How to Choose the Right Martial Arts School
Choosing the right martial arts school can be both an exciting and daunting process. So many martial arts schools to choose from! In my 40 + years of training in martial arts, the answer is that, there is no perfect martial art or self defence system as they each have their own benefits and disadvantages.
However, the more appropriate question is, “what is the correct martial art for you and your circumstances?”
The 4 main areas to consider when choosing your school are:
Location
Your reasons for training in the martial art
The benefits of the martial art
The culture and fit of the martial arts school with your personality type.
Let’s cover each of those in detail.
Location
(Proximity of the martial arts school to you)
The martial school of choice should be within a comfortable 35 minutes drive from your home or work. Another way of looking at this is within 10-12 kilometers of your home or work. If it takes any longer than this, you are going to struggle to maintain the commitment to training regularly that is necessary to excel in a martial art or self defence training.
If you live within 10-12 kilometers of Castle Hill and looking for a premier kung fu and martial arts school, then consider us at Wing Chun 135 as being a potential fit for you.
If you live outside the suggested radius of the school and still really want to train with us, then consider private classes or training times that are outside of peak hour such as lunch-time classes when traffic will be less of an issue.
Reasons for training a martial art
(What are your reasons for training?)
Be clear and specific of why you want to train. This will then guide the decision of which is the best school for you. Are you training for fitness? Wanting to make new friends? Are you looking for general martial arts skills or self-defence skills, or something more specific such as competition or ring fighting etc.?
Benefits of training
Here are some of the numerous reasons to train with us at Wing Chun 135 Castle Hill:
✅ An increase in general fitness levels - Our classes are designed to both increase your general fitness, strength and self defenceskills.
✅ A Practical Self Defence System -There are no fancy high kicks for show, instead it focuses on street self defence and can be used sitting down, standing up or in a crowded elevator.
✅ A martial arts suitable for all ages, sizes and genders - We use body mechanics and physics where no brute force is required.
✅ Mental health - Our breathing exercises and the practice of Sil Lim Tao are the equivalent of standing meditation which helps with focus, clarity and anxiety.
✅ Confidence - Our training helps with mental discipline to stay committed to yourself.
✅ Safe and supportive environment - We prioritise friendship and a healthy community and not mindless sparring with a toxic fightmentality.
✅ Family friendly environment - We have both male and female instructors and a great mix of leaders to help with training of all genders. A friendly and welcoming school where you can make new friends.
Culture and fit of the martial art school for you
The best way to experience this is to try it out!
Once you have narrowed down a likely candidate based on location, your training reasons, the benefits that the school offers then get in contact with the martial arts school to organize either a free or paid trial.
What are the differences between the free trial and paid trial?
Free Trial
A free trial usually involves one free trial class and then after the attendance of the free trial you will decide to join based on what you have experienced in the free trial. This usually will then involve buying a uniform, paying for insurance and admin fees which ends up as an expensive exercise and this is before you even start paying for the regular fees.
Uniform costs typically range from $75 to $150 depending on what martial art style you choose and administration, insurance and joining fees range from $60-$100. These are over and above your uniform costs.
Then the discussion will lead to what are the regular weekly or monthly fees which are unique to each school.
Paid Trial
This involves paying for a period of time at an introductory rate for a time period designated by the school. It could be for one, two weeks or a month. This may or may not then include a discounted uniform and or other benefits such as included insurance and admin costs.
The paid trial will generally give you a much clearer picture of whether the school is going to be the right fit for you and will also usually end up cheaper in the long run if you decide to join.
Another way to think about the differences between a free trial and a paid trial is to compare a cruise ship holiday which stops at a port for one day versus you taking a holiday in the same location for one week. The holiday for a week in the same location is going to give you a much clearer picture of whether you like the place, whether the people are friendly and if you could imagine yourself living there; insights that you would never get from a one day stop over.
If you would like to give Wing Chun 135 a try, we have an excellent 2 week special. Admin fees and uniform fees included.
You get 2 weeks training plus A FREE uniform (valued at $75) all for just $49.95.