Questions to Ask When
Looking For a Martial Arts School

I’ve been in this profession since 1975 and opened my school in 1984. I have changed locations twice, only to upgrade space requirements. I’ve seen frauds that are in business long enough to collect money and then the doors are locked. I’ve seen individuals that expertly take advantage of America’s prejudice, claims of this, claims of that, all kinds of scams, even claiming that “Bruce Lee taught me personally”. Yeah right! It’s incredible, and what’s worse is that people can’t sign up at these schools fast enough. As an instructor, I’m tired of hearing “Boo hoo! Poor me!” when they figure it out. If you enroll at the first place you go to without checking around, you deserve what you get!

I have people in class that were black belts at other schools that couldn’t defend themselves in the least. These people have spent thousands of dollars and have invested lots of time in nothing but a certificate without substance. I’ve trained in Tae Kwon Do for years and found out how fortunate I was to have my instructor. Many of my friends were taking Tae Kwon Do, and those schools should have really had a different spelling such as: “Tae Kwon Dough $” and in return received no usable skills. For this reason, I have put together 18 questions and answers that can help you to find a good martial arts school, whether it’s in Rockford, Illinois, or in the Pacific rim itself. It’s your life, your money, your time! Don’t let your pride in your parent school (if it is a bad school) keep you from a top-of-the-line martial arts education.

Good fortune in choosing a school!
Dr. Joel Bowling, 8th Degree Tatakai No Shinjitsu

The most important questions you should ask a martial arts school, academy or studio before enrolling?

Q: What is your style, sport or combat?
A: The instructor should know the difference and be honest about it. Many instructors will tell you they teach a combat martial art just to sign you when, in fact, you will learn nothing about reality because they were only taught the sport side of their martial art. These are the elements of a combat art: holds, locks, throws, ground fighting and grappling, kicking, knife and gun defense, pressure points and special techniques. If an instructor tells you that you’ll never end up on the ground with their form of martial art, they’re lying to you or they never had to defend themselves.

Q: Do you have initiation fees?
A: No. That’s called free money and you get nothing in return, plus you’re in for quite a financial ride. For example: A new uniform for each test, a fee for this, more money for that, etc. Before you know it, your monthly payment has doubled or tripled. Get out!

Q: Do you have contracts?
A: Yes. Any martial arts school that doesn’t have contracts is not serious about quality, stability or student success. Ninety percent of students fail in their bid to become a black belt without this type of structure.

Q: Do I have to pay for my contract all up front?
A: No. If you choose to, that’s fine, however, it is not required.

Q: How long have you been in this location, how many times have you changed locations in the last 3 years and was it still convenient for the students you had before you re-located?
A: This is a question that helps establish credibility. If these guys are moving constantly, there are problems.

Q: What is your rank?
A: The minimum rank for a sensei is 4th degree (black belt). The only individuals who will argue this point are those who have not yet reached this level. There is much more to being an instructor than just teaching martial arts. Would you want a pre-medical student operating on you or would you want a real doctor? That’s the life and death difference you need to know.

Q: Who teaches your classes? Do you, the instructor, teach the classes or does a student?
A: The answer should always be – the master instructor. The master instructor should teach 95% of classes. In many schools this is not the case. The students only know the master instructor by a picture on the wall or seeing them sit in their office for the whole class.

Q: Do you teach full or part-time?
A: If the instructor’s time is focused elsewhere, such as an outside job, then you as a student will suffer. Granted, there are many small schools, but experience tells us that the majority of these small schools are just an uncertified instructor’s “hobby” or used as a means to supplement their income. If a student does not have full, consistent and quality attention from an instructor, poor quality training will be the result.

Q: How many schools do you operate?
A: One school is all a master instructor should operate, unless they have a student or employee that has obtained their 4th degree black belt or above.

Q: How long have you been training?
A: The answer should be a minimum of ten years with a belt rank of at least a 4th Dan (degree). Remember you won’t just be an instructor. You’ll be a counselor, disciplinarian, etc. This all takes time and can be complicated. It is a study in human behavior.

Q: How far away is a related school?
A: Out of respect, there should be no related school within twenty miles.

Q: What are your goals for your students?
A: Instructors should have high goals for their students. Students will only perform as high as the standards that are set for them. Students should be taught leadership skills, teaching, and character development. They should also attain a black belt that is genuinely earned.

Q: Do other schools recognize your ranks?
A: I have been in martial arts schools for thirty years and rarely have I seen belts recognized by other schools. This is because there is no single governing body. There are hundreds of affiliations, federations, etc., each with different belt requirements. Many sport schools will not recognize levels earned through another school because this helps their bottom line. Belt rank will never be recognized if you transfer from a sport school to a combat school. This is because sport school students lack in knowledge and skill when it comes to reality.

Q: Are tournaments mandatory?
A: No. All tournaments should be by student choice only. Some sport schools make them mandatory. This is generally because they are aligned with other schools that also hold tournaments. This way, each school makes money off of the other school’s students. These tournaments are more about the flow of money than the best interest of the student. Some schools will go so far as to not allow students to test for their belts unless they participate in tournaments.

Q: What is your relationship with your sensei (instructor)?
A: The answer to this question should reflect a relationship that is excellent.

Q: Does your school specialize in children?
A: If an instructor or school has a statement such as “we specialize in children”, they are saying something very telling to you. They are saying they are unable to pull the wool over the eyes of adults.

Q: Was this school opened with the respect of your master instructor?
A: There are two golden rules among reputable martial artists. The first is to open a school no less than twenty miles from the school in which you were trained. The second is obtaining 4th degree instructor’s certificate.

Q: Is it important for my rank to be recognized by a foreign government?
A: Absolutely not. This is just a business ploy – but it sounds good. The fact is, the future of serious martial arts is in the United States. The exodus of instructors from Korea, Japan and China to the United States in the last 40 years tells the story.