# So how do I pick a martial art and a dojo? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 6, 2006, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-i-pick-a-martial-art-and-a-dojo/379329 "2006-11-06T18:20:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-i-pick-a-martial-art-and-a-dojo/379329/21 "2006-11-08T02:35:48Z")
Okay, I just got back (didn’t really think about it being two hours!) and while I’m going to try to observe a class somewhere else, I think this is the place for me. The people were sooooo nice - it’s like when I went to my first SCA meeting by myself back in Atlanta and I stayed with it the rest of the time I lived there because of how they treated me. The actual practice looks… hard. Really hard. One of the guys there had only been doing this for four weeks or so, and _he_ looked okay, so I guess it couldn’t be too bad, right? The only thing that gives me pause is the schedule, but the other school is so much farther away that I think I’d rather try to make it to the one with the worse schedule (and the super-nice people). ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-i-pick-a-martial-art-and-a-dojo/379329/22 "2006-11-08T03:06:06Z")
You can do what I do. Stage a secret competetion between all the greatest martial artists in the world on an island somewhere…FLAWLESS VICTORY!!! ---
**Author:** ![Malienation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Malienation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malienation)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-i-pick-a-martial-art-and-a-dojo/379329/23 "2006-11-08T06:29:11Z")
I think for what you want, the method of instruction and the class atmosphere is far more important than the actual martial art you study. So yeah, make sure you sit in or sign up for only a few lessons before you commit. One last thing: martial arts are notoriously instructor-dependent in terms of the moves taught. There are many forms, and often only a loose similarity within forms; thus, once you join a dojo you may find it difficult to switch dojos without having to return to square one. The only real exeption: judo. Because it’s an Olympic sport, it’s practiced the same way all over the world. If you move around a lot, keep this in mind. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-i-pick-a-martial-art-and-a-dojo/379329/24 "2006-11-08T06:55:55Z")
[QUOTE=GargoyleWB] The personality of the instructor is most important. Are they a drill-seargent? Are they zen-hippie meditators? Are they chatty and friendly? Are they stern and aloof? Are they ego-driven, or are they humble? Any of these will mesh differently with your personality and your learning style. Finding the best environment to maximize _your_ learning quality is very important. [/QUOTE] From the perspective of someone who’s kid is in martial arts (yes, not myself, but I spend a _lot_ of time at the school) – this is key. The head instructor and his minions set the tone for the whole school. Find someone who you think really attracts good students and motivates during instruction. You’ll know when you meet this person what I’m talking about. Try to meet the head instructor if you can (not necessarily the master of the school, he may only teach advanced students) and see what you think of him/her. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-i-pick-a-martial-art-and-a-dojo/379329/25 "2006-11-08T21:49:46Z")
CheeRIST! I finally heard back from the other school, which is farther away but has a more convenient schedule. It would be $100 for the first month and $75 for subsequent months, which includes a uniform. I’m thinking the one I went to last night with the nice people and the $15 a month is sounding very, very good. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2006, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-i-pick-a-martial-art-and-a-dojo/379329/26 "2006-11-09T00:31:08Z")
[QUOTE=msmith537] You can do what I do. Stage a secret competetion between all the greatest martial artists in the world on an island somewhere…FLAWLESS VICTORY!!! [/QUOTE] You are building a fighting force of extraordinary magnitude? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-i-pick-a-martial-art-and-a-dojo/379329.md?page=1)