Choosing a Martial Arts School

There are a lot of things to consider when choosing a martial arts school. We encourage you to visit as many as you can. Here are some questions you might want to think about while visiting each of them.

• Are parents encouraged (or even allowed) to watch the classes?
• As a parent, you'll be spending a lot of time there. Are the facilities clean and comfortable, and do they offer free wifi?
• Is there a good instructor/student ratio for every class?
• Does every class have at least one adult black-belt instructor?
• Do the students look like they're having fun?
• Are the students and instructors showing each other respect?
• Do the students understand and honor the student creed? Do the instructors honor the instructor creed?
• Does the school have a Student Bill of Rights?
• Does the school have a structured curriculum with clear and published requirements for each level of advancement?
• Is there a formal training program for instructors and their assistants?
• When you watch a class, are the instructors continuously monitoring to make sure that the students are working safely?
• Most karate schools talk about teaching responsibility and building character. How do they do it?