| Martial Arts & Self Defense - White Plains, New Rochelle, Yonkers & the Bronx Tai Chi - Kung Fu - Karate - Tae Kwon Do - Aikido - Judo - Ju Jitsu - MMA - Weapons |
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Learn About Asian Martial Arts & Finding a School in Lower
Westchester, NY (near White Plains, New Rochelle & Yonkers)
Please Read: Scarsdale Aikido provides instruction in Aikido only. However, this educational section of the web site is
designed to serve the people of Westchester County who are interested in self defense or martial arts training. In
recognition that there are many different personalities, Aikido is not necessarily the most suitable martial art for everyone.
However, we have observed that the public in general in Westchester is not well educated on the various twists and turns
that may develop during one's efforts to select an instructor and train over many years, and as a result there is a
tendency to mistake the bad for the good (and vice versa) in selecting a school. This is to be expected, as martial arts
training is not intrinsic to American culture. However, the net result can lead to years of wasted time in the wrong place.
This section of the web site is an educational tool designed to help interested parties better understand the martial arts in
order to gain the most benefit from the training over time, while simultaneously avoiding potential pitfalls. The short
articles below are designed to highlight important insights which will help an individual select a school. The other links on
the left lead to brief descriptions of many Asian martial arts complete with pictures and interspersed with some key points
to look for when speaking with a prospective teacher.
Westchester, NY (near White Plains, New Rochelle & Yonkers)
Please Read: Scarsdale Aikido provides instruction in Aikido only. However, this educational section of the web site is
designed to serve the people of Westchester County who are interested in self defense or martial arts training. In
recognition that there are many different personalities, Aikido is not necessarily the most suitable martial art for everyone.
However, we have observed that the public in general in Westchester is not well educated on the various twists and turns
that may develop during one's efforts to select an instructor and train over many years, and as a result there is a
tendency to mistake the bad for the good (and vice versa) in selecting a school. This is to be expected, as martial arts
training is not intrinsic to American culture. However, the net result can lead to years of wasted time in the wrong place.
This section of the web site is an educational tool designed to help interested parties better understand the martial arts in
order to gain the most benefit from the training over time, while simultaneously avoiding potential pitfalls. The short
articles below are designed to highlight important insights which will help an individual select a school. The other links on
the left lead to brief descriptions of many Asian martial arts complete with pictures and interspersed with some key points
to look for when speaking with a prospective teacher.
Articles: Searching for a Teacher
Note - you can navigate this section either by the links here or alternatively scroll down below.
Finding the School... - Some pointers on why/where/how to look to find schools in Westchester County and the Bronx.
Some Basics - Very basic overview of Asian Martial Arts. (More detail & pictures in the individual martial art tabs to the
right)
Planning Ahead... - The importance of foresight, and specifically what happens when we don't use it.
Warning Against Rank, Credentials and Mixing Martial Arts - There are various distinctions that qualify an instructor and
some people create their own mixtures of martial arts - how should we view them?
What to Look for - Specifically how to define and rank schools according to your interests. If this were as easy as it
looked, we wouldn't have to write an article about it...
How to Look for a School (Case Studies) - A martial arts instructor probably knows his/her art better than you do, so how
can you tell if he knows what he is doing, if you don't know what he is doing. Planning ahead can save you years...
Note - you can navigate this section either by the links here or alternatively scroll down below.
Finding the School... - Some pointers on why/where/how to look to find schools in Westchester County and the Bronx.
Some Basics - Very basic overview of Asian Martial Arts. (More detail & pictures in the individual martial art tabs to the
right)
Planning Ahead... - The importance of foresight, and specifically what happens when we don't use it.
Warning Against Rank, Credentials and Mixing Martial Arts - There are various distinctions that qualify an instructor and
some people create their own mixtures of martial arts - how should we view them?
What to Look for - Specifically how to define and rank schools according to your interests. If this were as easy as it
looked, we wouldn't have to write an article about it...
How to Look for a School (Case Studies) - A martial arts instructor probably knows his/her art better than you do, so how
can you tell if he knows what he is doing, if you don't know what he is doing. Planning ahead can save you years...
Scarsdale Aikido
4 Gray Rock Rd
Scarsdale, NY 10583
914-574-6498
For Email, see
Contact Us below
4 Gray Rock Rd
Scarsdale, NY 10583
914-574-6498
For Email, see
Contact Us below
Finding the School...
