Verify the information, titles and awards they told you they have is correct. Ask for proof, ask to see the awards and certifications. Search the internet to verify their claims and check with the Better Business Bureau to see if there are any complaints about them.

Have any instructors at the facility received any Instructor of the Year awards and if so, how many times? Have any of the instructors at the facility been inducted into the Martial Arts “Hall of Fame”?

View the class and see the instructions you or your child will be receiving. Watch to see if the instructor answers questions before and after after class.

 

Check with parents, students and neighbors about the program. Ask about the reputation of the school and it’s instructors in the community.

Do they use high pressure sales tactics? This may be a sign the school is having financial problems.

Do they only offer long term contracts? This is a sign they are not confident in their program. Any academy that is confident in their program will offer a variety of short and long term contracts for your family’s flexibility.

Are students having fun and learning, are you getting what you're paying for? Children can have fun in soccer, tennis, etc... Martial Arts teaches life lessons of leadership skills, better focus and building self-esteem. They learn to prepare for life’s tasks and challenges; be it sports, homework, even future jobs.

Try a trial class/program to see if it meets or exceeds your expectations. Is the school demonstrating what they say in their advertisment?

One measure of an effective school, it’s curriculum and instructors is how many active Black Belts they have in their school. This means the students are inspired to achieve their Black Belt and further inspired to excel toward higher degrees.

Some schools say they will give you free information or reports but use this as a tactic to gather your information so they can bombard you with solicitations.

If something is free it should be free!

 

Is information about the school’s program and it’s requirements communicated clearly and in a timely fashion? Can you get information about school events, like when promotion tests are scheduled? Do they provide a FREE student handbook with detailed information and pictures outlining how to progress to each belt level?

Can students get extra help if needed? Do they offer unlimited semi-private lessons? Do they offer those lessons FREE of charge?