Selecting your child's martial arts instructor

November 6, 3:28 PMBaltimore Martial Arts ExaminerRamon Martinez

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photo by Ramon Martinez

HIYAHHH!  The Three Ninjas and the Karate Kid meet the Ninja Turtles and help the Avatar restore balance to the world!  Thanks to popular media, martial arts instruction as a childhood activity has become commonplace, even an expected childhood ritual.  Ads for martial arts schools appear on TV.  Businesses from weight loss centers to credit card companies use “little warriors” in karate uniforms to present family, child friendly images.  Discipline, perseverance, self-confidence and physical activity are accepted as known benefits of martial arts for children.  All positive.  All mostly true.

As in the purchase of all goods and services, selecting a martial arts instructor, especially for children, requires consumer education to prevent buyer remorse.  An instructor may be a good martial artist but an incompetent teacher.  Watching him or her perform is not enough, especially to the uninitiated.  Many students and parents are sold while watching demonstrations that have no bearing on the actual instruction they are buying.

Also, the need to investigate a potential instructor with access to children should be obvious.  However, other areas of concern are too often neglected.  Questions to be answered before “signing up” for lessons should include:  

- Contracts are an industry standard in martial arts schools, but does the contract presented to you have an “escape” clause or a trial period?

- Will the master instructor teach the classes, or will assistant or special instructors teach your child and how are they supervised? 

- Can parents/guardians watch their children during classes, or are spectators barred from viewing the training floor? 

- Are instructors familiar with the mental, physical and emotional development of children? 

- Are children subjected to exercises that will cause long-term damage to joints, ligaments and bones?

- Does the instructor promote blind obedience over discipline?

- Is aggressive, violent behavior confused with perseverance and indomitable spirit?

Answers to these questions and remembering that you and your child are consumers of a product in a competitive market will help you make an informed decision about buying lessons, keeping your child safe and healthy and ensuring a positive experience.