Next (Some Basics), Top Section
Most people begin their search for a martial arts school with a simple process in mind. They wish to find a school that is conveniently located,
affordable, with a workable class schedule that teaches an art in which they are interested and can derive the desired benefits. Unfortunately, the
owner’s manual for how to find a martial arts school was not written and widely disseminated prior to their initiation of the search, and so one is
likely to run into a few surprises along the way.
Modern scientists have discovered a principle, which establishes that the conclusions we draw can be tied to our mindset prior to launching the
investigation. For example, drug manufacturers perform double blind studies on medications to make sure that even the doctors dispensing the
medication do not know which medication the patient is taking, so they will not influence the patient’s psychology, thus creating a placebo effect.
Similarly, in the search for a school, we tend to focus on our initial understanding of martial arts. For example, if we believe self defense must be
violent and destructive, we will tend to choose a violent school. If we seek moderate physical benefits, some social benefits and only want to dip
our toe in the water, we may tend to choose a school that emphasizes the superficial, as we would not look deeper into the instruction to evaluate
it at that level. The problem with this approach is rooted in the nature of martial arts training. If we knew everything there was to know about
martial arts before we began, no one would need a school. The fact is, martial arts training is not designed to take us from the beginning stages
and leave our level of understanding there on a permanent basis. Rather, the intention is to spur growth in our understanding and outlook over
time. Otherwise, why would we start?
While clearly the best scenario is that every school is run by the highest level master available, we are unfortunately not in that situation. Some
instructors are more knowledgeable than others. So when we start by searching for violence or “martial arts lite,” so to speak, that is precisely
what we may wind up with. As we grow over time, however, we may change our thinking. We need to be sure the instructor has already trafficked
in the territory in which we venture over time. For example, violent technique is only useful at the very inception of training in some art forms. As
one builds confidence, stepping back to investigate the technique is important. Also, learning to control rather than harm is critical in all forms of
self defense. To the extent we wish to move past violent technique and the instructor has not explored that arena, where will we be then? Time to
find a new school. If we have to change schools and styles frequently as we grow, then we will only skim the surface of a variety of training
methods. A better approach is to stick with one method of practice and dig progressively deeper into it. By finding a teacher who understands the
art more fully in accordance with its underlying principles, they will begin by showing us the violent technique we desire. Then, when we wish to
move on, they will be right there with the next step. We will not need to change arts, styles or schools as we grow.
So finding an instructor that possesses a deeper understanding of the art is quite critical to our development over time. However, to the extent we
do not examine their understanding of the principles, but only investigate based upon our initial and limited understanding of the art forms, we
leave our chances of success in this most critical aspect of our decision completely up to chance. While more in depth examination may be
challenging, the benefits clearly suggest the attempt is warranted. In the same way that we hold the steering wheel of a car when we drive, we
should attempt to steer the direction of our practice so that we do not waste potentially an entire lifetime of training. The remainder of this section
is dedicated to providing insights and suggestions into that process.
Before discussing the various aspects of the search, a brief synopsis of the availability of the various arts for individuals residing in Westchester
County or the Bronx in the general vicinity of Yonkers, White Plains and New Rochelle (and the Bronx) is given below. Those not so detail
oriented may skip to the next article of choice.
Yonkers offer schools of Karate, Kung Fu, Tae Kwon Do and Tai Chi Chuan. Jujitsu, Judo and Aikido are offered within commuting distance.
New Rochelle also has Karate, Jujitsu, and Judo. Kung Fu, Tae Kwon Do, Tai Chi and Aikido are offered within commuting distance of New
Rochelle.
White Plains maintains a similar profile as the above with a particular emphasis on the prevalence of Tae Kwon Do schools within the city itself.
The Bronx has an assortment of martial art schools. In particular, they have certain forms of Ju jitsu that are very street oriented. However, the
Bronx has no Aikido schools and there seems to be very little in the way of Tai Chi Chuan. A fair number of people looking for martial arts not
generally present in their environment tend to commute either northwards into Westchester or southwards into Manhattan.
To find a style in a particular region, the internet may be a useful tool. Unfortunately, the best martial artist, by definition, may not be the best
internet marketer. That said, a simple search on Google or various yellow pages is unlikely to provide all available options. Some martial arts
schools are members of national organizations, and may be found through the web sites of the organization. There are also a number of dojo
directories on the internet (searching for them on the search engines is useful), and certain local web sites such as westchester.com, etc. Flyers
in your local community may also be effective, particularly during the fall and new year's seasons. Many schools no longer advertise in the hard
copy yellow page books any longer. Of course, word of mouth is useful, but you should not place too much weight on that avenue. How
knowledgeable was the person who made the recommendation? Driving by schools that have a visible location may also seem to bring out the
most established schools. Unfortunately, established and good are not necessarily the same thing. Basically, it is important to shop for martial
arts instruction in a wholly different manner than one selects a car, i.e. shedding one's preconceived notions of what will yield the best results.
