In an unregulated industry (martial arts) you will find tons of snake oil salesmen. An unsuspecting parent or family member will often go to a martial arts training facility to see what is offered. Upon arrival they encounter practices such as long-term contracts (one year, two years, three years, etc). They are advised that little Johnny or little Janie will have belt test each month ($45.00 or more), and that the child will be a black belt in one year, or a year and a half, two years, etc. They should run from such practices.
Many unsuspecting parents watch their child doing cool looking movement, or watered down tag. But what happens when reality sets in and the child is forced to fight for their well-being in a real violent attack? The cool air moves, and tag offense and response actions they have learned is alien to the real encounter. The child has never sparred realistically (and safely), much less learned reality based self-defense systems of substance. The child is surprised when taken to the ground, etc. We react and respond as we most closely do in our training which has been drilled and ingrained into us.
If the child is only exposed to one system and concept of what a real fight is, then that is what the child knows. If the child or adult family member is able to attend a school which has a curriculum that is not “one Size Fits All”, one tailored to the family members needs, then that family members odds of succeeding and surviving and thriving in the face of a violent attack is increased greatly.
A good practical martial arts school will offer striking classes which draws techniques from Muay Thai Kick Boxing, Karate, Tae Kwon Do, and Boxing. Kids will be padded well, and can go heavy and be safe during realistic sparring. The kids will understand self-defense and escapes from a stand up as well as clinch, and ground ranges of combat. The child will be able to draw upon street wise defense when encountering a bully, or an abductor. The child can also understand the defenses, offense actions, escapes, and tactical body control during a clinch, or ground phase of the violent encounter. The child can draw upon and apply their knowledge also from wrestling, judo, Gracie Self Defense, Krav Maga, etc. This synergy method is the best and fills in gaps in training.
Which brings us to the subject, who is teaching your child, or other family member? Does the instructor hold a college degree, former or current military, former or current law enforcement, has the instructor ever been arrested, does the instructor engage in violent street fights often, is the instructor a violent person, and etc. Does the instructor in his/her 20’s or thirties profess to do it all, be able to teach all martial arts? Does the instructor have a capable staff of instructors who specialize in different martial arts disciplines, and does the academy offer reality based self-defense, combative sports, and traditional and modern/progressive martial arts? Does the martial arts academy that your family attends allow criminals, thugs, etc to teach, or be around your kids, or other family members?
We strive to have the best trainers, instructors, personal trainers, and martial arts instructors at our academy. We have three instructors, who are attorneys, another with a MBA/CPA, and many others who hold a four-year Bachelors of Science or Arts. Many of our instructors are former military, police, and federal agents. We strive to teach family members the best in many different martial arts properly within the confines of law, and with a focus on teaching the best programs available in our area.
At this point we always have to say look at the track record. Look at who holds the keys to your family’s safety, in reference to who is teaching your family. Is the instructor a long-term member of the community here, did the instructor have a successful military, law enforcement career, and is the instructor educated (holds a four-year degree), and is the instructor competent as well in what they teach. It’s hard to get all of this gold standard of training, and great training packages together, under one school’s roof. We have been successful in doing just that.
If you want to experience the difference, and real quality of our martial arts family: stop in and try the real deal.
Remember : Buyer Beware.
We look forward to seeing you soon.
Helio’s perfection of Jiu-Jitsu has saved my life as a Deputy U.S. Marshal in the streets, and kept me out of trouble in actual arrest (proper use of force). It kept me safe as an older Deputy U.S. Marshal working the streets. Later I was certified as a GRAPLE instructor in 1999 under Helio and Rorion