Starting out any hobby can be both exciting and intimidating. Starting out in karate or other martial arts can be more than average of both. Your first karate lessons might be the beginning of a life-long journey. It’s best to know what to expect, and how to identify the good from the bad.
Choosing a Program
An article in Northwest Kids magazine recommends paying the closest attention to how well you mesh with the instructors and other staff. Price, location relative to your house and the differences between styles of karate are all important to consider. However, as martial arts journalist Joe Hyams points out in “The Zen of Martial Arts,” it’s your relationship with your teacher that produces the most value in your karate journey.
Introductory Lessons
When shopping martial arts programs, ask to participate in an introductory course. Most will offer some kind of package, such as two weeks free if you buy the uniform or a free uniform if you buy two weeks. However it’s structured, the introductory course is a good way to find out how the program suits you. Don’t be shy about attending multiple introductory courses at once in order to compare different programs.
Uniform
According to martial arts teacher Dave Coffman, many martial arts schools require all students attending class to wear a uniform. For most karate schools, this is a traditional gi. Many schools sell specially embroidered or silk screened gis on site. The cost of your first uniform will often be included in the price of your introductory course.
What to Expect
Your first lessons will typically consist of a skills assessment, fitness training, etiquette and learning a handful of basic techniques. Some schools conduct these first lessons privately, while others separate the beginners from more experienced students by scheduling separate beginning classes. Don’t expect to work on particularly challenging or flashy moves during your beginning lessons. The purpose of these lessons in most schools is to send you home feeling happy and excited. You’ll learn things that are easy to get the basics of.
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Talk With Other Students
While taking your introductory and beginning lessons, get to know the other students in the class. If you’re signing your child up for lessons, talk with the parents who are watching their children. Northwest Kids’ Magazine recommends you ask them how they feel about the program and particularly if they’ve had any conflicts with the staff. All communities have conflicts, so don’t look for a program without any. Listen instead for how the conflict was handled.
What the Instructor Sees
Martial arts teacher Dave Coffman says that most karate school owners can be divided into three groups. The bad instructors, says Coffman, look at a prospective new student and see dollar signs instead of the individual walking in the door. The good instructors see the individual walking in the door. The great instructors look at the individual walking in the door and see the person she’s is capable of becoming.
References
- "Northwest Kids’ Magazine"; Choosing a Karate School; October 2009
- Dave Coffman; Black Belt Instructor; Bushido Martial Arts; Hillsboro, Ore.
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