Choosing A Karate School

Dave Thomas, 8th Dan

AKS Assistant Chief Instructor

Perspective students often ask me how do they decide where to begin training. I always tell them to visit several schools, watch the classes and decide for themselves. I invite them to try our club for week or two to see if the American Karate System fits what they are looking for.

I tell them when they visit a martial arts school to look for the following characteristics:

[1] What are the Instructor’s qualifications?

It is not disrespectful to ask how the instructor earned his rank and whom he trained with. At one time there was an alleged instructor in our area that maintained he trained with in a secret Chinese style and couldn’t divulge its identity. He didn’t last long. A legitimate instructor has no qualms about discussing his credentials and martial arts lineage.

[2] Does the school belong to a recognized organization?

There are a number of reputable organizations that establish standards and requirements for their students and instructors. That was the principal reason Mr. Lieb formed the American Karate Association in 1964 to act as governing body for bona fide martial arts instructors. The “lone wolf” schools can be suspect.

[3] Does the school teach traditional martial arts, extreme martial arts or some hybrid?

I think it is important to know in the beginning what you are getting into. Some of the styles offered are not appropriate for all ages. I had a young man join my class that came from another school that specialized in school age students. The student had spent two years studying their form of self-defense, no forms and limited basics. I was never able to discern what connection this style had to any recognized system. His mother was concerned when he joined our class because the AKS format was very different from his previous program. But he adapted quickly and his mother was so impressed, she joined class as well. She told me that her son had learned more in one month at our class than he had learned in two years with the other program.

[4] Does the Instructor(s) treat the students with respect?

I visited a school and heard one of the most outrageous comments directed toward a student I had ever witnessed. A young girl had received her first belt and certificate that night, and as she returned to line, her certificate slipped out of her hand. One of the Black Belt Instructors walked up to her and said, “You drop that again and I will break your (blank-blank) arm!’ Needless to say, the eight-year-old girl was devastated.

[5] Do they enforce safety rules and equipment for sparring?

The student’s safety should be foremost in the Instructor’s class structure. One of the preeminent principles of the American Karate System has always been student safety. Over the years, I have seen incidents of serious injury when safety rules were not enforced. I have even had students quit after a serious tournament injury because they couldn’t risk their livelihood for martial arts.

[6] How do students pay for class?

My class is fortunate because we are sponsored through our local community education program. And I understand that commercial schools require cash flow to keep the doors open and the Instructors on the floor. But I caution perspective students about signing up for a multiyear contract; if they quit the program, they still pay for the life of the contract. Just be sure before you commit to a long-term program.

In the best case, a student finds a school to train where they can grow and learn. And the class gains a student that one-day becomes a Black Belt and will be teaching the new students who are searching for what they found.