How To Choose a Martial Arts School
So many martial arts schools and so little time! How does one choose the right one? Here are
some inside tips to help you to pick the right school, for the right reasons,
from Tom Callos, a
veteran school owner and consultant to the martial arts industry.
Martial arts schools are everywhere! If
you live in the U.S., chances are you have at
least one school within a 5-mile radius of your home --and probably more. There are estimated to be more than six
million martial arts practitioners in North America, about 70% of those are
children. Today's martial arts schools
range from operations that rival the polish and fancy facilities of the
nation's finest health club chains to schools that look like the set of The
Last Samurai to down-and-dirty garage dojos.
Price ranges in the martial art industry, according to Frank Silverman,
Director of the Martial Arts Industry Association, average out at about $125
per month, but schools can be found that charge anywhere from $35.00 per month
to more than $200. How does one go about
choosing the right school? Industry
expert Tom Callos, a veteran school owner himself, has some of the best advice
Sporting Kids has ever heard on how to choose a martial arts school that's
right for you.
"The first thing to know about choosing a martial arts school is that you
already know how to do it says Callos.
"You evaluate a
martial arts school the same way you would evaluate any school you would take
your child to. Just because you're thinking of joining a school that teaches
the "ancient arts of self defense," doesn't mean you don't apply
modern day scrutiny to their professionalism, teachers, and facilities."
Callos asserts that
being a black belt, at any level, is not a sign that the wearer is a good
teacher or that he or she knows how to run a business. Just because someone is a good athlete,
doesn't mean they are going to give you your money's worth when it comes to
lessons, warns Callos. Parents should
use their good judgment when choosing a school, as just like in the martial
arts, there aren't really any secrets, it's all about mastering the
fundamentals. If you're looking for a
good school, look for one that's proficient at the fundamentals of customer
service.
Callos offers nine other school-hunting tips:
The Facility
Just like any business, the way the facility looks and its cleanliness (or lack
thereof) says something about the attitude and aptitude of the owner. A martial arts school doesn't have to look
like a Starbucks, but it ought to be clean and organized. If a school doesn't
look professional, chances are it isn't.
The Staff
Just like you would expect from any business, the staff of a martial arts
school should be courteous, professional, and personable. They should treat you (and/or your child)
like a paying customer. If you can go to
a department store and get better service than you can at your local martial
arts school, then spend your money at the department store.
The Attitude
Bad attitude = bad school; if you get a weird feeling, a sort of “attitude” from the staff or owner that rubs
you the wrong way, then you shouldn't become a customer of that school. If the
attitude of the owner is superb and his or her staff exhibits a similar
attitude, then you've found a school worth a second look.
The Style
When shopping for a martial arts school, the style the school teaches is
secondary to who teaches the classes and how they teach them. A good instructor will make you feel good
about what you're doing. He or she will
help you stay healthy and take an interest in why you've joined the
school. If you're a complete novice to
the martial arts, don't shop for a style or method, shop for the best teacher
or teachers (read: the best people) you can find. Find the right teacher and
you'll love the martial arts. Find the wrong teacher and it won't matter what
style they teach.
The Students
Lots of intermediate and advanced students in classes. Chances are you've found a school that knows
how to enroll and keep its students; that's a good sign. If you go to a school
that's been in business for a year or longer and it's still empty, something's
not right with the school. Most martial
arts teachers think their classes are the best classes --the way that most
restaurateurs think that their food is the best food. If the parking lot is empty, it's a sign that
the customers have a different opinion.
The Financial Arraignments
Many martial arts schools will ask you to sign a contract for a certain number
of lessons and/or for a certain amount of time and that's ok, as a school has
to sell its wares and generate cash flow just like any other business. You shouldn't think twice about signing a
contract with a school, under the following conditions:
1. You've had adequate time to witness
and experience the service the school provides. Most schools have a great sales
pitch, but some aren't able to follow through with the level of service they
promise. Nine out of 10 schools will
allow you to try a month of lessons, for a price, before you agree to enroll
for a certain number of classes or months. If you can't negotiate this trial
period, it's a definite red flag. Bonus
Tip: Most schools will have a Pay In Full option on membership. It's ok to pay for your membership in full,
but make sure you know the school thoroughly before doing so. Most schools will
have a no-refund policy.
2. The contract you sign should spell
out, clearly and exactly, how you leave the program should you have to leave or
if you become dissatisfied with the service.
It's ok to pay a little exit fee or some other penalty should you decide
to leave before fulfilling the terms of a contract, but the penalty or
penalties shouldn't be unreasonable (and some are, so check carefully). Nine out of 10 schools will, if you insist,
write a special exit clause on your contract spelling out the terms of your
departure and they will also be willing to strike out parts of a contract if
you don't feel comfortable with the verbiage. Bonus Tip: The way the owner or
staff member treats you should you try to negotiate a trail period or a change
in the school's contract will give you a very clear idea of what the school's
service is really like, after the sale.
If you're not treated with respect, go elsewhere.
The Service
There's service, then there's good service, and then there's excellent service.
Just because the owner or staff member of a martial arts school has the ability
to make you beg for mercy with his or her baby toe, doesn't mean they have the
right provide you with anything but the best service they can muster. If you visit a martial arts school and you
don't see or feel a reasonably high level of customer service happening, raise
that suspicious eyebrow, step back a bit, and do some further analysis.
The Feeling You Get When You're There and When You Leave
Are you having fun? Do you leave the
school feeling empowered and taken care of?
If you go to a martial arts school and leave feeling better than when
you arrived, you've found a good thing.
Your Gut Instinct
Always go with your gut instinct when choosing a school or instructor. If your
intuition says something's not right, something's not right. If you've found a
good school, you'll know it (especially if you've read this article).
Tom Callos is a
professional consultant to the martial arts industry and the team coach for the
Ultimate Black
Belt Test (www.ultimateblackbelttest.com). He is also a co-founder of www.911aok.com, an Acts of
Kindness character development program for children and adults.
He resides in Hilo, Hawaii