More on this below.
Next (Some Basics), Top Section
Most people begin their search for a martial arts school with a simple process in mind. They wish to find a school that is conveniently located,
affordable, with a workable class schedule that teaches an art in which they are interested and can derive the desired benefits. Unfortunately, the
owner’s manual for how to find a martial arts school was not written and widely disseminated prior to their initiation of the search, and so one is
likely to run into a few surprises along the way.
Modern scientists have discovered a principle, which establishes that the conclusions we draw can be tied to our mindset prior to launching the
investigation. For example, drug manufacturers perform double blind studies on medications to make sure that even the doctors dispensing the
medication do not know which medication the patient is taking, so they will not influence the patient’s psychology, thus creating a placebo effect.
Similarly, in the search for a school, we tend to focus on our initial understanding of martial arts. For example, if we believe self defense must be
violent and destructive, we will tend to choose a violent school. If we seek moderate physical benefits, some social benefits and only want to dip
our toe in the water, we may tend to choose a school that emphasizes the superficial, as we would not look deeper into the instruction to evaluate
it at that level. The problem with this approach is rooted in the nature of martial arts training. If we knew everything there was to know about
martial arts before we began, no one would need a school. The fact is, martial arts training is not designed to take us from the beginning stages
and leave our level of understanding there on a permanent basis. Rather, the intention is to spur growth in our understanding and outlook over
time. Otherwise, why would we start?
While clearly the best scenario is that every school is run by the highest level master available, we are unfortunately not in that situation. Some
instructors are more knowledgeable than others. So when we start by searching for violence or “martial arts lite,” so to speak, that is precisely
what we may wind up with. As we grow over time, however, we may change our thinking. We need to be sure the instructor has already trafficked
in the territory in which we venture over time. For example, violent technique is only useful at the very inception of training in some art forms. As
one builds confidence, stepping back to investigate the technique is important. Also, learning to control rather than harm is critical in all forms of
self defense. To the extent we wish to move past violent technique and the instructor has not explored that arena, where will we be then? Time to
find a new school. If we have to change schools and styles frequently as we grow, then we will only skim the surface of a variety of training
methods. A better approach is to stick with one method of practice and dig progressively deeper into it. By finding a teacher who understands the
art more fully in accordance with its underlying principles, they will begin by showing us the violent technique we desire. Then, when we wish to
move on, they will be right there with the next step. We will not need to change arts, styles or schools as we grow.
So finding an instructor that possesses a deeper understanding of the art is quite critical to our development over time. However, to the extent we
do not examine their understanding of the principles, but only investigate based upon our initial and limited understanding of the art forms, we
leave our chances of success in this most critical aspect of our decision completely up to chance. While more in depth examination may be
challenging, the benefits clearly suggest the attempt is warranted. In the same way that we hold the steering wheel of a car when we drive, we
should attempt to steer the direction of our practice so that we do not waste potentially an entire lifetime of training. The remainder of this section
is dedicated to providing insights and suggestions into that process.
Before discussing the various aspects of the search, a brief synopsis of the availability of the various arts for individuals residing in Westchester
County or the Bronx in the general vicinity of Yonkers, White Plains and New Rochelle (and the Bronx) is given below. Those not so detail
oriented may skip to the next article of choice.
Yonkers offer schools of Karate, Kung Fu, Tae Kwon Do and Tai Chi Chuan. Jujitsu, Judo and Aikido are offered within commuting distance.
New Rochelle also has Karate, Jujitsu, and Judo. Kung Fu, Tae Kwon Do, Tai Chi and Aikido are offered within commuting distance of New
Rochelle.
White Plains maintains a similar profile as the above with a particular emphasis on the prevalence of Tae Kwon Do schools within the city itself.
The Bronx has an assortment of martial art schools. In particular, they have certain forms of Ju jitsu that are very street oriented. However, the
Bronx has no Aikido schools and there seems to be very little in the way of Tai Chi Chuan. A fair number of people looking for martial arts not
generally present in their environment tend to commute either northwards into Westchester or southwards into Manhattan.
