Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Martial Art? 
A Martial Art can e defined as a system of techniques, physical and mental exercises developed as an effective means for self-defense and offense, both unarmed and with the use of weapons.

The origin and history of Martial Arts is a controversial issue. We can see signs of Martial Arts in Greek, Egyptian, African, Japanese, Chinese, Thai as well as other cultures. There is a clear trail leading from the Southern China-regions up to Korea, Okinawa and Japan. The details before that, and the exact details of that transfer, are greatly debated by historians and Martial Artists. 

What kinds of Martial Arts are there? 
There are many ways in which martial arts can be divided. Here are a few of them that might be useful to use in defining Martial Arts and discussing them. These are not necessarily consensus definitions but they are commonly held. 

It is also useful to remember that very few of these martial arts are just one way or another...they are all mixtures of these elements in various degrees. When we say a style is "hard" what we mean is that the predominant expression of that style is hard. If we say Shotokan is linear, it does not mean Shotokan has no circular techniques.

"Sport" vs "Fighting Art" vs. "Exercise" vs. "Philosophy"
These are usually NON-useful comparisons because people tend to be very strongly opinionated on this matter. Most people want to think their art is an ancient "fighting art" and can be applied thus on the street. Some styles truly are all four, and to some degree, all styles contain all four elements. 

In discussions of a style, it is most useful when people highlight which area or areas their style emphasizes. 

"Linear" vs. "Circular" 
This distinction refers to lines of movement, attack and defense. "Circular" styles use circular movements to block, attack or move. Around and aside... "Linear" styles use direct, straight-on movements, attacks or head-on blocks. In and out... 

Styles can, and sometimes do, mix circular blocks with linear attacks. This is a subtle distinction and not absolute, but it gives some information. 

"Soft" vs. Hard"
"Soft" styles tend to redirect energy, channeling and diverting momentum to unbalance an opponent, or to move them into striking range. They tend to be lower commitment and use less force. Thus, they are less likely to be unbalanced and can recover from redirection easier. Examples are Tai Chi, Aikido, Ninjutsu, or many Kung Fu styles and sub-styles. 

"Hard" styles tend to direct energy outward and meet energy with energy. They will tend to strike more, and deliver more force with each strike. Hard stylists will often damage with their blocks, turning them into attacks. They deliver more power, and thus are harder to turn aside, but they are higher commitment, and thus don't recover as well from mistakes. Examples are Karate, Tae-Kwon-Do, Muay Thai, and some Kung Fu styles and sub-styles.

"Internal" vs. "External"
"Internal" styles are styles that emphasize the more non-tangible elements of the arts. They utilize chi/ki/qi flow, rooting and those elements that some people consider "mystical". They tend to emphasize meditation, body control, perception, mind control (self, not others!) and pressure points. `Typically' internal styles are soft. Tai Chi is an internal style. 

"External" styles tend to emphasize body mechanics, leverage and applied force. They tend to use weight, strength, positioning, and anatomy to optimal advantage. `Typically' external styles are hard. Tae-Kwon-Do is an external style. 

"Complete Art" or not
The term "complete art" is sometimes applied to arts that include strikes, kicks, throws, pressure points, and joint locks. The arts most often mentioned in this regard are some Kung Fu styles, Jujitsu and Hapkido. Although some arts contain more techniques than others do, no art is "complete" in the sense that it includes all the important techniques from other arts. In general, every art has its strong and weak points, and each has something to offer to the lexicon of martial arts techniques. 

Which Martial Art should I study? 
That's a question that only you can answer maybe with a little help of your physician. 

While some people advocate that "my style fits any individual", it is very debatable if any single individual would adapt to *any* style. 

It depends heavily on your objectives, but remember, these may change with time. Many people who begin martial arts training strictly to learn self-defense become quite interested in other aspects as their training progresses. 

What are you looking for? 

For instance, if you are looking for on the street self-defense training Tai Chi or Kendo might not be your first choice. Some choices: Jujitsu, Hapkido, some Kung Fus, Karate, Kenpo (or Kempo), Tang Soo Do, Muay Thai, Tae-Kwon-Do, Ninjutsu, Kali, or Silat. 

If you are looking for meditation and philosophy Western Boxing is probably a poor choice as well. Some choices: most Kung Fus, Aikido, Tai Chi, Kendo, Kenjutsu or Iaido. 

If you were looking for a sport and competition, Shaolin Long Fist would probably be a bad choice. Some choices: Fencing, some Karates/Kung Fus, Judo, Boxing, Kendo, Tae-Kwon-Do, and Savate. 

If you are looking for intense body conditioning and muscle development, Aikido is probably not the style for you. Some choices: some Okinawan Karates, Judo, some Kung Fus, Muay Thai, Tae-Kwon-Do and Capoeira. 

