MMA the current BUZZ WORD in the martial arts world. There are many, many martial arts clubs and schools jumping on this bandwagon.
What is MMA? It is a series of three words( no meaning). It is ring fighting.....it is not martial arts. Now some will argue the point. But watch an MMA fight on TV. Is that what you want for your child? Then go for it! But I doubt there are many takers.
Most MMA Coaches are martial artists who are looking to make a name for themselves as the coach of champions. There is nothing wrong with this idea, it is a legitimate sport. However after many of these clubs form they end up teaching some martial arts to children to try to pay the bills. Is this the type of education you want for your child?
Now if by some chance this whole idea of full contact ring fighting is appealing to you, look for an established martial arts school owner who also coachings MMA fighters. This way you will be in good hands.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
What about price
Martial Arts comes in many different styles and flavors, very much like food in a restaurant or the different types of cars available. The 1st type of martial arts people often get introduced to is what I can "community center karate". This will run you anywhere from $20-$50 for a fixed time frame, with no progression beyond the program length. It is not meant to be anything other than this.
The second type is run by a very good martial artist, often from a school gym or church basement. This person is teaching martial arts as a hobby. You must do a fair amount of research here, talking with other people who he has trained to see if he or she fits the bill of being the teacher and mentor of children. In all honesty most don't. But you may find a gem.
The next ones are the martial artist who open up a commercial school after training with an instructor for many years. I have seen people who open up school after 5 years, all the way to 15 years. The problem is that most have little or no teaching experience and absolutely no business experience. These men and women are suffering from what is called an entrepreneurial seizure. Most are out of business in 2 years or less. They are often looking for pre-paid courses getting usually 1 years fees ahead by giving great discounts. There are several in operation in my city.
The final in type I will list here is the professional martial arts teacher. They usually run a commerical school and do it FULL TIME. They are also still interested in their own progression as a martial artist and business professional. They have trained instructors on the floor working with students, offer a FREE Introductory Program, they want you to watch and ask questions. They are also "Social Proof" and can provide real testimonials from happy parents.
So, what about price? I can't tell you what prioce range to expect. That will depend on where you are living. As of this writting you can see prices in my town from $35 per month to $200 per month. Do your research! Remember this man or women will be influencing the way your child thinks! Also remember what Mom and Dad taught you.....YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!
The second type is run by a very good martial artist, often from a school gym or church basement. This person is teaching martial arts as a hobby. You must do a fair amount of research here, talking with other people who he has trained to see if he or she fits the bill of being the teacher and mentor of children. In all honesty most don't. But you may find a gem.
The next ones are the martial artist who open up a commercial school after training with an instructor for many years. I have seen people who open up school after 5 years, all the way to 15 years. The problem is that most have little or no teaching experience and absolutely no business experience. These men and women are suffering from what is called an entrepreneurial seizure. Most are out of business in 2 years or less. They are often looking for pre-paid courses getting usually 1 years fees ahead by giving great discounts. There are several in operation in my city.
The final in type I will list here is the professional martial arts teacher. They usually run a commerical school and do it FULL TIME. They are also still interested in their own progression as a martial artist and business professional. They have trained instructors on the floor working with students, offer a FREE Introductory Program, they want you to watch and ask questions. They are also "Social Proof" and can provide real testimonials from happy parents.
So, what about price? I can't tell you what prioce range to expect. That will depend on where you are living. As of this writting you can see prices in my town from $35 per month to $200 per month. Do your research! Remember this man or women will be influencing the way your child thinks! Also remember what Mom and Dad taught you.....YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Part 1 How to Choose the Right School
Step 1: Pick a school which has been in operation in the area for at least 5 years. According to official statistics, 75% of all martial arts school shut down their operation within the first two years. Look for instructors and teachers with experience. Be wary of classes run by teenages when there is no other adults present.
Step 2: Find a school that has a formal teaching plan and curriculum! Many martial arts teacher like to wing it! This is not a good idea. Like any school, they need to have a plan about what is going to happen on their training floor.
Step 3: Choose a martial arts school that shares the same values as you. For instance, you want to learn martial arts purely for self defense purposes, or are you interested in Self Esteem and Confidence building. Perhaps physical fitness is important to you. If so, choosing a school which specializes in tournament participation and winning the game might not be the right choice for you. Be wary of MMA clubs. These are fighters looking to make more fighters. This is more like a boxing club than anything else.
Step 4: Ask questions. Most of us make this critical error when enrolling or entering a program; we simply become shy for the moment. Ask all the questions which crop up in your mind to the teacher or instructor before you get admitted. Because you are the only person who really knows what you are looking for, all the questioning should be done by you and you can not delegate this responsibility to anyone else. Take a trip to the Canadian Martial Arts Teacher's Association website for a list of questions to ask.
Step 5: Make sure you try it first. If the school you are checking out does not have a FREE Introductory program move on! Also, if they don't want you watching class is it time to look elsewhere!
As you can see, choosing a good martial arts school for your own needs is not difficult. Spend some time on research and you will be on track to achieving a good martial arts education.
How to Choose a Martial Arts School
Attention Parents!!!
Choosing the correct martial arts or karate school for your child is one of the most important decisions you will ever make!
No matter were you live, let us help you find the RIGHT school and avoid the heartache and disappointment of choosing wrong. Not to mention the damage your child's self esteem can suffer as well as your wallet!
Check out http://www.howtochoosetherightmartialartschool.info
This link will take you to the Canadian Martial Arts Teachers Association. Here you can find some outstanding help on Choosing the RIGHT School!
Choosing the correct martial arts or karate school for your child is one of the most important decisions you will ever make!
No matter were you live, let us help you find the RIGHT school and avoid the heartache and disappointment of choosing wrong. Not to mention the damage your child's self esteem can suffer as well as your wallet!
Check out http://www.howtochoosetherightmartialartschool.info
This link will take you to the Canadian Martial Arts Teachers Association. Here you can find some outstanding help on Choosing the RIGHT School!
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