Look Before You Leap Into a Dojo

* Don’t pick a style of martial arts, pick a teacher.

Decide what you need from the class, then search for an instructor.

The overwhelming number of students want to protect themselves from attack, but some are looking to train to become competitive, for self-discipline and aerobic exercise.

Don’t let the flashy moves seduce you--the big jumps or high kicks are often more part of Hollywood movies than for practical use if you are accosted.

Steve Spry offers this short test to see if your instructor is a good teacher: ask him or her, “What comes first?”

If the answer is enthusiasm, followed by discipline and then confidence, you are on the right track. Spry believes it can be applied to all of life.

* Don’t believe the hype.

Martial arts teachers don’t have to be licensed to open a school. Their advertising--even in the yellow pages--goes unchecked for veracity.

If a school says it has been open for 10 years, find a phone book from 10 years ago (public libraries often have them if they’re not still in your garage) and see if they were really in business 10 years ago.

* Check licensing and certifications.

Just because they say they are licensed doesn’t mean they are. There’s not an easy way to check if your instructor earned a black belt or bought it, but if you can independently verify that they are licensed and certified and have been teaching for more than 10 years, you’re probably OK.

* Check with places such as the Better Business Bureau.

To be extremely thorough, you can check with Better Business Bureau to see if they have record of complaints against the school and check public records to see if the school has been sued, has liens or had to suspend operations for any reason.

* Pick a school or instructor who screens prospective students.

This is an indication that they care about what they teach and who they teach it to.

* You’re never too old, too young, too small, too tall, too frail, too thin, too fat or too ignorant to learn and benefit from martial arts.

The important thing is to find the right style and instructor to fit your needs.

* Remember: the hardest part is making your first appointment.

. . . The second hardest part is your first step onto the mat. From that point it is surprisingly easy.

* Shop around

Prices vary widely as do practice times. Most sessions take anywhere from a half-hour to a couple of hours. All of the good places will emphasize that in order to reach your goals, you must be serious about attending and learning.

As one instructor says, “If this is not your thing, don’t waste your time and money.”

There are a wide variety of martial arts that can suit your personality and needs.