To find a style in a particular region, the internet may be a useful tool. Unfortunately, the best martial artist, by definition, may not be the best
internet marketer. That said, a simple search on Google or various yellow pages is unlikely to provide all available options. Some martial arts
schools are members of national organizations, and may be found through the web sites of the organization. There are also a number of dojo
directories on the internet (searching for them on the search engines is useful), and certain local web sites such as westchester.com, etc. Flyers
in your local community may also be effective, particularly during the fall and new year's seasons. Many schools no longer advertise in the hard
copy yellow page books any longer. Of course, word of mouth is useful, but you should not place too much weight on that avenue. How
knowledgeable was the person who made the recommendation? Driving by schools that have a visible location may also seem to bring out the
most established schools. Unfortunately, established and good are not necessarily the same thing. Basically, it is important to shop for martial
arts instruction in a wholly different manner than one selects a car, i.e. shedding one's preconceived notions of what will yield the best results.
Some Basics
Previous (Locate Schools), Next (Plan Ahead), Top of Section
The basic martial arts are traditionally associated with three cultures as discussed below:
Japanese - The three modern forms of self defense are Aikido, Judo and Karate. They were invented in the 20th century and transformed into
sports or less violent practices than the historic culture of Japan dictated. Both Aikido and Judo came from Ju Jitsu, the empty handed martial art
invented for the Samurai when they were "indisposed," so to speak. Karate originally came from China via the Okinawan islands.
Chinese - The martial arts of China are segmented into internal and external forms. The best known of these are Tai Chi Chuan, an internal
martial art, and Kung fu, an external art.
Korean - The best known Korean arts are Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido. These are very recent inventions. Tae Kwon do is similar to Karate and
Hapkido combines Tae Kwon Do with the predecessor art of Aikido.
Mixed Martial Arts is a new venue whereby practitioners of many different arts compete with each other.
Weapons are frequently incorporated into empty handed styles as a natural extension of their art. However, numerous martial arts include only
weapons training. Some Japanese styles such as Jodo (staff), Kendo and Iaido for the sword and archery are presented.
In addition, this site does not cover every martial art within the cultures mentioned above, but only the most widely known in this country. There
are martial arts outside of these cultures as well, but they are not mentioned here for similar reasons.
Previous (Locate Schools), Next (Plan Ahead), Top of Section
The basic martial arts are traditionally associated with three cultures as discussed below:
Japanese - The three modern forms of self defense are Aikido, Judo and Karate. They were invented in the 20th century and transformed into
sports or less violent practices than the historic culture of Japan dictated. Both Aikido and Judo came from Ju Jitsu, the empty handed martial art
invented for the Samurai when they were "indisposed," so to speak. Karate originally came from China via the Okinawan islands.
Chinese - The martial arts of China are segmented into internal and external forms. The best known of these are Tai Chi Chuan, an internal
martial art, and Kung fu, an external art.
Korean - The best known Korean arts are Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido. These are very recent inventions. Tae Kwon do is similar to Karate and
Hapkido combines Tae Kwon Do with the predecessor art of Aikido.
Mixed Martial Arts is a new venue whereby practitioners of many different arts compete with each other.
Weapons are frequently incorporated into empty handed styles as a natural extension of their art. However, numerous martial arts include only
weapons training. Some Japanese styles such as Jodo (staff), Kendo and Iaido for the sword and archery are presented.
In addition, this site does not cover every martial art within the cultures mentioned above, but only the most widely known in this country. There
are martial arts outside of these cultures as well, but they are not mentioned here for similar reasons.
Planning Ahead...
Previous (Some Basics), Next (Warning - Credentials & Mixing Arts), Top of Section
When investigating martial arts training for oneself, there are a few obvious questions that should be asked. For example, why are you interested
in martial arts training? What are you looking for? Answering these questions along with developing an understanding of the direction that the
different martial arts may take can go a long way towards clearing very muddy waters. Unfortunately, as with anything, the answers may not be as
obvious as the questions and they may change over time as well.
People typically come to martial arts training in search of self defense, exercise and/or personal growth. Yet many people in this region do not
have extensive knowledge of martial arts training. We tend to rely upon what we see or assume to be the case based upon our preconceived
notions. The problem with this approach is that the reason why we seek an instructor to begin with is to learn, i.e. these preconceived notions may
not be correct. Chances are we may very well follow these misconceptions in selecting a school, thus propagating them endlessly. Alternatively,
we might spend a little time evaluating our own objectives and then approach the task with an open mind. One aspect that all martial arts have in
common is the importance of developing positive character, and so the focus on finding an instructor who is sincere, kind and humble is
recommended. Then effectiveness can be considered in broad terms. As long as one targets the cause of effective self defense in their training,
they are more likely to end up with that result. Understanding the cause, however, is more of a profound search than most people imagine. As a
general rule, all martial arts tend to be effective, although their approaches differ. Finally, all martial arts provide exercise, but the types and
purpose can vary.
