ask about where they got their training from and how they put together their current curriculum.

I agree, it comes down to what you want though. Muay Thai is a striking art and Ju jujitsu is a grappling/ground art. I have never done wado ryu or any type of karate, but i believe it's primarily a striking art but don't take my word for it. Go attend/watch each of the classes and take which ever one you like the most.

If theres a MMA school you can get MT and BJJ/JJJ for the price of one, and you get a good base in ground and stand up

[McCarley]

Lots of good points and info, thank you for taking the time.

[jvernacchio]

Originally Posted by McCarley

I've been looking into taking some martial arts with my wife a couple times a week and have narrowed it down to 4 possiblities:

Muay Thai
Ju-Jitsu
Wado-Ryu
Ninjitsu

I narrowed it down to those four by their location, availability of classes and general interest in what they say on their websites. When I go in to check them out, what sort of things should I be looking for or asking about to know they are offering genuine training?

Forget about the Wado-Ryu and Ninjitsu.

Train in Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu its all you will ever need to be a decent stand up and ground game fighter.

[Irishdazza]

Ahem...I trained Wado-ryu and my old instructor just won the masters at the World Combat Jujitsu championships last weekend (ok the whole thing was a bit of a farce and I could probably have got my fat ass out of my seat and competed without embarassment..)

In all seriousness in most cases I would agree wholeheartedly with Jver...but as boring an answer as it might be, it's not about the art it's about the instructor...a good one will surpass the system he started in. I'd rather have a true expert in Origami teach me self defence than some idiot in a Mc Dojo!

Muay Thai and Brazillian Jujitsu however, have the advantage of attracting more people with the right work ethic....so they are generally a safer bet.

[kuri]

Originally Posted by Irishdazza

Muay Thai and Brazillian Jujitsu however, have the advantage of attracting more people with the right work ethic....so they are generally a safer bet.

That all depends on what your looking to get out of it and the type of crowd said school attracts. If one is looking for long term health benefits (think Qi Gong) or a place for the wife to get some exercise in then a Thai Boxing gym may not be the perfect fit.

That said there are Thai/MMA gyms perfect for that as well so it all comes back to the teacher. Dan Inosanto could be teaching dance and I'd be there.

[McCarley]

As soon as my shoulder is better, i'm gonna go check out one of the Mui Tai classes and talk to the teacher. It seems to be the one that interests my wife and I the most and it's one of the closest to where we live.