We had five brave mom's give a self-defense course a try.  Here is what they thought of it after it was all over. www.karatebaltimore.com

Choosing the right martial arts school

The instructor has a black belt.  They must know their art well enough to be able to teach this to any student, right? Not always and sometimes it can be a rare skill.  A good teacher lies in the person not the belt. Just because the instructor can do amazing flying kicks doesn't mean he/she has the ability to deliver a lesson effectively.
The instructor has won tournaments all across the world, holds titles, trophies and awards in categories you didn't even know exist.  Does this matter when choosing a good school? Almost never.  The real challenge is can the instructor command a room in a way that engages all the students?  Its not going to matter if the teacher knocked out the three-time reigning champion if he can't get a bunch of 5 year olds to line up.
On our new website we have a brief newsletter about how to select the right martial arts school.  I encourage all new students to read this as I believe it is a great resource to help guide the dojo shopper into making a good decision about what karate school will be best with no bias.  On top of that, I also wanted to elaborate more on this topic as I think it is the MOST important question a new student and his/her parents should have: How do I pick the right martial arts school?
The answer is: A good instructor.  The location, the cost, the uniforms, the class size, the style, the appearance of the school are all second to the quality of the instruction received. The teacher having many years teaching experience is crucial, but equally important is the level at which they relay their teachings.  Ask these questions when you observe a class:

• Does the teacher seem enthusiastic about teaching?  
• Does he engage the student by name, provide positive and constructive feedback?
• Does the teacher seem to genuinely care about the progress of each student?
• Do the students seem tuned in to what is going on?
• Do the students seem eager to please the teacher not out of fear but admiration?
• Does the school have a student code or creed all the students are expected to uphold, does the teacher reinforce this?
• Does the teacher correct with authority but also friendliness?
• Are the students having fun?

Convenience is a factor, but should not be the only one.  It may be worth the extra drive time or the price.  Be careful of the schools that have really low tuition rates-these schools often times make up the cost by charging you initially undisclosed fees like promotions, testing, belt, organization memberships, etc.  Ask about any other costs aside from the monthly rate.

A clean school is a school that is care for and can be a direct representation to the quality and level of service you can expect to receive.

All schools should let you take a few trial classes or at the minimum allow you to observe classes at no or very little cost to make your own assessment.  Do not feel intimidated walking into a martial arts studio.  They are a business just like anything else, and if they are smart they will want you to have all your questions answered before ever stepping on the mats.