How to Choose a Martial Arts School
Martial arts are among the fastest growing activities in the world. Fascination stems from the latest trend of martial arts on television and on the big screen. From Jackie Chan, Jet Li, and Angelina Jolie to Shark Boy and the Power Rangers, more and more men, women, and children have become inspired by the skills and abilities acquired through the martial arts. The result is an industry that has taken the world by storm with millions of participants that have credited their success, growth and development to their martial arts training.
Why martial arts?
A good martial arts program will target development physically, intellectually, emotionally, and socially. Unlike most other fitness activities, martial arts are an individual activity within a support circle of a group environment. Participants enjoy the physical benefits such as balance, coordination, fitness, and flexibility while learning traditional martial arts skills that improve discipline, memory and focus. Emotional skills grow immediately as martial arts teach individuals how to have courage, perseverance, and control. To make martial arts even more enticing, the social interaction amongst students, families, and staff members is a benefit often overlooked but enjoyed the most as the martial arts lifestyle takes its course.
Joining a martial arts school is a lot like purchasing a used car: You don't always know what you are getting until it's too late.
In the marketplace of martial arts, all schools are not created equal. Martial arts teachers generally do not have to answer to a state regulatory commission or a government agency, and there is no consumer group to act as a watchdog to ensure the quality of instruction. Anyone, in fact, can acquire a business license, purchase a black belt, rent studio space and, to the unwitting public, appear to be the second coming of Bruce Lee.
How, then, can the discerning buyer make a knowledgeable choice when it comes to martial arts instruction?
Women's Self Defense
In the past twenty years, there has been an explosion of available information and data about violence against women. In reviewing both this data and the content of martial arts based women's self-defense courses, an alarming disconnection between what is being taught and the reality of assaults women and girls experience was discovered. Survivors of sexual assault are stepping up more than ever to tell their stories.
