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Choosing a martial arts school doesn't have to be complicated. The steps below will guide you through the process from researching to signing up.
- Decide why you want to take martial arts training.
- Choose a style. There are several different types of martial arts. Some of the more popular styles are
- Stand-up styles place a lot of focus on punching, kicking, and blocking.
- Ground Fighting or Grappling Styles have a large focus on the "wrestling" aspect of combat.
- Brazilian Jujitsu
- Shooto or shoot fighting
- Sambo
- Greco-Roman Wrestling
- Throwing styles are styles that primarily start from a standup position
but utilize throws, trips, locks and other means to disrupt the balance
of an opponent.
- Weapons based styles focus the majority of their practice on the use of one or more weapons.
- Low impact or Meditative Styles are heavily focused on breathing, internal energy, stress relief and a low impact form of martial arts training and exercise.
- Tai Chi
- Ba Gua
- Chi Gong based style
- Determine what type of school will best suit you. The most common types of schools are:
- Fitness Facilities
- Focus primarily on fitness and offer many different classes and programs.
- Most fitness facilities play techno or dance music during the class sessions
- Family Facilities
- Usually teach one core style.
- Have children as a large percentage of their student body.
- Full Contact
- Focus on full contact fighting in the style of UFC, Pride, K1 and
other "no holds barred" competitions.
- Teach one style or be a mixed martial arts school that teaches multiple styles.
- Most likely be more focused on basics, drills and fighting combinations than forms or weapons.
- Majority adult male student body.
- Hard core schools.
- Competition
- Resemble the fitness or family schools but with they do some fighting.
- Medium contact sparring takes place during practice. Fighting takes place during open
tourneys or kickboxing.
- Emphasis on empty hand and
weapons routines. All students are not required to
compete.
- Traditional
- Concentrate on one core system and work it to perfection.
- Start searching for a school
- Ask friends and family for suggestions
- Visit schools to talk to an instructor and get an impression.
- Schedule introductory lessons
- Call the schools that you are interested in and ask for introductory lessons.
- Introductory lessons usually last for one week and can range from $20 to $30.
- Ask about the costs
- registration fees
- cost of uniform and competitions
- monthly fees
- testing fees
- organization memberships
- required fundraising
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