These are the most often asked questions I receive. If you need further assistance, please do not hesitate to ask.

Q: How do I choose the right school?
A: You should look at more than one school in order to form a judgment. Don't let the instructor/owner do the interview; you ask the questions. Make sure that the school is teaching what you want. Make sure that you can try a class free of charge before making up your mind. This will give you a better idea. Make sure that every class is being taught by a qualified instructor, not a teenager or someone who is under black belt rank.

Q: How long does it take to become a black belt?
A: That depends on the person. Each person has a different level and speed of learning. In other words, some people pick up concepts faster than others. It also depends on how many days a week the person is training and what they are training for. All things being equal for a student, it should take about three years.

Q: What does traditional mean?
A: In the martial arts, traditional is the opposite of commercial. A traditional art is one that has roots to its place of origin and teaches its philosophies without variation.

Q: What does a black belt mean?
A: A black belt means something different to everyone who attains it. My personal feeling is that it means you have finally become a student of the art. You also become part of a special fraternity that will be part of you the rest of your life.

Q: Where does karate come from?
A: Karate comes from the island of Okinawa, which is currently part of Japan. It has since spread to the main islands of Japan. There are many styles of karate in Okinawa and Japan. Uechi-ryu is the style we teach at the studio.

Q: How come some schools have contracts?
A: The commercial schools use contracts to lure people into their schools. Contracts lock people up for a long period without recourse. Moreover, these schools will end the contract to place your child into different "programs" which will undoubtedly be more money.

Q: Do I need to register my hands with the police after becoming a black belt?
A: This is a myth that has been around for a long time. The answer is no. We register you with our parent organization and that is all. That is so your rank has legitimacy with Okinawa or Japan.

Q: What will the martial arts do for my child?
A: A good school with good instructors can have great impact on your child's self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-respect, while teaching them self-respect and self-defense at the same time. The positive aspects of the marital arts can help your child in school and other social venues.

Q: What do you expect a good instructor to be like?
A: A good instructor has certain qualities that you should look for: 1)He/she should be experienced. Don't fall into the twenty-two year old, who has opened his/her own school. 2) They should keep a positive attitude in the class. They should never insult or chastise the students for making mistake. 3) They should keep a disciplined atmosphere in the dojo that is conducive to learning. 4) They should be knowledgeable about the art(s) and personable to students and parents. 5) Lastly, they should have a curriculum that they can show you. What does it take to be a black belt should be question they can answer by showing you the requirements.

Q: What's the difference between karate and jujitsu?
A: Karate means ?empty-hand.? It's an art developed in Okinawa for a means of survival. It has survived through the ages by evolving to an art-form that is practiced not only for self-defense, but for self-perfection. Learning the movements the correct way teaches the practitioner aspects about their body and the way it moves, reacts, and conditions itself. Jujitsu means ?gentle art.? It is the mother of all Japanese arts and is the art of the Samurai warrior when he lost his sword. So, in other words, it's the art of the sword without it. It was made for battle and that's it.