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When choosing a
martial arts school that's right for your child you must do your
homework. You must first understand the basic concepts of each martial
arts style to decide which would be most beneficial for your
child based on their strengths, skills and goals. The six
martial arts styles generally considered best for children are
Tae kwon do, Aikido, Judo, Jujitsu, Kung Fu, Karate. For
more information on these styles see our section on
Martial
Arts Styles Best for Kids.
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Once you have selected a style, the next thing to do is to find
the studio that meets your needs.
For more
information on finding the studios in your area see our section
on Where Do I Begin. You should visit schools until
you find the one that offers the right program at the right
price.
Asking the proper questions will give you the ability to evaluate
the martial arts studio that your child is interested in
joining. It is important that you ask each studio the same
questions so that you can do an accurate comparison of each
program. Some areas of concern should be the structure of the
studio, safety issues, quality of instructors, developmental
factors and cost. |
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Key questions that a parent should ask are as follows:
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Who is the contact person for the studio if you have a
problem or question?
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How long have you been training and when did you start
teaching?
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Ask which martial arts association each instructor belongs
to and where it is headquartered, then call the organization
and verify the instructor's rank and background.
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How long has the studio been in business?
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How would you describe your teaching style?
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What do you value most about your personal training?
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Why do you teach Martial Arts?
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What level of training/accomplishments do the instructors
have?
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Does your school compete in many tournaments?
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What value do you see in tournament competition?
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How successful have they been at competitions
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What kind of techniques are most central to your style and
why?
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How many participants does the studio have?
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How large are the classes?
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How does your children's class differ from your adult class?
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How much is a trial program?
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What are your training fees and methods of payment?
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What other fees can I expect to incur?
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How long does it take an average student to get a black
belt?
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How do you register?
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What is the time commitment?
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How does the school address self-control, conflict
resolution and issues of respect with children?
It is not necessary to ask all of these questions, it is simply
a guideline to help you. You may have others that you feel need
to be addressed. What is important is that you watch the
classes and notice how the instructors interact with the
children. You should be looking for instructors that have
plenty of patience with the children. Notice if they have
control over the group and are the students paying attention
when the teacher speaks. Talk to the parents around you and see
how they like the studio and the instructors.
What's important is that you feel extremely comfortable with the
studio that you select. Always remember that it should be a
positive, fun experience for your child!
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