The Hidden Costs of Choosing the Wrong Style of Martial Arts Karate

[Shari Blair]

A lot of people nowadays are getting into the martial arts and
choosing a school without even knowing which style of martial arts the
school teaches. Some schools are not totally clear on what their style
is as many are practicing and teaching a hybrid mix of multiple arts.
Is this a problem? Should you know which style you practice? Are
clearly lineated styles even important? The easy answer to all of
these questions is yes and no. Unfortunately there are hidden costs
involved in choosing the wrong style of martial arts.
Here's why:
' Choosing a style based on popularity rather than something that fits
your personal strengths Just because a style is the most popular thing
going doesn't mean that it is right for you. Taekwondo has held the
interest of many a young person due to its dynamic and spectacular
kicks. If you are athletic and flexible then this might be the art for
you but if you have bad knees and worse hamstrings, then think twice.
Not too long ago, Tae Bo was the big thing. At first glance some
people thought this was a martial art, especially as the founder Billy
Blanks was a former karate champion. However, some of them were
disappointed to find out that Tae Bo was a new style aerobic workout
using martial arts techniques that has little to no self-defense
value.
More recently Mixed Martial Arts has become hugely popular and the
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is attracting record numbers on
its Pay-Per-View events. Consequently, many young people are hoping to
ride the next wave of popular martial arts. However if you want to
keep your good looks, straight nose and nicely-shaped ears you might
want to reconsider.
The bottom line is that you should try to find a martial art that
matches your strengths and not your weaknesses.
' Picking a martial art that has conflicting values with your core
beliefs The majority of martial arts have a certain amount of
traditional "baggage" that comes with them. This "baggage" can
sometimes include some rather esoteric practices and mystical thinking
that you may or may not be comfortable with. Most people are able to
accept these practices at face value and in many cases the various
martial arts schools water down some of the stranger customs and forms
of etiquette in the interest of blending in with our popular culture.
Some people however feel that their own personal religious preferences
and ideals are being compromised and therefore can feel more than a
little uncomfortable. If this description fits you then you might want
to check out your chosen style's practices and customs before you make
your final decision. This factor is usually not an issue but it
doesn't hurt to check out this aspect of your martial art before
making a commitment.
' Enrolling in a martial arts school based on price rather than
quality This factor can work for you and against you. There is no
regulation in the martial arts industry that defines what standards a
good school should uphold. Also there are a wide range of martial
artists who are full-time commercial school owners and some who are
part-time hobbyists.
Most people's perception is that the more expensive the school the
better the martial art. Sometimes this is true but sometimes the local
community center has a great martial artist offering a great service.
Expensive schools usually offer excellent training facilities and
great customer service together with well-structured programs.
Cheaper schools or classes generally offer lesser facilities and
sometimes inferior instruction, but very often there are some hidden
gems to be discovered. Don't overlook these people just because of
price. Conversely don't overlook the big schools because they are "too
expensive". Make your decision based on quality and not price.
' Opening the Yellow Pages and choosing a karate school just because
the ad looked good Looks can be deceiving and just because an ad in
the Yellow Pages looks good doesn't mean that the karate school is the
right one for you. It just means that they are better at marketing and
design than some of the other schools listed in the same pages. Check
into a few of the schools by calling them and visiting them and then
make your decision. It might end up that you still go to the school
with the cool ad and that's fine, but at least you looked around a
little first.
So what is the moral of the story? Do your research first, before you
begin your martial arts practice! A little extra time spent up front
will more than likely pay dividends later. The martial arts often
turns into a lifetime endeavor. You probably won't be too happy if you
spend some significant time practicing a certain style of martial arts
only to find out that there is nowhere else to go unless you change
your style.
I speak from personal experience here so please listen to what I'm
saying. I spent the first ten years of my martial arts practice
studying a style of karate that had been invented by my instructor. I
was lucky because this particular instructor was actually very good at
the martial arts and had developed his style based on what he felt was
the best from some of the mainstream karate styles.
Consequently, when he decided to end his study of the martial arts due
to family commitments, the transition into my current style of
Shotokan Karate was not too difficult due to the similarities with my
first style of karate. Fortunately I have few regrets based on the
life lessons I received from my first instructor. Some of you may be
less fortunate and will have to change altogether.
For a comprehensive guide on how to choose the right style and the
right school for you just download my FREE Report, "Karate for
Newcomers: How to Find Out Everything You Need to Know to Start Your
Karate Practice". You will find it at http://www.freekarateinformation.com/investigator.html
Good luck and best wishes on your journey in karate.