By Master Gregory G. Nabel,
Choosing a school may seem to be easy to enroll oneself or family into, but it can be a very challenging experience. Here are some choices to take into consideration when making your selection:
- cost,
- type of school,
- distance from home,
- contracts.
- hidden factors.
When selecting a school that's best fitted for your children or self, one "hidden-factor" is the philosophy of the teacher and the behavior of how the students "respond" in class. The behavior of the students will be a reflection of teacher and their knowledge be it; passive, aggressive or reflective. Another hidden factor is one's, “self-awareness”. By being aware of another feelings, the willingness and ability to respond respectfully and kindly is certainly one of life's important lesson.
Other learn behaviors are; courtesy, respect and integrity especially at home or when with a peer group. Another factor to consider is the age of student, the students physical abilities.
Another hidden factor, is the students genuine feelings of “acceptance” of the school, the acceptance of other students, and of the staff and instructor. As an adult, we have the power of choice if we don’t “like” the school, or staff we can choose to change. However, a child may not be able to express those “feelings” to you. You may have a, “gut-feeling”, where-as your child doesn't know how to express this only except by unexpected behaviors . In addition to physical characteristic and behaviors there is also the genuine feeling from “with-in”. Some children/students may not feel comfortable in a particular school. They may instead feel more comfortable or a feeling of, “at-home” at another school. Lastly a tell-tale indicator will be the amount of time and the level of skills acquired as compared to other students.
Another important school finding factor is the endless advertisement of different martial arts and their many selling points. Take your time to research, ask, observe the instructor, the students and type of martial arts style. Keep in mind there are many schools of the same style, but each instructor brings their own distinct personality into the classroom and transfers his style / personality onto the students mind.
In selecting a school, art/style and instructor, understand the single one most important concept of martial arts is not to defend or fight, those are some basic tools, the real lesson is how the student "grows-with-awareness" of "others'; their feelings and their "ability" to respond to feelings, which will truly be the most life-enduring compliment that a parent and teacher can have.
Please leave yourself open to other options by not confining yourself to a particular school and or contract.
You are truly a reflection of what you do.
Be the best you can.
I would encourage you to see yourself, the martial arts and God, not as something to take a part in,
but by being
part-of.
Revised April 2010.
Copyright © 2007 Master Gregory Nabel. All Rights Reserved