Now these are general guides- in truth any art can be taught in a manner which promotes any of these things- Tai Chi masters have competed, some Aikido schools have rigorous workouts associated with the class, etc. The way to find out is to look at three things, only one of which is directly linked to the style.

-The basics of the style (what does it teach, what is it used for 
-The skill and the teaching style of the teacher 
-The purpose and the logistics of the school. 

Also, remember that more "complete" arts (ones with more techniques) naturally require longer periods of time for a practitioner to achieve a given level of proficiency. This is neither good nor bad; there are good points on both sides of the debate. This is simply another facet to account for in your decision. 

As above, the teacher and the school have as much to do with what you will learn as the style. Check out the styles in your area. Go see some classes of the different styles and see what interests you and what you think you would stick with. 

Many people change from one style to another. While this is a common practice, accepted as a means of development, it is known that the first style is normally the one that leaves the base, the more profound "marks". Try to choose a style that suits your needs and at the same time offers you a kind of "challenge" to go on learning. 

How do I choose a School? 
This question is integrally linked with the previous question "Which Martial Art should I study?” 

A couple of things that are important parts to look at in the process of choosing a school: 
1.      The environment where you'll learn and train
2.      The people that will be your partners
3.      The instructor
4.      The logistics of the school

Don't get impressed by the size of the place- just be sure that you feel "ok" in there. 

Also, don't necessarily be impressed by huge number of trophies. They may indicate a very successful competitive school (if that is an aspect you are interested in) or they could be all show. Check carefully. 

If you are not allowed to watch any classes, you may not want to invest your time and money. Without seeing, a class you will not be able to get a good feel for the school. 

Ask questions- don't worry about looking stupid or asking the "wrong" question. They are going to be teaching and training you- you want to get any concerns or considerations you have out before you commit to anything. 

If you feel bullied or threatened in any manner, look somewhere else. 

The people that will be your partners 

Go, watch some classes without participating, and then ask to participate- see if the behavior of the students changes by the fact that there is a new person in their class. 

What follows is a quick and dirty checklist, to which you can add your own points, based on what you consider important. Remember: these questions and suggestions are just guidelines, not hard and fast rules. There will always be exceptions. But if you look in these domains, you will have a solid ground to choose from. 

- How good are the students? 

This is more of a measure of the quality of the students as students than their skill at martial arts. See if you can picture yourself with these people. Are they attentive, respectful and interested in being there? Those are all good signs... 

- Is there a mix of upper and lower ranks? 

This is not always obvious in the styles without belt rankings, etc. It is generally a good sign if advanced; intermediate and beginning students are practicing together. Check the approach the higher ranked students take to you- their help will probably be very important in your advancement in the Art you choose. 

Some schools have classes separated by rank though. Ask. 

-Is there a mix in the type of people in the class? 

Although this doesn't necessarily mean anything if it is not present, it is a good sign if there is a mixture of males and females, older and younger people in the class. It is a pointer to the efficiency of the Art if it can teach a wide variety of people together. 

- Do they move the way you would like to? 

This will give you some sense of what you can achieve. Look to the senior students and see if they move the way you want to move. 

- Do they help one another? 

In a small class, this may not apply, but in larger classes it is a good sign if the senior students support and assist the junior students. This kind of personal attention will aid you greatly in your training. 

- Do the senior students seem fit and relaxed? 

This will give you a sense of the atmosphere of the school. If the senior students are uptight, nervous, unfit, out of shape or unhappy, it may be a sign to move on. However, do not be put off by a single occurrence, i.e. because on THAT day the senior student was in a poor mood. It should at least prompt you to look carefully though... 

- How common are injuries? 

As most martial arts involve vigorous physical activity and contact,  injuries will occasionally occur. However, if injuries are common and/or serious, there is likely a problem in how training is supervised, and you will probably want to look elsewhere. It will be difficult to tell what the frequency/severity of injuries in the class is in one or two visits. Ask the instructor. 

The Instructor 

-You'll need some basic trust in the individual, as a beginning. 

The instructor is the person who is going to be guiding your development as a martial artist. You need to feel comfortable with him or her, and feel secure in receiving instruction from them. If you have some unease or personality conflict with the instructor(s), you might want to look elsewhere. 

- Do the students get personalized attention? 

This will be a good judge of how valuable your time will be. If there is a good  amount of instructor to student attention, there will be more value for you. 

- Does the instructor differentiate between forms and function? 

Another good indication is to find out if the instructor(s) differentiates between form and function. In other words do they do it "because it looks good" or "because it works." This may not apply if you are looking for a martial art as a performance art or as an exercise (though then you want to look at the efficacy of their exercises...) 

- Does the instructor(s) differentiate between tournament and self-defense? 

As above, your reaction to this question's answer will depend on what your goals are. However, there is general agreement that tournament training and self-defense training, while highly related, are different. If the instructor does not differentiate the two- that may be a danger sign! 

