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Martial Arts TrainingMartial arts are quite simply the arts of war and fighting, though most martial arts classes and courses available focus heavily on the defensive and mental discipline side of the "arts". Martial arts covers everything from boxing to kickboxing to kungfu to karate to taekwondo to aikido to jujutsu to judo and wrestling, with many other exotic versions somewhere in between. The Ultimate Fighting events have brought new interest to these martial arts sports in the last few years, leaving boxing a distant second as fans clamor for this much more physical sport that combines boxing with karate kicks, wrestling, and plenty of knees and elbows thrown in for good measure. Watching it is one thing, but learning martial arts is another. Most martial arts classes today cover fighting techniques from Asia, which developed with a lot of influence from China and India. Some of the most popular martial arts classes are karate, kung fu, and judo, with kickboxing gaining in popularity as well. It is estimated that more than 5 million Americans are practicing or learning martial arts at any given time, with almost 3/4 of those being children and teens, since karate and other forms of the sport are popular as "alternatives" to soccer, football, etc. Many parents find that enrolling their children in martial arts classes helps with their confidence and self-esteem, though it is equally helpful for athletic training, overall fitness, and as a way to get out excess energy (perfect for young boys!).
Choosing the best martial arts school - Karate LessonsLuckily, there are thousands of martial arts studios around the country, and most welcome new students or visitors to sit in on a class or two to see how things work, or have discounted rates for first time students to try a session. Visit MartialSearch.com for 2 helpful things -- a guide for "How To Choose a Martial Arts School" and a listing of karate schools located near your zip code. Some of their tips for finding a good karate or martial arts studio include: check out the facility - it should be clean and well-maintained, and reflects the instructors and owners; talk to the teachers - their interpersonal and teaching skills are probably more important that their karate expertise; choosing a particular technique or style should be secondary to finding a good school and good instructor; don't sign any long term contracts until you've had at least a month to try out the lessons and the teachers; demand a fair exit clause to the contract if you decide to exit the sport. Also check out USADojo.com for tips on finding a good martial arts studio. When it comes to what style of martial arts you want to learn, you should probably opt for something like standard karate if you are just getting into the sport, especially for kids. Some fighting techniques are better suited to certain body types (a short stocky person might find a better fit with judo than taekwondo, for example). However, as you progress through the sport you can move into different style that you prefer, so you are not locked into anything. Keep in mind that all martial arts require a long-term time commitment to make progress and master the techniques -- it is not something you can do in 6 months. In fact, it usually takes 6-7 years to earn a black belt degree. You can search for "karate lessons" or "martial arts lessons" at Google and it will bring up local classes in the paid search results area as well, to help you get started in your search.How much do martial arts classes cost? How much are karate lessons?How much do karate classes cost? Most martial arts studios hold classes twice a week, for 8 lessons per month, with rates ranging from $40 to $200 per month, though $60-$100 or so per month is around the average. We got quotes from several studios -- $75 per month, with 50% off for additional family members; another charged $50 per month, which allowed 2-3 classes per week; a third was $80 per month with a 40% discount for additional family members. So plan on spending about $70 per month, and a little over $100 if you want to take a class together with your spouse or child. You can even find some free karate lessons online, but we'd use these more for getting an idea of what the sport looks like than for serious training -- check out LearnKarate.com for some free video lessons that show basic techniques and forms.
Martial Arts SuppliesWhile your local martial arts studio or school can probably supply you with basic robes, uniforms, and belts, there are many online sites with all kinds of martial arts supplies you can browse. Check out some of our favorites:
Do you have a quality site or product that belongs in this guide? We are always happy to evaluate or review new products and websites. Feel free to contact us at the email address below and let us know about you. If you have a demo product you'd like us to look at, please contact us before sending anything. Thank you.
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