Martial arts schools are all over! If you reside in the U.S., chances are you have at least one Karate school or Taekwondo school within a 5-mile span of your place --and very likely more. There are estimated to be over six million martial artists in North America, about 70% of those are children. Individual martial arts schools rank from operations that transcend the gloss and fancy facilities of the nation's finest health club chains to schools that appear relative to down-and-dirty garage dojos. Price ranges in most martial arts schools median is about $125 per month, however many martial arts schools or can be found that charge anywhere from $35.00 per month to more than $200. With endless options of Karate schools, Taekwondo schools, or other martial arts school, how do you choose the correct option to begin your martial arts training ?

Selecting a quality martial arts school is imperative if you want to hold fast with your martial arts training. The best martial arts school has to have a like vision and goals as you do for your martial arts training, and the travel time can't be too long so that classes aren't a load on your very eventful schedule.

Strictly being a black belt, at any level, is not evidence that the wearer is a solid martial arts instructor or that he or she knows how to run a business. Because someone wears a black belt and is a skillful athlete, doesn't imply they are going to be a quality martial arts instructor or teacher and give you your money's worth when it comes to lessons.

This outline is intended to answer questions and take the guess work out of selecting a great school you for you. Here are some tips to assist you find the best martial arts school for you!

1. It starts with Service. Starting with your initial contact with a martial arts school, via a web site, a phone call, or a personal visit, it's all about the service. Just because the owner or martial arts instructor of a martial arts school has the power to make you beg for mercy an tap out, doesn't imply they have the authority to furnish you with anything but the best service they can. If you visit a martial arts school and you don't see or feel a reasonably positive level of customer service occurring do some more research.

2. Search for a martial arts school in your desired driving distance. Start listing addresses and phone numbers of all the Karate schools and Taekwondo schools within your desired drive time. The easiest place to start is the local yellow pages or search online. Scan through the advertisements and schools available and search for those that seem like the best martial arts school for your training needs. If you do not find what you are looking for, expand your search radius until you do.

3. Call the schools and ask questions. Call all of your listed martial arts schools before you schedule any introductory lessons. Use the Martial Smarts school checklist as a tool for asking the right questions and a way to compare each school you've selected.

4. Plan to visit the best martial arts schools you've selected. Drop by to survey the school and some of the classes. Contemplate more than one visit to the same martial arts school to get a better feel of what the training in the school is really like. Try to observe a higher belt class, or an advanced class if they have one. This will give you an idea of what to expect in your future martial arts training.

5. Schedule and attend trial lessons at your top choices. Try out the classes at the Karate schools, Taekwondo schools, or martial arts school you liked the best from your phone conversations and personal visits.

6. The martial arts school training facility. The way the school looks and its cleanliness (or lack thereof) says something about the attitude and aptitude of the owner. A martial arts school doesn't have to look like a shiny diamond, but it ought to be clean and organized. If a school doesn't look professional, chances are it isn't.

7. The martial arts instructor and training staff. Just like you would count on from any business, the employees of a martial arts school should be courteous, professional, and personable. They should treat you with superior service and respect like a paying customer.

8. Attitude of the martial arts instructor Trust your gut, if you get a weird feeling from the martial arts instructor or owner and it rubs you the wrong way, then you shouldn't become a customer of that school. A bad attitude often means a bad martial arts school. If the attitude of the owner is superb and his or her instructors exhibits a similar attitude, then you've found a school to keep on your short list.

9. The martial arts style. When shopping for a martial arts school, the style the school teaches is secondary to the martial arts instructor who teaches the classes and how they teach them. A good instructor will make you feel good about what you're doing. He or she will help you stay healthy and take an interest in why you've joined the school. If you're a complete novice to the martial arts, don't shop for a style or method, shop for the best martial arts instructor or teacher you can find. Find the right teacher and you'll love the martial arts. Find the wrong teacher and it won't matter what style they teach.

10. Your new training partners. It's a good sign if there are lots of intermediate and advanced students in classes. Chances are you've found a martial arts school that knows how to enroll and keep its students If you go to Karate schools, Taekwondo schools, or another martial arts school that's been in business for a year or longer and it's still empty, something's not right with the school.

What else do you need to consider? Be sure to get all the costs associated with your new martial arts school. Not only ask about the tuition, but also ask about enrollment fees, testing fees, uniform and equipment costs and any organization or membership fees outside of actual tuition. Many martial arts schools, Karate schools, and Taekwondo schools will ask you to sign a contract for a certain number of lessons and/or for a certain amount of time. Often signing a longer term contract will reduce the tuition expense. Signing a contract is ok, since a martial arts school is a business and needs to generate cash flow to cover their costs. Before signing a contract make sure you've done your homework and you've done the following.

First, you've had time to experience a trial lesson and a real class. Most martial arts schools will allow you to try a month of lessons, for a price, before you agree to enroll for a certain number of classes or months. If you can't negotiate this trial period, it's a definite red flag. Bonus Tip: Most schools will have a Pay In Full option on membership. It's ok to pay for your membership in full, but make sure you know the school thoroughly before doing so. Most schools will have a no-refund policy.

Second, read the martial arts school contract carefully before you sign it. The contract should spell out, clearly and exactly, how you leave the program should you have to leave or if you become dissatisfied with the service. It's acceptable to pay a little exit fee or some other penalty should you decide to leave before fulfilling the terms of a contract, but the penalty or penalties shouldn't be unreasonable. The way the owner or martial arts instructor treats you should you try to negotiate a trail period or a change in the school's contract will give you a very clear idea of what the school's service is really like, after the sale. If you're not treated with respect, go elsewhere.

Always trust your instincts when choosing a martial arts school or martial arts instructor. If you have a great feeling when you are there and it stays with you after you leave, that's a very good sign. If your intuition says something's not right, something's not right. If you've found a good school, you'll know it (use this martial arts school checklist to help you find the right one). If you go to a martial arts school and have fun and leave feeling better than when you arrived, you've found the best martial arts school for you!