Indicators that a FMA school is quaility?

Seth Thomas · Jun 25, 2001

For those FMA folk that have been around -- What indicators or traits indicate a top quality School/Instuctor?

As we all know, some MA schools tend to 'market' themsevles according to the perceived interest of the public. I guess everybody needs to make a living.

Any guidance would be helpful.

-Seth

Samuel · Jun 26, 2001

I always went with how cool their logo looked and how many different colors their T-shirts came in...

j/k

Actually, I would try and verify their "family tree" (lineage of instruction) and participate in an actual class (quite a few schools are willing to offer a free introductory class to prospective students). Not only would I evaluate the instructor's communication skills, attention to detail, physical abilities, demeanor, candor, and dedication, but I would also take a good look at the other students in the class.

Of course, if they'll give me a discount on tuition, or have gorgeous babes in the class, or promise me a black belt after 6 months, I'm there.

thekuntawman · Jun 27, 2001

heres a few things that can help you find a good class.

-the practicing of striking should be fast paced and hard. after you learn where to hit, a good school will train you on how to hit. learning how to hit can only be done when you are striking strong and fast. this can be done in the air or against targets. avoid a school where everything they do is slow (i call this demonstration speed) especially the countering practice.

-during sparring, does the teacher stop them often to give pointers. or do you see him observing one fight at a time to give advice to each guy. lazy teachers put the whole class in sparring together, and he doesn't really coach anyone in their fighting styles. so really they are just killing time.

-a good class can be a learning class, where the teacher is explaining things and gives each person a chance to figuere techniques out on their own (slow pace, lots of explaining). or it can be a training and developing class (fast pace, lots of repetition, and little explaining). or a self development class (everyone at his own pace, with a few breaks to show something new). the best way is each of those classes are basic (the slow one to learn a new technique), intermediate (the fast one after they learn it), and advance (once the skill is developed, they make it into their own style). the best classes have just a few things covered in each class. the worst ones try to cover everything, if your goal is to be a developed fighter.

now this is only my opinion of a good school. dont take it to strong, because understand that as a beginner, you cannot really judge if a teacher is qualified or not or if he cant teach you well. its like a guy who doesnt speak spanish, but he wants to see if his spanish teacher is any good. you wont know until you now more than him or just as much. i seen teachers who were very overweight, had a boring personality, but these guys were excellent teachers. i know a lot of guys who are in very good shape, they look good when they train, even they are good fighters and they suck as teachers. but you can learn from anyone. the point is you find a teacher you like to learn from, and you suck up all the learning he can give you. if the style you end up with is not what you wanted you can allways learn another one, but you have to give it time to develop inside of you.

my last advice, dont school-hop. guys who dont have the discipline to stick with anything for long...no matter what the excuse is (style is not for me, dont like the teacher, looking for more "realistic" combat, whatever) those people never excel in anything. stay with one long enough to be an expert in that. at least you will have the discipline to excel in the next place if you move on.

DanielL · Jun 26, 2001

BJJ was the previous fad and today it seems to be FMA. Both are great but watch out for a school that is just riding the crest of the wave. Look for someone who has been at it for a number of years. All of the previous advice is right on the money. I would just add that you should look for an experiecned teacher.

Case in point - there is a school in my town that advertises that they teach FMA's. Last fall I was at a seminar sponsored by my school. One of my training partners was the owner of the other school. From first hand experience I know that he was only a beginner in the FMA's. Someone with 1 month experience knew more than him but his school teaches the stuff. Don't end up in this kind of school.

Seth Thomas · Jun 26, 2001

Thanks to all for your comments.

If I find a job in the Sacramento area, I'll just go to thekuntawman's school.

BTW, very objective advice.

Thanks, Seth

PROTECTOR · Jun 27, 2001

Seth,
Watch for practical applications of the stick and knife or ask the instructor for some 'self-defense' demos. Sadly, a lot of instructors in other styles attend a few FMA seminars and learn Sinawalli and box pattern flow drills and claim they are teaching the FMA, when in fact they are just doing glorified baton twriling.

Parker · Jun 28, 2001

Hurrah for the Protector. great statement. Great Insight!

Drills are just that, ensure you get explanation and practical demonstration as to how it works, why it works, how it is countered, how to counter it, how to counter the counter,and make sure above all you are shown and taught how to make the encounter last three seconds (no one should be involved in an extended duel/ fight!)

Beware of anyone who shows you lots of tapi tapi, etc. but at no time they discuss the reality that everyone is gonna get cut really likely in the event it goes to weapons and this is about ending it NOW!

Parker

tlavoie · Jun 29, 2001

Heheh. I've been having a good time in class lately, with lots of knife work, but we are starting slow for now. The environment is probably different from many classes, because there are likely to be only a couple of us besides the instructor, in a small, family-run place. Lots of give and take to get the mechanics down, and the time to understand why something does or does not work; there's time later to speed it up, once you know where it's all going to go. I do find it quite interesting when doing the same stuff with different people though... You learn that what worked well against a fellow student cost you your hand, and your life, against the instructor. It's nice having just a few of us though, because there's the freedom to back up and have a better look after finding yourself all tangled up.

I might add too that the instructor's age is not likely too major a factor, at least if he's got his own senior guidance to rely upon. At 34, I've got more than a decade on mine, though vastly less FMA experience since I started later in life. His Dad's the official head though, and he's grown up with his Dad, older brother and other teachers to learn from.

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Parker:
Drills are just that, ensure you get explanation and practical demonstration as to how it works, why it works, how it is countered, how to counter it, how to counter the counter,and make sure above all you are shown and taught how to make the encounter last three seconds (no one should be involved in an extended duel/ fight!)

Beware of anyone who shows you lots of tapi tapi, etc. but at no time they discuss the reality that everyone is gonna get cut really likely in the event it goes to weapons and this is about ending it NOW!

Parker
[/B]</font>