Martial arts programs are an important part of keeping your kids fit and healthy while helping them develop discipline and confidence in their everyday lives. However not all schools are created equal and it's important for you as a parent to recognize the signs that you enrolled your children in a fantastic program. Here are 10 signs you picked well:
1) The school has a well developed schedule with plenty of classes.
It's important that your school has thought their schedule through carefully and offers classes at the appropriate times for your children's age. You don't want your classes starting too early and constantly require you to rush to class, or too late where it's interfering with dinner time. Your school should also provide plenty of classes through the week. Even if the school offers a great program, if it's only available once a week that won't be of much benefit. Make sure your school has a well thought-out and consistent schedule that works for your family.
2) The school is known in the community and beyond.
Your school should be known in the community and partnered with local schools and other organizations. They should belong to an association or affiliation which should have stringent guidelines on the policies and procedures the school operates on. Gracie Barra is one of the largest and most trusted academies in the world, and has very strict guidelines that all schools must follow and certify for.
3) The school has multiple programs for kids.
It's important that your school offers different programs for kids outside of just martial arts training. Such as classes for different age groups, for competition training, for after school care. Lumping everyone into one giant class isn't ideal.
4) The martial arts program goes beyond just teaching fighting techniques.
While teaching your kids how to fight is important to self defense, we believe that a martial arts academy should go well beyond that. Teaching discipline, building confidence, instilling integrity and responsibility will bring immediate impacts but also benefit a child the rest of their lives.
5) The staff asks for your goals and works with you.
Maybe you're looking to build confidence in your child, or they're struggling academically. Maybe they talk back and are disrespectful to you. Or maybe you just want them to have a fun activity every day. Each parent has different goals for putting their kids in a martial arts program, and one size definitely does not fit all. Your school should be asking you what your goals are and work with you to achieve those.
6) The instructor actually knows the martial art they're teaching.
It happens more than you know. There are many fake instructors out there that
open a school with nothing more than some techniques they saw on TV. Make sure your school and their instructors are registered with a known certification authority for their specific martial arts. For example at Gracie Barra Pembroke Pines our black belt instructors are certified by both Gracie Barra HQ as well as the IBJJF (International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation).
7) The instructor has experience teaching kids.
Maybe your instructor is a world champion competitor with numerous awards and accolades, but that doesn't mean they know how to teach kids. Make sure they have experience teaching kids on the technical side but also how to handle them in general.
8) The school has helpers or coaches on the mat.
You could have the most amazing instructor in the world, but if it's only one person they will have trouble running a full class. Make sure your school provides helpers and coaches to assist the main instructor in class. .
9) The staff are certified to teach, have medical certification and are background checked.
Ask if the staff at your school are all certified to teach, certified to know what to do in a medical emergency (first aid, CPR, AED) and are regularly background checked. If they do all three, you know you're at a good, responsible school. Gracie Barra Pembroke Pines makes sure all instructors and coaches are certified to teach, certified on first aid/cpr and are background checked.
10) The school is clean and has a sanitizing procedure.
In our current environment it's important that your school has proper procedures in place to sanitize their school, and their staff is properly trained to carry out those procedures. It's important that they clean their facility but are they actually doing it correctly? Are they sanitizing with the right products? Are they using them correctly, and are they safe for use around humans especially children? Are they cleaning regularly or just whenever they feel like it? Is their cleaning equipment cleaned or are they just pushing around the same dirty water with a dirty mop? These are important questions to ask your academy.
There are many excellent martial arts schools out there and they're very important to the development of kids. However it's important that you do your due diligence in selecting the right school for you and your kids.
If you have any questions about this subject or how we at Gracie Barra Pembroke Pines can help you with your kids, please contact us anytime. We run kids & juniors Jiu-jitsu programs for 3 to 13+ year olds. Try a free class to see why many consider Gracie Barra the most trusted martial arts school in the world.
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