10 Best Free Martial Arts Training Apps

Best Free Martial Arts Training Apps in 2023

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How to Find a Good Martial Arts School and Avoid the Ripoffs

A short guide to highlight the differences between quality martial arts schools and disreputable "McDojos" only out to separate you from your money.

In the face of all this, though, it's important to remember that, just like any other type of school, martial arts schools (there are many names for them, usually depending on the country the art they teach comes from; we'll use the Japanese term "dojo" here, as it is the most widely-used as a catch-all, though the advice in this article applies equally to any Chinese "kwoon," Korean "dojang," and so on) vary widely in quality. It is often said that the ability of any martial artist is directly based on the ability of their teacher, moreso than on the style they train in, and so picking a good teacher is of paramount importance when looking for a dojo.

So, how to find a good dojo? Well, the first consideration is what, exactly, it is that you're looking for. To simplify, there are three main objectives that people have in looking for a dojo: exercise, competition, and self-defense. Let's break these down:

Exercise: Many people look to the martial arts simply as a method of keeping active and staying, or getting, in shape. For these people, the search for a good dojo is quite simple; just look for one whose workout regimen matches what you're looking for. This can be anything from highly acrobatic and gymnastic styles for young children, to slow practice of Tai Chi for the elderly. The style or nationality isn't important; all that really matters is that the instructor knows how to work out while minimizing the chance of injury, and that the workout is what you're looking for.

Competition: Like those just looking for exercise, people interested in the martial arts as a competitive sport have a pretty easy search ahead of them. There are various types of martial arts competition; from Sanda and Mixed Martial Arts, with rules and layout similar to Western boxing, to martial arts tournaments (usually broken down by style, and including solo competitions as well as sparring), to acrobatic solo events like Wushu, which has as much in common with gymnastics as it does with the Kung Fu styles it evolved from. Choose a type based on your preferences and interests (and what's available nearby), and find a school with an atmosphere you like and a good record in competitions. That's largely all there is to it.

Self-Defense: This is where things start to get really tricky, in no small part because this is what traditional martial arts were developed for, and thus what dojo owners are primarily selling. Unfortunately, the Asian culture craze has resulted in lots of unqualified "masters" and assorted unskilled entrepreneurs reading a book or two on martial arts and opening their own dojo to make a quick buck. Training at one of these "McDojos" can be disastrous if you ever intend to use the art you learn for self-defense on the street; I once trained with a person who had a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, but couldn't do 10 pushups! Since McDojos plague all styles of martial arts, I've assembled a list of general tips to help identify them and separate the genuine schools from the ripoffs.

-- It's helpful to begin your search without too many preconceptions about the style you want to train in. Every style has masters and frauds, and if you concentrate too heavily on what style you want to train in, you may wind up passing over an excellent school for one that just teaches what you thought you wanted. There are literally thousands of styles of martial arts out there, so it's most helpful to have a general idea of the type of art you're most interested in; would you rather train in a "harder" or "softer" style? Do you primarily want to use your hands, feet, or both? These are the sorts of general ideas that can help you narrow your search without dogmatically looking for "the right style."

-- As with anything else, comparison-shop. Unless there's only one in your area, you should look at every dojo around with an eye for how they compare to one another. The first one you look at might be pretty good, but what if the third one was the perfect match for you?

-- Remember that appearance is unimportant. Lots of people look for a dojo that looks like they think it should, with lots of the right decorations and an ambiance that makes them feel like they're in an old Kung Fu movie. My first Sifu (Kung Fu teacher) trained in the back of a Chinese restaurant, and learned just as well.

-- Part of the last point, but important enough to merit a separate bullet point: NEVER choose a teacher based on whether or not they are Asian! Martial arts work the same for people of all ethnicities, and the idea that Asian people somehow automatically know "hidden ancient secrets" is pure racist garbage. If there can be white Shaolin monks, there can be white martial arts instructors.

-- Ask to watch a class or two before you decide if you want to sign up. Some schools don't want people watching advanced classes, but you definitely to look somewhere else if the more basic classes are off-limits to watch. Usually, when that's the case, it's because the instructor doesn't want people to realize that the classes are garbage until they've paid (though the excuse is most often something about not wanting to reveal the ancient secrets they will apparently happily teach you the moment you pay). Some dojos will even let you participate in a basic class to try it out, though this is much less common. When you're watching (or participating), do so with a critical eye; how are the students being taught? How is the class structured? What sort of techniques are being used? The most important thing to consider is if the class will work well for you.

-- Look at the relationship between the instructor(s) and the students, as well as between the students. Obviously, things are usually rather serious and restrained during class, and some dojos have very strict rules, but if there isn't a sense of camaraderie among the people in the dojo, there's something wrong. Traditional martial artists refer to the people in their schools as a family, and the trust and bonds that build while training with the same people for an extended period of time are very important down the line.

-- Even for "soft" styles that are less obviously athletic, martial arts training is a workout. While most instructors like to keep a clean training area, a pristine dojo that has obviously never seen a drop of sweat is a sure sign of a McDojo.

-- Talk to the instructor about the dojo's policies. Contracts are usually (though not always) a bad sign. Guarantees that a new student will reach black belt in a certain (usually short) period of time tend to mean that the focus is on pushing students through the ranks to keep getting their money rather than really teaching them. Lots of extra required fees can be present in any school, but are more common in McDojos than in genuine schools.

-- Find out about the curriculum. While lots of focus on learning forms works out well for people wanting to compete, most forms can't be used for self-defense and are not really part of traditional martial arts training. It's also a problem if students are expected to learn tons and tons of techniques in a short timespan without enough time to really get the hang of them.

-- Find out how important the basics are in the school. Just about every instructor will say that their school recognizes the importance of drilling basic techniques, but talking to experienced students about their training can help to give you a clearer picture of just how much emphasis they're given (if the instructor doesn't allow students to talk in general ways about their training, you probably don't want to sign up there). A school that routinely drills the basic stances and techniques (even at the advanced levels) is going to be a much better bet than one that largely ignores them once they're taught.

-- Talk to the instructor about the style (or styles) they teach. If the instructor doesn't have an in-depth knowledge of their own style, they can't be expected to pass on very much to their students. This often includes legends, history, and philosophy in addition to practical knowledge about the art, all of which are integral to having a complete understanding of it later on.

-- Traditional martial arts are as much about training the mind as the body, and this should show. Students, especially at higher levels, should show discipline and self-control, as of course should instructors. If that isn't the case, there is something seriously wrong with the school. Also, though most modern schools generally ignore it, meditation has always been a vital part of training in the martial arts. That's not to say that a dojo that doesn't include it in the curriculum should be passed over, but including it (as a major part of training, not just something incidental) is a big point in the school's favor.

-- Remember that some schools don't advertise much (or at all), and some may not even be listed in the phone book or online. Many staunchly traditionalist teachers use only word-of-mouth to gain new students; some don't even have a regular school, but teach out of their home. Try to seek out these less-visible dojos; it doesn't guarantee that the training there is high-quality, but it is a virtual guarantee that you won't be dealing with a McDojo, as it's far less profitable to run the school that way.

Hopefully, with these guidelines, you will be able to find a good school that matches up with what you're looking for. They are, of course, not absolute nor all-encompassing, but they should give you a good idea of how to weed out the phoneys from the genuine article. As always, use your best judgment.

See you on the training floor!