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The most surprising statistic that most karate and martial arts teachers discover is the one that tells them “why most of their adult students quit shortly after enrolling.” In fact, the greatest percentage of adult dropouts from martial arts classes occurs within the first 100 days!

This has sparked some groups to investigate the reasons behind this phenomena. Surveys have been conducted both in the United States as well as in Canada. Additional inquiries may also have been conducted in places like Europe and Australia as well.

What the researchers found was, to them, incredible. They found that, by and large, the number one reason for adult students dropping out of their programs was…

…no real-world self-defense training early on in their training!

“How could this be?”, was the question. The researchers were stunned. After all, they were martial arts teachers and they certainly taught self-defense as a part of their classes.

How could these adults say that they weren’t being taught real-world self-defense techniques?

Perhaps, the problem was not that “self-defense techniques” were or were not being taught. Because, even after these studies were conducted and karate programs started to “import” third-party self-defense packages into their product offering, adult dropouts remained high.

Maybe the problem was in perception. Maybe students just couldn’t see how the “stylized” movements of a centuries-old system could be applicable against a street attack against a stiletto or ‘Saturday Night Special’-wielding assailant.

It’s certain that students were not seeing and hearing what they thought they should in order to believe that they were getting what they needed to survive such an attack. Even if these students don’t know what ‘that thing’ really looks like, their gut-level feeling was that, “this stuff isn’t going to work.”

Maybe the problem – what adult students are looking for – is in something even more crucial to learning self-defense against violent attackers. And maybe this “thing” was easier to identify by novices than by trained instructors who had been indoctrinated into sport systems.

Maybe what was lacking in all of these programs was something the real experts like to call…

…Experience!

Regardless of the subject, it’s fairly easy to see when someone has experience with the information they have, isn’t it? I mean, experience in actually applying that information to produce viable, proven results. As the old saying goes, “those who can – do; and those who can’t – teach.”

And, what adult students are looking for is someone who “can” AND “teaches” others how they can as well.

Now, this isn’t to say that most martial arts instructors don’t know their arts and the techniques and skills that come with them. Most certainly do. And these people are very good at what they do.

However; there is a huge difference between knowing how to ‘perform’ a skill – any skill – and being able to apply that skill in a particular context. And self-defense is no exception.

No matter how hard they try, most martial arts and self-defense instructors will not be able to convince most adults that they know what they’re talking about without the experience to back it up. Adult students are not children. They have seen far too much in there lives to let these less-than-able instructors slide.

And with the new threat of terrorism being added to the ever-present concern with crime, most adults have no desire to learn martial arts for purely ascetic reasons. They want – no, they demand – and rightly so, that the person they place their trust in, not to mention their very lives, knows what he or she is doing.

So, what’s an instructor to do if he or she lacks actual real-world experience? Should they rush right out and get into a few fights? Should they go hang out in the seedier side of town and wait to be mugged, raped, or beaten?

No, of course not. But, they can, like their students, go in search of real experts – people who have “been there” and who can help them learn what they need to know in order to help the people who come to them for this type of knowledge.

Of course, this may require that they suck in their pride and get a check on the old ego. But, as everyone knows who has been in an actual violent confrontation with a dangerous attacker, you need to “check your ego at the door” if you’re going to survive.

Teaching self-protection skills to others is a huge responsibility. And one perhaps that’s too great for a lot of people who are teaching for purely personal reasons.

There is another option available, however; just in case the primary one is totally unacceptable. And that option is simply to…

…stop trying to teach self-defense if they’re not qualified.

By all means, an instructor can, and should, continue to teach his particular style of martial art. But he should stop trying to convince intelligent, grown adults, that he knows what he’s talking about with regards to surviving a violent attack if he doesn’t. He should remember that people are placing their lives in his hands every time he open’s his mouth, or demonstrates a technique. I’m not sure whether or not many instructors have thought about this. But they should.

After all, most martial arts instructors teach honesty as one of the major tenets and character traits of a black belt master and leader. Wouldn’t this be the “honest” thing to do?

The moral here is that, if a martial arts or karate teacher wishes to teach self-defense – if he or she wants to get and retain adult students looking for this type of training for the long-term, they really have no choice but to do what they must.

