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California Karate Academy
1560 DeAnza Blvd. Cupertino/Saratoga , CA 408-253-4044 |
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Choosing a Martial Arts School A martial arts school is a unique thing within our society – more than a place for fitness and social activity, it is a place designed to promote personal growth and to enhance character development. When looking for the right martial arts school for yourself or your child, we believe you consider the following factors: |
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Single system Look for a school that teaches only one art - karate, judo, aikido, taekwondo, kung-fu, etc., not several. An old martial arts proverb says that the hunter who shoots at two rabbits misses both. As a beginner, you want to focus on one thing and learn it well, perhaps before moving on to another art.
Also be leery of schools that claim to teach karate but actually teach taekwondo, kung-fu, or any of the other non-Japanese/Okinawan martial arts. |
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Children's Programs
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Karate is a Japanese word that
refers only to a unique martial art of Japanese/Okinawan origin.
Taekwondo and kung-fu are totally different arts. Legitimate
taekwondo and kung-fu experts are proud of their art and would never
refer to it by another name, in this case karate. If a school
teaches taekwondo or kung-fu and calls their art or school karate,
be very leery. Ask yourself why a school would attempt to
misrepresent the art they taught. Style Style refers to a way of teaching a specific art – not to a differentiation between arts. Karate, taekwondo, and kung-fu are different martial arts, not different styles. In the same way, the Japanese/Okinawan arts of judo, jujitsu, aikido, sumo, kendo, iado, yudo, etc. are different martial arts, not different styles of karate. The major styles of karate are Shotokan, Shorin Ryu, Goju Ryu, Shito Ryu, Wado Ryu, Isshin Ryu, and Uechi Ryu. Rank System Most martial arts today utilize a ranking system for its practitioners. In the Japanese martial arts (karate, judo, etc.) the ranking system usually consists of black belt and a variety of colored belts leading up to black belt. These pre-black belt ranks usually start with white belt and end, just below black belt, with brown belt. The ranks in between are signified by several other colors that may vary from school to school. Our pre-black belt ranks are as follows: orange, yellow, blue, purple, green, and brown.
Black belt ranks range from 1st degree through 10th degree black belt. Tenth level Black Belt is generally reserved for the founder of the system, the one person at the top of an organization of an art, or a life long practitioner of the art. There are only a handful of true 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th Degree Black Belts in each martial art through out the entire world. And all known legitimate martial artists at this level are above 50 years of age. National Organizations Does the school belong to a recognized national or international organization? Most good schools are part of such organizations. Instructor Credentials All legitimate martial arts instructors have credentials to verify their rank and/or any titles they hold (master, grandmaster, etc). Some questions you might ask include: Where did they get their rank? Did they promote themselves? Or were they promoted by people within their own organization who are beneath them in rank? A person can’t give himself a BA, MA, or Ph.D degree, nor can they be promoted to such a degree by someone who only holds a BA degree themselves. In the same way, a person can’t promote themselves to any degree of black belt. And they can’t be promoted by people who aren’t qualified to make such a promotion. Unfortunately, self-promotion and promotion by an unqualified “board” are very common within the martial arts. To be considered legitimate, a person must be promoted through their black belt ranks by someone who is at least two black belt levels above them. Ask if the instructor belongs to the same organization that issued their rank? (They should. Many move upwards in rank by switching from organization to organization.) Do their credentials seem to make sense? Ones that may not are a 25-year-old instructor claiming a high black belt rank (above 4th degree) or rank in several different arts. Does the instructor have any teaching certification beyond their rank certification? A black belt doesn’t suddenly make someone qualified to teach. They must complete an additional program to learn this skill. Instructor Personality You should take special notice of the instructor as he teaches. The instructor may not be the person who greets you or even who gives you your first lesson or two – often called introductory classes. You want to make sure the personality of the instructor suits you and/or your children. Sport vs. Self Defense Do they offer, recommend, or require competition? To be useful, students must be paired up for dual practice. Do they utilize adequate safety gear for these sessions? How much control is utilized? We do not, but some schools require full or semi-full contact during paired sessions, which we consider dangerous, especially to children. Weapons If you are interested in weapons training, be sure to ask if the school teaches them. Not all schools do. The traditional Japanese/Okinawan weapons aren’t actually weapons. They were farm and fishing tools used by Japanese and Okinawan people in their daily jobs. And, since real weapons were banned, they were forced to use these tools when attacked by those with real weapons. At CKA, we offer training in these ancient “weapons” to anyone interested. Mastery of each of these requires different physical and mental skills. As such, they round a student out. Some require greater concentration, others greater strength, etc, making them a great training tool for children, who become quickly bored. Watch or participate in a class Can you watch a class before you or your children join? Many schools discourage observation. We encourage it. We also offer an introductory class for a nominal fee to allow potential students to get a feel for our school before committing to a program. Program length It takes time to acquire skill at self defense and develop the life changing qualities a good martial arts school seeks to instill in its students - making them healthier, happier, and more accomplished. (These qualities include self control, self discipline, self confidence, and self esteem.) Something acquired quickly is usually forgotten just as quickly. As a result, most schools require a year commitment. However, there may be other options. Inquire at the school. Final Thoughts Keep your eyes open and don’t be afraid to ask questions. It takes hard work, dedication, time, and willingness to grow to achieve a black belt in any art or system. And it takes the right instructor, art or style, setting, and the support of ones fellow students to reach that point. In some schools, students have a (negative) competitive attitude towards each other, especially newcomers. Avoid these. Some schools also spend most of their time entertaining students, playing games, or teaching fancy techniques that don’t work in real situations, such as fancy high kicks. You want a school that will help you or your child reach their goals in life, not hamper them. Make sure you feel comfortable with the school (including the instructors and fellow students) before taking the first step and making that commitment.Call Today! 408-253-4044 Email: Manager@ckakarate.com California Karate Academy 1560 DeAnza Blvd. Cupertino/Saratoga
, CA
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