That said, the following examples illustrate a important caveats to the search for an instructor: A Chinese instructor emphasizes a quote from the
Chinese classics. However, the quote does not conform to the ideas in the classics for those who have read them. When asked where to find the
particular quote, he refuses to answer. This instructor also refuses to disclose his teacher. While these are important red flags, he boasts
students following his instructions for over 15 years. Certain other schools only teach the physical techniques, but have no knowledge of the
principles underlying the techniques. Without such knowledge, they do not know how to close openings to avoid being defeated, and so the
training is not complete. After one learns the techniques, that's it. Then it is time to find a new instructor, or very possibly switch arts if a better
instructor in the same art is not available, a wrenching decision. While it may be difficult to find an instructor in this area with a profound
understanding of his/her art, consider studying with someone who encourages people to train with higher level masters traveling through the
region in their respective styles.
If you know what you seek, designing a plan to accomplish your goals is more straight forward. Yet, by following one's preconceived notions
without considering the ideas promoted by those who have come before us can lead to trouble. Instead, reading the classic texts of one's art is
important even while selecting an instructor. One should also know that all people eventually learn the techniques, so you should plan ahead.
Answer the question "what happens next?" before you begin. By following these steps one can target their interests very directly and avoid
wasting countless years in the wrong place as described above, possibly leading to more serious problem.
Previous (Some Basics), Next (Warning - Credentials & Mixing Arts), Top of Section
When investigating martial arts training for oneself, there are a few obvious questions that should be asked. For example, why are you interested
in martial arts training? What are you looking for? Answering these questions along with developing an understanding of the direction that the
different martial arts may take can go a long way towards clearing very muddy waters. Unfortunately, as with anything, the answers may not be as
obvious as the questions and they may change over time as well.
People typically come to martial arts training in search of self defense, exercise and/or personal growth. Yet many people in this region do not
have extensive knowledge of martial arts training. We tend to rely upon what we see or assume to be the case based upon our preconceived
notions. The problem with this approach is that the reason why we seek an instructor to begin with is to learn, i.e. these preconceived notions may
not be correct. Chances are we may very well follow these misconceptions in selecting a school, thus propagating them endlessly. Alternatively,
we might spend a little time evaluating our own objectives and then approach the task with an open mind. One aspect that all martial arts have in
common is the importance of developing positive character, and so the focus on finding an instructor who is sincere, kind and humble is
recommended. Then effectiveness can be considered in broad terms. As long as one targets the cause of effective self defense in their training,
they are more likely to end up with that result. Understanding the cause, however, is more of a profound search than most people imagine. As a
general rule, all martial arts tend to be effective, although their approaches differ. Finally, all martial arts provide exercise, but the types and
purpose can vary.
That said, the following examples illustrate a important caveats to the search for an instructor: A Chinese instructor emphasizes a quote from the
Chinese classics. However, the quote does not conform to the ideas in the classics for those who have read them. When asked where to find the
particular quote, he refuses to answer. This instructor also refuses to disclose his teacher. While these are important red flags, he boasts
students following his instructions for over 15 years. Certain other schools only teach the physical techniques, but have no knowledge of the
principles underlying the techniques. Without such knowledge, they do not know how to close openings to avoid being defeated, and so the
training is not complete. After one learns the techniques, that's it. Then it is time to find a new instructor, or very possibly switch arts if a better
instructor in the same art is not available, a wrenching decision. While it may be difficult to find an instructor in this area with a profound
understanding of his/her art, consider studying with someone who encourages people to train with higher level masters traveling through the
region in their respective styles.
If you know what you seek, designing a plan to accomplish your goals is more straight forward. Yet, by following one's preconceived notions
without considering the ideas promoted by those who have come before us can lead to trouble. Instead, reading the classic texts of one's art is
important even while selecting an instructor. One should also know that all people eventually learn the techniques, so you should plan ahead.
Answer the question "what happens next?" before you begin. By following these steps one can target their interests very directly and avoid
wasting countless years in the wrong place as described above, possibly leading to more serious problem.
Warning Against Rank, Credentials and Mixing Martial Arts
Previous (Plan Ahead), Next (What to Look for), Top of Section
Many instructors point to the rank, titles or broad teaching responsibilities they have accrued during their training to indicate their skill level.