They, like every other information-based professional, are in business to provide a service. They must decide what that service is and whether or not it includes real-world self-protection against violent attackers who don’t follow the rules of fairness and respect found in martial arts schools and karate tournaments.

They should also know this…

…no company, whether it’s a furniture store or a martial art school, stays in-business very long if it can’t give its customers what they want and need. Their clients and students may never tell them that they don’t believe or trust them. But, rest assured that if they’re not getting what they’ve paid for, they’re gone.

As a final thought, and one that I live by. What if, some day, “I” must depend on one of my students to protect me from a dangerous assailant for whatever reason. Wouldn’t I want to make sure that what he or she learned was really going to work?

I know I would!

Jeffrey M. Miller is the founder of Warrior Concepts International, a Pennsylvania-based company specializing in helping private, law enforcement, and corporate clients to develop time-tested and proven self-protection and personal development skills that work in the real-world. He is the author of the highly acclaimed, educational video, Danger Prevention Tactics. His latest book, “The Karate-Myth” shows the reader why most martial arts and self-defense programs don’t work and how to insure your safety in today’s violent world. For additonal information about having this internationally-recognized expert as a guest or keynote speaker for your organization’s next meeting, or to sponsor a seminar with Mr. Miller, you may contact him through his web site or by calling WCI in the U.S. and Canada, at (570) 988-2228.

Thinking of taking Martial Arts? Choosing a Martial Arts school can be intimidating, but not if you do some research first. Knowing these nine questions to ask before you pick any school for yourself or your child will ensure a positive experience.

1. Do you have belt test fees? And if so, how much are they? If they do, make sure you ask what they charge for each belt, so you know your true costs.

2. Do they mix adults with kids when training? Most schools consider an adult to be 12 or 13. You do not want to pair up with a youth if you are an adult. It slows down your training.

3. Do they do tournaments? Many places will say yes, but you don’t have to participate. Well let me tell you, the four weeks before the tournament, most schools are so busy getting ready for it, you will be a punching bag until the tournament is over.

4. Do they allow the public to watch the classes? I really dislike being watched while I teach or practice. Do you really want to be trying to learn an advance move that looks real funny, with people on the side lines laughing at you? Most of my students don’t, so we do NOT allow it, except during the kid’s class. All parents are allowed to watch their kids if they want to. If the school doesn’t allow that – watch out.

5. What style do they teach? I am a traditionalist. I like to teach and learn only one style. Many incomplete styles have to bring in different systems to complete their style. Not a good thing. Imagine speaking a quarter English, a quarter French, a quarter Spanish, and a quarter Russian. You would never learn to write. Try to stick to a complete system that isn’t just the flavor of the month.

6. What type of screening process do they have? Can just anybody train? Remember, you will be learning a martial art, and in the course of things, someone will be punching and kicking at you. It’s nice to know that the instructor screened his students (All my students go through an ongoing screening process, starting with the very first interview and first lesson).

7. How often can I come in? I allow my students full access to the training hall all day long, five days a week. If you can only come down twice a week, that’s ok if that works for you. I just know that working with adults, their schedule is always changing, so we have to change with them. Just be aware of what you can and can’t do. If all the sudden you cannot make your seven o’clock lesson, do they have another time for you?

8. Who teaches the class? Are they paid instructors or just teenage helpers trying to get their next belt? A paid instructor usually knows that they are being paid by the student. The unpaid teenager often doesn’t care if you stay or go, learn or not.

9. Do they have contracts? I love this one. I have done it both ways. I have signed contracts and I have not signed them. Let me tell you, the person that does not have a contract is no professional. They usually are the worst run schools. You must absolutely know up front what is expected from you, the student, and what you can expect from the school. How many times have you heard “get it in writing”? Well do it. The only reason not to sign a contract is the length of time you are committing to. Remember, they are committing to you as well. Contracts are not one sided. If you are not going to be in the area for the term of the contract, don’t sign it. All my agreements have a clause allowing you out if you get sick or move. One last thing, would you buy a house, rent an apartment, purchase a car, or sell a house without some sort of contract? I think not. So don’t fall for “we don’t have contracts here”. A month to month club is just that, a month to month club. It takes two to commit. If the school is willing to commit, so should the student.

