| HOW DO YOU CHOOSE A SCHOOL ? |
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| One of the most important things when choosing to train in martial arts is finding a school. Location can play a part depending on the dedication of the student who is willing to travel or the inconvinence of work hours. However you can find schools as easy as the yellow pages or even the yellow pages online. The net also has independant directories of schools that dont advertise...... You may even find your school that teaches the style you are looking for in an unexpected place online or otherwise...even word of mouth. So be careful not to leave any possible venue unexplored. You should also see what styles are taught in your immediate area and surrounding location. As you know from the last few pages on choosing an art. There would be several arts that may fit you. So make a list of them. So that way if one style isn't in your area then another one maybe. Now you have the schools in your area and a list of styles and you have called or have read what styles these schools teach and have found one or two.Now its time to call. When you call you ask for specific things.... 1. How big are your classes? 2. How long are your classes? 3. Are you about self defense or competetion? 4. How much a month? 5. How long will it take to reach my 1st degree Black belt (meaning one who has mastered the basics and is ready for more advanced training)? 1. You want no more than 15 to 20 per teacher. Why? Too many students then miss out on instruction and proper correction. You don't want want to aqquire bad habits. 2. Classes should be at least an hour and a half to two hours long. AND at least three times a week. If you want to have any progress you'll need at least that. This will determine what your looking for or not in that school. Only you can decide this one. 3. How they train also will show you if its for defense of competition but ask what the focus of the school is.. Watch and see the students since they are the product of that potential teacher. Rule of thumb would be to watch the intermediate to advanced students. 4. Depending on where you live and cost of living usually $55 to $75 a month. Again this is a rule of thumb. So compare prices with neighbooring schools to get an average in your area. 5. Generally if a student trains as he should and is dedicated it usually takes around 3 to 4 years. However that is very subjective. As every students level of dedication differs. Some will look to train 6 to 7 days a week and that time will be much shorter to reach Black belt while the others may just attend class only, and may take even longer. In the Orient the average time is about 1 1/2 to 2 years because of the level of dedication vice that of the western students. The reason for the is because we are simply, as a society, are not that focused. So in the end no school can promise you a time when youll achieve Black belt. The time it takes to reach that level is ENTIRELY in your hands. If a school gives you a time without even knowing your dedication and how often you train...its a good sign they are only wanting your money. Black belt will always be your most memorable promotion, IF you know you truely earned it. May you find a good school... SUGESSTED READING LIVING THE MARTIAL WAY- FORREST E. MORGAN BARRACADE BOOKS |
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| -JOW GA KUNG FU- |
| "First see to it that you, yourself, are all right, then think of defeating an opponent." - The Way of the Spear |
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| -SHAOLIN WING CHUN- |