These simple tools, while possibly helpful, can sometimes be like anything else in this world, can ultimately be misleading. Some teachers are
promoted because they are not genuinely advanced practitioners and become attached to titles, ranks and other paraphernalia of success. Who
awarded the rank, title or teaching assignments and what was their level of skill? A weak teacher with little understanding may attract, retain and
promote other weak subordinates. On the other hand, some teachers with little status and fanfare can be very powerful. Perhaps they were
mistreated by their organization, or had little attraction to status. Finding a sincere practitioner who is genuinely interested in his/her art, and not
looking to collect the trappings of success is ultimately best.
As for mixing arts, only in the rarest of events has a martial arts master achieved a sufficient level to invent his/her own art which will pass the test
of time. Many try mixing them anyway. The problem is that their understanding is often well below the level of the people who invented the
underlying arts, and can be a convoluted patchwork of different ideas that don't fit properly together. That said, there are some circumstances
where combinations are okay, but for our purposes, we should remain skeptical, especially of combinations by garden variety martial artists in the
local area. Generally, cross training yourself in different martial arts taught in their purest forms may provide some of the benefits one seeks
without getting involved with someone who superficially understand a martial art or two and then tries their hand at being the next Bruce Lee.
Previous (Plan Ahead), Next (What to Look for), Top of Section
Many instructors point to the rank, titles or broad teaching responsibilities they have accrued during their training to indicate their skill level.
These simple tools, while possibly helpful, can sometimes be like anything else in this world, can ultimately be misleading. Some teachers are
promoted because they are not genuinely advanced practitioners and become attached to titles, ranks and other paraphernalia of success. Who
awarded the rank, title or teaching assignments and what was their level of skill? A weak teacher with little understanding may attract, retain and
promote other weak subordinates. On the other hand, some teachers with little status and fanfare can be very powerful. Perhaps they were
mistreated by their organization, or had little attraction to status. Finding a sincere practitioner who is genuinely interested in his/her art, and not
looking to collect the trappings of success is ultimately best.
As for mixing arts, only in the rarest of events has a martial arts master achieved a sufficient level to invent his/her own art which will pass the test
of time. Many try mixing them anyway. The problem is that their understanding is often well below the level of the people who invented the
underlying arts, and can be a convoluted patchwork of different ideas that don't fit properly together. That said, there are some circumstances
where combinations are okay, but for our purposes, we should remain skeptical, especially of combinations by garden variety martial artists in the
local area. Generally, cross training yourself in different martial arts taught in their purest forms may provide some of the benefits one seeks
without getting involved with someone who superficially understand a martial art or two and then tries their hand at being the next Bruce Lee.
What to Look for
Previous (Warning - Credentials & Mixing Arts), Next (How to Look), Top of Section
First, let us consider the self defense aspects. All martial arts can be effective, and so that is not a limiting factor. However, one might be more
concerned regarding the ability to learn self defense quickly. To the extent you see a particular art and feel it fills the void, that approach may be
best for you. Numerous arts work to develop one's confidence quickly in their ability to defend themselves as an expedient to ultimately lead the
practitioner to develop positive character. If a particular art seems to speak to this need, it may be the best starting point. That said, as a caveat,
one should note that the ability to defend oneself accrues most quickly to those who do not concern themselves with that aspect of training.
Second, we can consider exercise. Some martial arts such as Tai Chi have specifically designed health benefits, and so those arts should be
pursued to the extent of one's interest in them. Otherwise, all martial arts provide exercise and can be practiced vigorously to one's ability and
interest. Most arts that emphasize striking employ katas as a training method, which can be practiced alone, while arts that focus on grappling or
throwing an opponent emphasize practice between two or more partners which can be very aerobic. Again, all arts can be adjusted to one's
limitations, and so the different approaches should not be seen as explicitly limiting factors.
Finally, we should consider personal growth, which affects effectiveness of the art over the long run. Martial arts training has two basic
components: technique an understanding. The objective is to be effective in protecting oneself consistently in all situations, so both are required
to accomplish this goal.
The need to train in technique is obvious. One trains to develop reflexes to protect themselves as the situation arises so one is not trying to figure
out the footwork as the punch is coming.
The need for understanding is more subtle. A proper understanding of the principle ideas underlying an art help one to close openings so one
cannot be countered and defeated while performing the techniques. Those who think a martial art is the techniques alone are in for a rude
awakening when they discover that every technique can be countered. There is no perfect technique that can guaranty safety in all situations.
The ability to close openings during any given technique is related to one's state of being more so than the specific technique chosen. A correct
understanding leads to a correct state of being.
