1. Is There A High Degree of Emphasis Placed on Competing?
Is there a high degree of emphasis placed on you competing? If there is you may be in the wrong place. And if it is mandatory to compete – Run Out. You see the Martial Arts should be about creating a win-win relationship and developing you as a whole.
There’s a big difference between healthy competition to improve your own efforts and the kind of competition where you focus on beating some else’s. Now, I’m by no means anti competition; in fact I myself am a well seasoned competitor and I have a small group of students who love to compete, but it’s not for everyone!
You see, if you walk into an academy whose focus is only about developing physical champions who win tournaments, run for the hills, because they’re only focused on physical accomplishment and not the expansion of emotional or intellectual improvement and maturity for all ages. And in all honesty if a student is not developing emotionally and intellectually they’re never going to be a champion anyway! My recommendation…Try somewhere else.
2. Martial Artists Should Hold Themselves To A Higher Level of Respect!
Martial Artists should hold themselves to a higher level of respect. So here is your test for them. Ask them about other martial arts schools in your area. If the instructor of the school begins to speak badly of other schools in your area then you know that you are already in the wrong place for you and your family. There will always be good and bad in every industry, the good ones know who they are and they do not need to try and help their cause by tearing down the other school owners in the area. The Bad ones well, enough said.
3. Do The Instructors Walk Their Talk?
Next, how about the instructors themselves—Do they walk their talk? How do they look? How active are they in the community? How were you greeted at the school? Did they show a level of respect that you would be proud for your child to emulate? Is there any doubt as to whether or not the instructor represents a degree of success you would like to personally have? If it’s lesser than yours and what you want for your children, leave. If the Martial Arts instructor doesn’t look as though he or she has it “together” you’re in the wrong place. However, if they do look as though they represent a higher degree of value for their lives in terms of what they were willing to do for themselves and others, well, you’ve obviously walked into the right academy.
4. Does The Instructor Need Help While They Are Teaching?
The floor, when I use the term floor I’m talking about the class experience. If the instructor needs help while he or she is teaching, how good are they? Here’s another telling sign of the degree of professionalism in the Martial Arts academy— if the instructor can’t gain the compliance of a class simply and effortlessly then there is a problem. Their job is to teach the class. Their job is to gain the active attention of each and every students in the academy. And by doing so they will lead by example.
5. Do They Offer Some Kind of Risk Free Offer?
Do they offer some kind of ‘Risk Free Trial’ or better still a ‘Guarantee’ if you are in a good school that prides itself on its reputation and its service they will happily give you a Guarantee on their services and products.
6. How Do They Charge For Their Service?
If they charge for your Martial Arts on a ‘Per Session’ basis you’re in the wrong school. This can mean only one of three things, firstly they aren’t intending on being around for long, secondly this could just be a ‘hobby’ for them. And thirdly, maybe they’re just not confident enough in themselves and their service to charge what they are worth.
Remember we are talking about introducing a professional into your life that can potentially have a massive effect on your future. And I assure you if you wish to develop and become your best, if you really want to get results, lasting results …then a “onesy, twosy” approach to your training will not get you there. You need help in setting your goals, applying a timeframe for achieving them and having an Instructor who is going to commit to you and ensure you get the results you want.
Don’t leave it to the amateurs – look for those who are professional, and have the confidence in themselves to charge a professional fee, and as a result will commit to you. After all we are talking about making an investment in your future …Right?
Master Lowndes is a Personal Development Coach, Exercise Physiologist, Advanced Personal Trainer, World Champion and 6th Degree Black Belt Martial Arts Expert.
He holds a seat on the Masters Council for the United Kingdom Black Belt Schools Association and is a consultant to most of the top professional martial arts schools in the UK.
Visit his blog and signup free to get blog updates by email, along with martial arts training tips, fitness and nutritional guidance, tested personal development strategies, the latest news, free advice, additional resources, and a lot more!You Can Use Facebook To Comment :-)
