It can be intimidating when trying to find a new martial art to train. How do you know which school is best for you? Try them out. Book a first class, meet the instructor, see the location, and feel it out. You first intuition is usually the best.

A list of a few things to consider when finding a school.

Research the art.

Do your homework and make sure that what the school or teacher is promoting is legitimate. Do they have a connection to others that are training? Does the art have a rich history? Usually teachers that obscure the roots of their art don’t have any or they have made up something new.

Meet the students

You can tell a lot about a school from the student base. Is it a good community? Do you feel welcome and safe? Is there a diverse training group? You will be training with these people on a consistent basis. Make sure it is a place you want to be.

Commit to the training

No matter what school you find make sure you are ready to commit. Training real martial arts take a consistent training routine and a system to advance and there are no short cuts. Know what you are getting into and that it is up to you to make it work.