Parents, the way to choose a great martial arts teacher for your child is by direct observation. By watching classes, you can see exactly what the teacher is doing -or not doing -with your child. Regardless of what a school’s advertising says about itself, you’ll know whether a school cuts the mustard through using your good-old-fashioned, low-tech powers of observation.
Look for a clean school. Look for a school where the staff is friendly, communicative, and helpful. Look for a school where the instructor is acutely aware of his or her interaction with the children in class.
Things to watch out for:
An instructor, who seems distracted, is also too distracted to trust your child with. A school that’s too serious, where instructors are yelling at students, where smiles are few and far between, should be attended by adults, not children. Any school owner or teacher who asks parents not to watch classes is a teacher you should avoid.
Things that make a school great:
A great school has lots of help on the floor (if class size requires it). A great instructor delivers on-going motivational and educational lessons in-between the physical practice. A great school feels warm and healthy.
About money:
Good teachers with nice schools have financial obligations that have to be met. Expect to pay $100 to $150 a month for lessons, but don’t be surprised if the tuition is a bit higher or a lot lower. Avoid signing a contract for any longer than 3-months. After 3 months you’ll know whether it’s safe to sign up for a longer period of time. If a school owner won’t allow you to enroll for a short term course, first -then find another school (that is, unless you have a friend who can testify to the quality and stability of the school).
Some other information tidbits:
An instructor who is a good listener is a better instructor that one who is not. An instructor with a kind and compassionate attitude is a far better teacher than an instructor who acts as if every child should train like a Navy Seal. A school that’s main focus is tournament competition is not as good as a school with a classroom focused agenda. It’s not an iron-clad rule, but typically instructors with their own children are better teachers than instructors without (You can’t know how a parent feels about his or her child until you’re a parent yourself!).
Tom Callos is a founder of The New Way Network, a global association of independent martial arts school owners who are focused on the development of character, self-esteem, and self-discipline in children. Check out one of the Network members, JK Lee Black Belt Academy, at Martial Arts in Milwaukee