- Violence in the class 

If you see an instructor hitting students, or a senior student hitting students, be very clear that it was appropriate before you consider that school. Though be aware – if you are unfamiliar with the art, medium or full contact sparring may seem overly violent to you. Violence as discipline is to be avoided. 

- Are adjustments made for students of differing body types and limitations? 

Another good sign is if the instructor adjusts the training of his or her student's physical realities: telling a slow person to work contact, a fast person to work ranges, a heavy person to work leverage, a light person to work speed, or, conversely, concentrating on their weak areas to compensate. 

The logistics of the School 

-Money 

This is an important element to be clear about. You don't want to commit to a school if you can't afford it. It is impossible to address what a reasonable price would be here, because the benefits offered, the local economy, the quality of instruction, and the amount of instructor time are all variables in the equation. 

Find out if there are extra charges for going up in rank, find out if there are organizational dues, tournament fees, mat fees, etc. 

But do not be upset when a Martial Arts instructor charges money- they need to eat and have a place to stay. In our culture, money is the way that happens. We do not feed and house wise old men. Now, some instructors, especially around colleges, or who have big garages, teach for free after their primary job. However, the costs of a school, equipment and insurance are frighteningly high. The best way to determine if a school is being reasonable is to compare what they offer for the price compared to what other local schools offer for their prices. 

-Location 

If you are intending to spend a lot of time at the school you want it to be accessible, and convenient enough for you to get there after work, on weekends, etc. 

-Classes 

Another thing you want to be clear on is when you can go to the school and when classes are. Some schools are open almost all the time and have lots of classes. In some schools, you can only come when an official class is being held. An open school is usually better for obvious reasons- convenience, practice time, access to mats, etc. 

-Commitments and Promises 

This is an important thing to know about any school you will be joining. Be very clear on what they will expect of you and what you expect of them. Some teachers want to teach only people who are willing to commit to them and their style, some are willing to introduce you to their style and let you dabble, some will teach you as long as you show up. None of these are intrinsically better or worse, but you want to know where they are coming from so you and they are not surprised. 

Find out if you are required to attend classes, find out about being late, and find out what the policy is on school rules of behavior and etiquette. Find out how you are supposed to interact with the teacher and other students. There are many styles for all these things so make sure you find out. The easiest way is to ask these questions. 

There may be other questions you want to look at and specific questions you have about an instructor, school, organization, or style you are looking at. Know the questions you want answered and you will find the perfect school for you! 

Should children study Martial Arts? 
In general, yes. Some of the possible positives would be control of aggressiveness, instilling self-respect and self-control, as well as self-defense. 

The style that a child should take is a totally different question, and is directly influenced by the style, if any, of the parents. It will of course be convenient if the child can practice with, or at least in the same school as, the parents. The major issue with children in the martial arts is the integrity and trustworthiness of the teacher and the school. 

The joints and connective tissues of children are more vulnerable to injury than those of adults. Keep this in mind when selecting a style and school for a child, and discuss it with the instructor. Schools, which allow aggressive joint locks to be applied to children or don't train them to refrain from snapping/hyper-extending elbows on strikes and knees on kicks, should be avoided. 

Rankings/Color Belt Systems 
Many arts have a ranking system. A typical ranking from beginner to most experienced master is: 10th kyu, 9th kyu, ... 2nd kyu, 1st kyu, 1st dan, 2nd dan... 10th dan. "kyu" and "dan" are Japanese words, 1st dan and above frequently wear black belts. 

That being said, do not put too much stock in rankings, and put even less in belt color. Belt colors are HIGHLY dependent on the art, school and instructor. Some arts don't have any belts. Some have only white and black. Some have white, brown and black. Some have a rainbow. Some instructors hand out rank/belts like candy, others are very stingy. A given color will frequently signify different ranks in different arts. 

Rather than rank or belt color, what will determine an individual’s skill is how long and how intensely they have studied, the quality of instruction they have received and (to a lesser extent) their "natural" ability. 

The Dojo follows the following Belt/Rank structure:

Rank		Adults	Juniors
Kyu  Kyu	9th	White belt	Yellow Belt
Hachi Kyu	8th	White belt with one black stripe	Yellow Belt with one black stripe
Shichi Kyu	7th	White belt with two black stripes	Yellow Belt with two black stripes
Roku Kyu	6th	Green Belt third	Purple Belt
Go Kyu	5th	Green Belt second	Purple Belt with one white stripe
Yon Kyu	4th	Green Belt first	Purple Belt with two white stripes
San Kyu	3rd	Brown belt third	Blue Belt
Ni Kyu	2nd	Brown belt second	Blue Belt with one white stripe
Ichi Kyu	1st	Brown belt first	Blue Belt with two white stripes
Shodan Ho	1st Black belt probationary period	Black belt	Red Belt
Shodan	1st Black belt	Black belt specialized with your name embroidered	Red Belt specialized with your name embroidered