Choosing a Dojo
If you are considering taking a Karate class, it is best to research the different schools and styles that are available. The following are some things you should do to make sure the program you pick is the best one for you, your child, or other family member:
Decide why you or your child wants to take Karate.
What are the main reasons for wanting to train?
Are you looking to compete in tournaments and collect belt rank?
Are you interested in learning the ways of traditional Martial Arts?
What style of Martial Art are you looking for?
Would you prefer a formal and regimented or casual and relaxed environment?
Visit the Dojo (or “school”) and talk to the instructor.
What is his or her background?
What style or styles have they trained in?
What qualifies them to be a Sensei? Who awarded them their Black Belt?
How long have they been training and teaching?
Do they practice what they teach? Are they in shape, courteous, kind? Demonstrate a healthy mind, body, and spirit?
Do they have any other related certifications or skills, such as knowledge or backgrounds in psychology, first aid, CPR, anatomy and physiology, personal training, nutrition, etc?
Is the Dojo or training area clean?
Watch a class, or even several:
Is the class focused only on technical skill, or are there philosophical lessons taught as well?
Are the students well behaved and well supervised?
Is the class safe?
How physical is the class?
How much contact can you expect?
The best way to judge a teacher is by their students. Talk to the students in the class and assess:
their attitudes
how polite they are
if they seem competitive with each other
if they are aggressive, respectful, etc.
Are there long term students that have “grown up” in the program?
Is there a sense of community among the students?
Talk to the other parents:
Are they involved in the program?
Do they watch the classes?
Are they satisfied with, or even know what their children are learning?
Are the classes simply another activity that they drop their children off for an hour or so while they do other things?
Are parents enrolled in the class and training with their children?
Ask to take a free or discounted first lesson.
Most reputable schools will offer your first class for free, or offer a discounted introductory package.
Unlike most other programs, paying more for Karate does not necessarily mean the teaching is better.
Typically the opposite is true. The best Sensei’s (or “teachers”) teach for the love of the art, not to make money:
Find out about fee structure and contract terms.
How much will participation really cost over the course of a year?
What are the costs for classes, equipment, uniforms, learning materials, promotion tests, etc?
Are students required to participate in tournaments or other events such as camps or seminars? What are the costs of those activities?
How long does it take to be promoted to each rank?
The best Karate schools do not focus on belt rank, and often take many months or even years to advance to the next level. Less reputable schools will require students to take promotion tests every few months or weeks, even when they are not ready. This is merely a revenue source and has nothing to do with the student’s development.
Finally, once you’ve selected a school, give it a chance. It’s not possible to truly understand all that goes on in a Dojo in just a couple of lessons or even a few weeks.