Any potential school should be evaluated in its ability to bring a student from point "A" to point "B," meaning how the school delivers on both basic
components. How proficient is the instructor in technique and what are the training methods? Does the instructor have a correct understanding
from the point of view of realization? If not, does he/she at least have a correct intellectual understanding? Are they sincere and have they
developed positive character? Obviously, the feeling of comfort one has with a particular instructor would enter into this equation.
Ultimately, the personal growth aspect of training is not a patchwork of unrelated terms reiterated due to the pleasing sounds and some vague
notions that these ideas may be beneficial one day. This aspect of training is an integral part of the daily practice, and critical insofar as it is
required to deliver truly effective self defense and health benefits. This aspect of training in a school should not be underestimated, and critical
steps to avoid errors is the subject of the next article below.
Previous (Warning - Credentials & Mixing Arts), Next (How to Look), Top of Section
First, let us consider the self defense aspects. All martial arts can be effective, and so that is not a limiting factor. However, one might be more
concerned regarding the ability to learn self defense quickly. To the extent you see a particular art and feel it fills the void, that approach may be
best for you. Numerous arts work to develop one's confidence quickly in their ability to defend themselves as an expedient to ultimately lead the
practitioner to develop positive character. If a particular art seems to speak to this need, it may be the best starting point. That said, as a caveat,
one should note that the ability to defend oneself accrues most quickly to those who do not concern themselves with that aspect of training.
Second, we can consider exercise. Some martial arts such as Tai Chi have specifically designed health benefits, and so those arts should be
pursued to the extent of one's interest in them. Otherwise, all martial arts provide exercise and can be practiced vigorously to one's ability and
interest. Most arts that emphasize striking employ katas as a training method, which can be practiced alone, while arts that focus on grappling or
throwing an opponent emphasize practice between two or more partners which can be very aerobic. Again, all arts can be adjusted to one's
limitations, and so the different approaches should not be seen as explicitly limiting factors.
Finally, we should consider personal growth, which affects effectiveness of the art over the long run. Martial arts training has two basic
components: technique an understanding. The objective is to be effective in protecting oneself consistently in all situations, so both are required
to accomplish this goal.
The need to train in technique is obvious. One trains to develop reflexes to protect themselves as the situation arises so one is not trying to figure
out the footwork as the punch is coming.
The need for understanding is more subtle. A proper understanding of the principle ideas underlying an art help one to close openings so one
cannot be countered and defeated while performing the techniques. Those who think a martial art is the techniques alone are in for a rude
awakening when they discover that every technique can be countered. There is no perfect technique that can guaranty safety in all situations.
The ability to close openings during any given technique is related to one's state of being more so than the specific technique chosen. A correct
understanding leads to a correct state of being.
Any potential school should be evaluated in its ability to bring a student from point "A" to point "B," meaning how the school delivers on both basic
components. How proficient is the instructor in technique and what are the training methods? Does the instructor have a correct understanding
from the point of view of realization? If not, does he/she at least have a correct intellectual understanding? Are they sincere and have they
developed positive character? Obviously, the feeling of comfort one has with a particular instructor would enter into this equation.
Ultimately, the personal growth aspect of training is not a patchwork of unrelated terms reiterated due to the pleasing sounds and some vague
notions that these ideas may be beneficial one day. This aspect of training is an integral part of the daily practice, and critical insofar as it is
required to deliver truly effective self defense and health benefits. This aspect of training in a school should not be underestimated, and critical
steps to avoid errors is the subject of the next article below.
So How do I Look for a School? (Case Studies)
Previous question (What to look for) or top of section
There are two basic methods of evaluating the instructor: (1) what you perceive directly, and (2) what you can establish through indirect
examination. Some of the preliminaries to this stage are discussed in the articles above. Moving forward, of course you should determine your
comfort with the instructor and the school personally, but the information below addresses primarily consideration of the instructor's level of
knowledge.
A good example of the first method, direct perception, was expressed by a friend of mine who decided to quit from a school after 15 years of
training. Despite the fact that the school was reasonably mundane to the naked eye, he looked into the instruction to find the fundamental nature
of the techniques as taught. He said it was nothing more than violence and aggression. He developed proficiency in technical skills and wanted
more knowledge beyond merely how to overpower an attacker and prove one’s strength. He looked at the teacher and directly understood that he
had nothing more to offer. The teacher only knew how to prove how strong he was in order to dominate the attacker. If you spoke with the teacher
separately, you never would have drawn that conclusion. The instructor used all of the right words. However, his understanding was rooted in this
form of violence and was evident in his technique. My friend correctly decided to quit. This sort of phenomena is very common in martial arts
training and suggested my friend outgrew his teacher. One should ask questions of the instructor at the outset to assess this possibility with any
potential school one evaluates.
