How to choose a (dang) dojo
With so many different martial arts, which one is best for you?
So you want to practice a martial art. Wonderful! I like you already! But be warned that a lot of people get wildly different things out of their martial arts experience than they hoped for when they went in. What to choose, among so many options? This guide should help you find a good place that actually gives you the kind of training that you desire.
Step 1:
Be honest with yourself about what you want. There are a lot of reasons to study martial arts, and the art (and dojo) you choose should be in line with your goals.
You don't have to be the next Kung-Fu street fighting legend, a focused and deadly samurai, or an old monk on a misty mountain top. What do you really want most?
to compete with others in tournaments, see action, and prove yourself?
to get mild (or intense) exercise while doing something cool?
to feel powerful, like you're living up to your potential?
to focus physically and gain a zen mindset?
to know you persisted in something and got a black belt?
to do something demanding and complex and beautiful?
to be the next Miyamoto Musashi, with deadly traditional skills?
to stop being afraid of physical attacks and feel like you can defend yourself?
to connect with other people while working out and feeling like a ninja?
to get in touch with some exotic culture and ancient history?
to get a performance skill that takes real study to gain, trains your body, and looks spectacular?
Ask yourself: How much do you want to practice alone? How much do you want to sweat? How much patience are you willing to invest in learning something – is this a 'three year' thing for you or a 'thirty years +' thing? How much of a perfectionist are you? How fast do you want to see results?
Decide what is most important to you.
Now figure out the type(s) of martial arts that you want to look for.
A genuine martial art is about personal combat and developing the skills and mindset to go with it. But not all 'martial arts' are either truly martial or truly arts. And that's okay.
There is nothing inherently wrong with not being martial, or an art. All these different groups are fine, in and of themselves. Each individual comes looking for something different from martial arts: and each one of these types of martial arts enriches different lives. [Except the cult. Stay away from martial cults.] Again, be honest with yourself about what you want. And learn to recognize what you are looking at, so you can end up in the kind of dojo that will bless your life the most.
If they spend most of their advertising time talking about promoting leadership, confidence, persistence, and friendship among children, they are a kids' day camp.
If they spend most of their advertising time talking about problem resolution, self esteem, couples bonding, or alleviation of depression … all these things may be true, but they are only side effects of a serious art. You are looking a physical psychology course.
If they have a wall full of trophies they won, if moves that can kill or disable are not taught because they are not tournament-friendly, and the class is always preparing for the next tournament, you are looking at a combat sport.
If the teacher's and senior students' techniques only work if the 'opponent' plays along, if they leave themselves open to strikes all the time, if they get mad if you 'do it wrong' and win, or you are accused of 'resistance' if you just stand there without throwing yourself into the scripted reaction to the technique … you are looking at an exotic form of yoga. (Note: saying “that's not the drill we're working on right now”, or “she's new, so don't make it too hard for her until she figures out the technique” is totally okay.)
If it's super flashy and cool, with lots of made-for-television moves, people do long pauses in cool poses; if there are showcases and public performances often, and there's a great deal of emphasis on 'presence' and the effect your moves have on the observer: it's a dance form.
If it's all about getting pumped up and doing a lot of reps (particularly with music in the background), building muscle and stamina, sweating and grunting, and body mass is at least as important as form or technique: this is a workout group.
If it's all about how amazing the teacher is (which teacher must be treated like some kind of high priest, and approached with the greatest possible humility and respect at all times), and the teacher is assumed to be invincible and better than all other martial artists anywhere, and the authority on martial arts he has only seen a few video clips of; if he/she is always right on all things at all times, and innocent questions about their methods are not okay: you have found a cult.
If it's all 'reality-based' training, with sudden attacks and lots of striking/grappling matches at full intensity from day one, if the teacher talks about “The Street” every five minutes as if it were a magical martial mecca, if it's all about honing aggression and physicality with very little art or science: you are looking at a fight club.
If there are a lot of traditional kata, but no real focus on how actual paired combat plays out, if mind-and-spirit are more important than if your sword cuts cut or your punches convey force, if doing things according to some exact historical pattern is essential, but ability to in fact really fight with your hands or weapons is not looked at: this is moving meditation.
If there are a lot of basics, if there is a solid focus on efficiency, what really works, and not leaving yourself open; if the moves are (or can be) potentially lethal, with a calm life-and-death focus, if technique is practiced carefully until it becomes smooth and fluid and instantaneous, if power, precision, and bare sufficiency of movement all matter – if perfecting their form, their awareness, their mind and spirit and movement keeps the senior students and teacher awake at night: you are looking at a genuine martial art.
But these things all call themselves 'martial arts', so I'll use that term to cover all of them. And regardless of what kind of martial art you want, the rest of the guide applies.
Step 2:
Look up what is in your area. Peruse the websites. Try dojos.info. If you don't know what a martial art is (Danzan Ryu? Wushu? Kali? Silat?) – look up the art online. (Be aware that every art has people who worship it and people who think it is weak and silly. Just look up the history and overall 'flavor'.) Maybe contact a few teachers and ask questions. Make a shortlist of places to visit.
Step 3:
Read this post: The Thirteen Things You Should Check Before You Decide on a Martial Art. Now go visit classes!
Even if you think you won't join that dojo, get a feel for different dojos before you make up your mind. Sit and watch – or try it out, if they invite you to do that. Contacting the teacher beforehand and asking (if traditional)/announcing (if not traditional) that you'll be there is a nice touch. If they refuse to let you even watch a class until you swear to drink the kool-aid and sign up, walk away now. Some highly traditional dojos might not have openings for new students all the time. You can ask to watch and see if you want to go on a waitlist.
Go and look at several places. Comparison shop. There's no substitute for just watching a class or two and picking up on the vibes.
Watch (or join) the class and get a feel for the style.
Money matters, so talk to the teacher. Find out what the pay schedule is, if there is an initial fee, what equipment is needed, and how much tests cost.
Ask about the art's history, how/why it developed, what makes it different from other martial arts. You can learn a lot of about what makes a style tick and their core philosophy by digging into this.
Talk to a couple of the students. Ask why they picked this art, what happens in a normal class, and get them talking about the teacher. Ask what in the martial art is hardest for them, and what they like best.
Watch the students and teacher with each other.
