Help Requested in Finding a School/Style

[Buckeye Chick]

Hi everyone,

First, I’d like to say what a wonderful forum this is. I’ve been reading through some posts and I’m impressed by everyone’s knowledge.

That being said… I’m hoping for some help for myself.

I’m a recent transplant to the Washington, DC area. I live in Alexandria, VA, and work in downtown DC. And I’m looking for a martial art – in either location. This is what Google brings up as my options: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=l&hl=en&geocode=&q=martial+arts&near=washington,+dc&ie=UTF8&ll=38.912942,-77.040596&spn=0.07146,0.138702&z=13&om=1 Obviously this is a pretty substantial list.

I’ve done some TKD (a university class a few years ago), six months of a Shotokan karate club, and one night of aikido. I have bad knees, but I’m otherwise in good shape. I’m a small-framed, late 20s female.

I’m open to most any style. My major restrictions are money and time. For money, I’d need to keep it to under $100/mo., and preferably as close to $50 as possible. For time… I’m in DC, at work, until 5pm. My commute is a little over an hour, so it’s not feasible to go home, then return for, say, an 8pm class. So I’m looking for either something that’s dinner-hour in DC, or later in the evening in Northern Virginia. Or weekends in either location.

My question is… how do I screen schools based on these criteria? My head’s spinning from trying to find websites and then schedules and fees. I’d also like to mention that I’d prefer not to train with children (12+ is fine). With so many martial arts schools in the area, I probably can’t sit in on a class at each one, just to find out it’s too expensive or the time won’t work.

I’m hoping to get lucky and that someone will have first-hand knowledge of a school they’d like to recommend.

Thanks for your help!

[bushido_man96]

Hello, and welcome to the Forums! What I think you should do is take your list of schools, and then find out which ones are the closest to where you work. Then, pick a day after work where you can drive by and look at a few of the schools. Maybe you will get lucky, and some will have classes in session to watch.

Some schools have seperate kids and adults classes, so that is something you will want to look for. Once you have visited a few schools, try to pick a few that you want to look at more closely, and go when you have time to sit and talk with the instructor. Then, you can ask them the questions that you want answers to, as far as price, time, ect. Also make sure to ask them about their teaching goals, philosophies, and methodologies, to make sure they fit into what you think you can do at the time.

As much as we may want to help you, you really have the best way of finding out which school will be best for you by going around and scouting, basically. Let us know how it goes, and good luck to you!

[Buckeye Chick]

Thanks for the advice. One quick question -- is it OK to just show up and want to watch a class (assuming one is in session) or do I need to call first?

[Azmyth]

If the school is legit.. they are going to want your business and the only way for you to know if u want to go there is to see what they are about.

I have never been to a school that didn't allow you to watch. I have even had some to allow you to participate in 1 class for free.

[Buckeye Chick]

OK. I just wasn't sure what the proper etiquette was -- for example, whether they'd ask me to make an appointment and come back at another time. I'm trying to find some places online that I can stop by on my way home from work. When possible, I'll contact and ask if I can come by.

I did find this school: http://www.aikido-nova.org/ Do the rates seem reasonable? It's $75/mo. plus ~$250 in equipment. I like that the location is metro-accessible and their schedule would work out OK for me.

Also... (whew, maybe I should start another thread?) I attended one aikido class a few years ago. It was a university club and seemed somewhat disorganized. I spent the evening doing somersaults backwards and forwards. By the end of class, my neck and back hurt. Is this a sign that aikido is not for me, or could it have just been the class, or...? Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks again for everyone's help.

[Azmyth]

75 a month sounds reasonable, the gear seems ok too.. I have never taken aikido so I am not sure on that. Aikido I can tell you is gonna be strenuous because it deals with joints and pressure to joints at times..

they don't have a kids class for this reason.. so it really all depends on what YOU want to do..

[danbong]

I have never taken aikido so I am not sure on that. Aikido I can tell you is gonna be strenuous because it deals with joints and pressure to joints at times..

they don't have a kids class for this reason.. so it really all depends on what YOU want to do..

Actually, even though aikido uses lots of joint locks, they deliberately do it in a way where the intent is to not cause injury. Childrens classes are very common in aikido.

I attended one aikido class a few years ago. It was a university club and seemed somewhat disorganized. I spent the evening doing somersaults backwards and forwards. By the end of class, my neck and back hurt. Is this a sign that aikido is not for me, or could it have just been the class, or...?

I would say that it's mostly the class. When you first learn these rolls or falls, you need careful instruction to make sure you are not putting undue stress on your neck or back. And if you are doining it mostly ok, but not perfectly *and* you are doing a whole bunch of them for the first time, that's a great way to get a sore neck or back. They might not have been as careful of that since it was a university club where the majority of members are typically very fit and get over aches and pains quickly.

[bushido_man96]

Thanks for the advice. One quick question -- is it OK to just show up and want to watch a class (assuming one is in session) or do I need to call first?

Calling first may be preferable, but I have never seen an instructor turn away a walk-in.

[NightOwl]

Many places like you to call first if you are going to show up, however definitely watching a lesson is something you want to do. 75 a month isn't too bad for a major metropolitan area, and if it is close by then by all means give it a try.

As for aikido, it usually is a pretty soft style- if you take it, you will train in how to take a fall, so that throws and such won't have as much of an impact.

[Jay]

One school i was looking at said i had to pay to see a class and a wing chun school said i had to pay for 3months:S in order to be able to try it so it does happen lets say i avoided these schools