There are many other things to be aware of, but I feel these are the most critical. If you have any questions about a school in your area or want some advice, feel free to email me at the contact address below. I will be happy to help you make the right decision.

My 3 studios are located in Lynnwood, Kent and Bellevue Washington.
If you live near one of those locations and are interested in a FREE 2
week trial at our state-of-the-art studios, please call us at
1-800-508-6141!

Master Robert Jones is a respected Martial Arts teacher who runs three successful schools located in Bellevue, Lynnwood, and Kent, Washington. He has been helping families make positive changes in their lives through martial arts for over 20 years. He also has written two guides on how to pick a martial art school. One for adults and one for parents wanting to pick the right school for their child. He can be reached at info@kungfutemple.com or at the Academy of Kempo Martial Arts http://www.kungfutemple.com
1-800-508-6141.

Buying the perfect Japanese swords is not an easy thing to do, as there are many Japanese swords to choose from and many things to take into consideration. The first look at the many Japanese swords on the market will make a person dizzy. Which one is the best for me So many Japanese swords attract the eye and so many seem appropriate for the wall at home…Of course the best one will also be the most expensive, but how do you know for sure what is the best choice

Getting to know the market involves reading a lot, documenting about how Japanese swords are made and comparing the merchandise in front of your eyes. This means a lot of information will have to be processed in a short while for your own good. Things can actually get easier if you are paying attention to some aspects like the steel of the Japanese swords, their forging, heat treatment and polish. The Japanese swords can be used for battling purposes or for decorating. Depending on the purpose you are looking to buy Japanese swords, these aspects are more or less important.

The ancient smiths made extraordinary blades for the Japanese swords. This is why the most important aspect when choosing the Japanese swords is their blade. The blades consisted in steel purified by the process of forging and folding. The Japanese swords had their blades beat and purified through a long process that gave them a very high quality. Nowadays technology has progressed to a level where pure steel is no longer obtained through such a difficult process. Swedish Powdered Steel is the new and available to work with pure steel. The Japanese swords (especially when used for battle) have to have a very strong and difficult to break blade. What gives them these properties is the even distribution of carbon in the steel, which doesn’t allow weak spots in the just forged blade.

The forging of Japanese swords makes them authentic, with unique blades made by skilled craftsmen. The forging degree is determined by the smith and by how much he folds and beats the blade of the Japanese swords. The structure gets stronger and the grain finer with every repeated folding. If they are not forged then they are modern Japanese swords that are not one of a kind. In this case they are not an individual expression. They make these kind of Japanese swords for selling purposes to the persons who don’t really care about their authenticity (for buyers that want to decorate their houses or offices).

The heat treatment of Japanese swords also gives them a higher quality making their grain structure finer. The authentic Japanese swords differentiate themselves through a sign left by the heat treatment it is called the Hamon. The changed molecular structure from the heat treatment is visible on the edge of the Japanese swords where the blades have a different color (Pearle). Of course modern manufacturers have thought of a way to give the Japanese swords this look without the heat treatment using a chemical treatment that doesn’t change the molecular structure.

The final touch for the blades was the polish, which used to be made by hand. It took several days or weeks just for one Japanese sword to have its blade polished. Such traditionally polished by hand Japanese swords would cost thousands of dollars nowadays. As the process is no longer practical it is currently done with the help of different polishing instruments. Some buyers look for a mirror-surfaced blade, but the true beauty of the Japanese swords is to be able to see the metal folding pattern and the Hamon on the edge. To buy such Japanese swords (that are fully polished and take a lot of time to finish) will probably cost a lot more than you would have expected. But invest only if you are serious in buying the authentic Japanese swords.

There are more things to admire and appreciate when buying Japanese swords the design and shape, the mountings, the weight balance. You should also be careful that the blades don’t have any cracks and that the sayas fit, the fittings don’t rattle or the wrappings aren’t tight enough.

You could be a simple buyer that doesn’t want anything special or you could be a collector or investor that wants only the best for himself (the authentic Japanese swords), but no matter what you want them for, the Japanese swords are treasured items worth buying and taking care of. Whichever Japanese swords you may choose or consider perfect for you, the spirit of the worrier will always be in their symbol and remind you of true virtues.

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