Don't Join A Martial Art School Before Reading This!

Article Written By: David Weinberg

You do not have to drive too far to find the nearest martial art school. Finding a good dojo, though, is nothing short of a miraculous feat. So what should you look for on your quest to find the utopian school?

It is crucial to determine why you are studying a martial art so you can choose the most appropriate school for your specific needs. Most schools focus on sport-combat which can allow you to spar at full speed and compete in tournaments. Others, usually much harder to find, focus exclusively on real-life street combat and effective techniques against multiple attackers and weapons. So ask yourself if you want to get fit and compete or be able to protect yourself in a life and death?

It is imperative that you search for a school where the students' safety and well-being is the primary concern. There are many schools where bruises, chipped teeth, pulled tendons, torn muscles, and broken bones are commonplace. Some schools even take pride in injuries as a way to condition your body to take pain and toughen you up. In reality, that really only helps to age your body and increase the likelihood of developing arthritis and other degenerative health problems.

It is crucial to study with a martial art teacher who is not only skilled in martial arts, but who is also secure with his or her own self. Some teachers will deliberately injure you if the teacher cannot counter a physical technique or a challenging question. In other schools you are not allowed to ask the teacher questions at all. You are just forced to do as they are told.

It is essential that you study with a self defense teacher who will strive to remove your ego and who is also working diligently to remove his or her own ego. As you mature in the martial arts you should become more open-minded and less prone to fight. You should only use your martial art on a physical level as a last resort.

Being able to ask questions will greatly expedite your learning. Some schools do not allow questions to be asked. Other martial art schools may not be good at answering your specific questions. Finding a school that can answer your tough questions and help you understand the "why" behind all of your movements is absolutely critical. You will advance much quicker when you can bridge the gaps in your knowledge by asking questions and getting good answers.

It is imperative to study in a martial art school that helps to open your mind as opposed to closing it. Some schools will boast that their style is superior to all others. Consciously or subconsciously your exposure to this type of attitude will condition you to also develop a closed mind and prejudice to other styles not your own. In the end this really only weakens your overall martial education since you will be less inclined integrate the principles from another system to mitigate your weaknesses. You also want to be familiar with other systems so you know how to defend against as many different types of attacks as possible.

About the Author

Sensei David Weinberg is a 3rd Degree Black Belt and Instructor of Freedman's Method Ketsugo Jujutsu. To learn more about Freedman's Method, visit the official jujitsu site site or the official jujutsu blog

You Can Link Directly to "Don't Join A Martial Art School Before Reading This!" by using the url:
http://www.allbestarticles.com//sport/martial-arts/don-t-join-a-martial-art-school-before-reading-this.html

This Article Has Been Published on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 and Read 158 Times

Find All Best Articles at http://www.allbestarticles.com

Rating: Not yet rated

Comments

No comments posted.

Add Comment

You do not have permission to comment. If you log in, you may be able to comment.

Related information on Martial Arts

Tips For Buying Best Martial Art Supplies
Don't Join A Martial Art School Before Reading This!
Karate Lessons Briery Hill
Ninja Kids!