What to Look For in a Self-Defense Martial Art School

This is a difficult article to write. The public's perception of martial arts have been so ill-effected by the media that is seems like an impossible task to get to the truth of the matter. Just discard everything you have seen in the movies and on TV.

The first thing that you have to decide on is whether you are looking for a self-defense art or a sport. There is no such thing as both. This is perhaps the greatest misconception on the public's part. For arguments sake, we will address the search for a "self-defense" school.

If you choose a commercial store front type school, chances are that it will be filled with children and have nothing to do with self-defense. A large amount of students is whats needed to be able to afford the storefront overhead. There are exceptions to this rule but it is rare. Usually the best bet is to stick with an adult only school. Generally these will be in a private setting.

Nowadays the perspective student will view the schools website before actually visiting the school. Some websites are fancy and some are not. This in no way should be a factor whether or not this school is for you. The teacher might be a great instructor but a lousy website designer! Be aware of teachers who claim to be a member of a "Martial Art Hall of Fame", regardless of what it is called, that there is no "official" martial art hall of fame like the "Baseball Hall of Fame" in Cooperstown NY or the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" in Cleveland OH. Anyone can join any martial art hall of fame. All you have to do is pay the fee. You may also want to say away from schools that require a membership contract with no way out of it.

See if it is possible to watch an advanced class. Watching a beginners class will not give you a sense of what to expect in the long run. When you go to the school to observe a class, the first thing you should watch is how the students are acting when the teacher is not present. Are they joking around on the mat? Generally a "joking around" atmosphere is not the best for serious self-defense training. Next, when the class begins, watch how the students are attacking one another. Are they attacking realistically? Are they practicing against multiple opponents? Is the teacher in control of the class. Is he a "Sensei / Sifu" or just their buddy? Is the class being taught by the actual head instructor of the school or is it an assistant instructor? As far as how the schools design looks, a Japanese dojo for example is generally very austere. But this again is like a websites design. It may be a great school but the instructor has no interior design sense. If the school appears "hokey" which makes you uncomfortable, then perhaps is not for you.

When meeting the teacher, feel free to ask questions about the martial art and its history. Some martial arts have a long and distinguished lineage and some are relatively new systems. Neither will ensure that the martial art will be effective for self-defense or will be a good match for you. If the teacher claims to have officially taught the military or the police, those things can be checked out. Assuming that it is true, that is still no guarantee it will be what you are looking for. Your best bet is always to watch the class carefully and see if it strikes a cord within you.

Although sometimes debated, an internal discipline such as meditation as well as the physical martial art should be part of any serious self-defense training. Without an internal discipline such as meditation, the physical training may amount to nothing more than aerobics in fancy pajamas.

There is no perfect way to determine before hand which is the right school for you. You must visit the school, observe the class in action and then make a educated decision about joining. If you made a mistake, simply move on.

Ted Hanulak is the head instructor / Sensei of the Japanese martial art of Senso-Ryu Aikijutsu. He teaches Aikijutsu and Zen meditation out of the Aikijutsu Academy of Indianapolis http://www.aiki-jutsu.com
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