Knowing this fact and the dangers of devoting 15 years to training in one art only to discover the time wasted, another friend embarked upon
finding a teacher. In this case, as the instructors were supposedly high level masters with excellent lineage charts, he did not expect to be able to
directly perceive the level of their practice. Instead, he utilized indirect examination. Here one goes to the instructor and asks a series of questions
over time. That part is simple enough. The problem crops up, however, when one receives the answers. The reason one seeks a teacher is
because they are supposed to know more than you do. How does one evaluate whether their answers are correct? Certain basic ideas, such as
kindness, sincerity, selflessness, patience, generosity, ethics, etc. come to mind whereas egotism, conceit, and arrogance should be eschewed.
These notions are clearly in the best interests of society, and martial arts training should develop one’s character in a positive manner. Think
about the example of someone who claims to be the best martial artist in the area. If he is correct, making that statement is fine. However, has he
met every martial artist in the area and does he really know? If the answer to either of these questions is no, then the statement shows arrogance,
a weakness for a martial artist.
Some of the more profound ideas, however, manifest in a variety of ways that may be difficult to fathom. For example, an instructor teaches as an
important part of the program that, according to Confucius, a superior person should not compete with others, but only with themselves. On the
surface, it sounds as if this idea might result in developing positive character, but this notion falters upon further inspection. How do I compete with
myself if there are not two of me present at the same time? If I compete with the past or the future me, which me is supposed to win? If I believe I
am supposed to achieve steady and continuous progress over time, that may sound comfortable. However, in the context of martial arts training,
that idea is well known as nothing more than an obstacle to learning. A well known martial arts master heard this and laughed. He said Confucius
knew better than to say such silly things. When asked where exactly did Confucius say this, the instructor who used the quote regularly refused to
answer. As a point of information, correct instruction is the idea that the attacker (or competitor) is not the true enemy, but the true enemy lies
within. Identifying and defeating this enemy is the point of martial arts training. Therefore, through indirect examination, one might utilize the
writings of the masters of the given art or other masters whom you know and trust. (Examples of some of these classic texts and writings can be
found in the library of the Westchester Aikido Blog, which can be entered via the Bulletin Board/Blog link at the bottom of the page.) If you persist
in this process, you should be able to develop some idea of the teacher’s level of understanding over time, and also learn the art in more depth.
An instructor may not know everything, but they should be sincere if they err and show a willingness to learn from their mistakes. They should also
appreciate your diligence and effort in learning. In the case of this friend, he examined two teachers. It took 3 classes over 4 weeks to establish
the first instructor had very serious character flaws. He evaluated the next teacher within 20 minutes. While he could not see what either teacher
was doing directly in their technique, he was able to establish definitively that neither one was an appropriate instructor and so saved himself 15
years of training in the wrong place.
Direct perception is always best, but in the event you cannot see definitively what is going on (which will be true in most cases) the second
approach is an important alternative. True, it requires work, and one must let go of their excitement over starting something new, but you will wind
up saving a great deal more effort by avoiding training for untold years in the wrong place, only to find a need to begin anew.
Previous question (What to look for) or top of section
There are two basic methods of evaluating the instructor: (1) what you perceive directly, and (2) what you can establish through indirect
examination. Some of the preliminaries to this stage are discussed in the articles above. Moving forward, of course you should determine your
comfort with the instructor and the school personally, but the information below addresses primarily consideration of the instructor's level of
knowledge.
A good example of the first method, direct perception, was expressed by a friend of mine who decided to quit from a school after 15 years of
training. Despite the fact that the school was reasonably mundane to the naked eye, he looked into the instruction to find the fundamental nature
of the techniques as taught. He said it was nothing more than violence and aggression. He developed proficiency in technical skills and wanted
more knowledge beyond merely how to overpower an attacker and prove one’s strength. He looked at the teacher and directly understood that he
had nothing more to offer. The teacher only knew how to prove how strong he was in order to dominate the attacker. If you spoke with the teacher
separately, you never would have drawn that conclusion. The instructor used all of the right words. However, his understanding was rooted in this
form of violence and was evident in his technique. My friend correctly decided to quit. This sort of phenomena is very common in martial arts
training and suggested my friend outgrew his teacher. One should ask questions of the instructor at the outset to assess this possibility with any
potential school one evaluates.
Knowing this fact and the dangers of devoting 15 years to training in one art only to discover the time wasted, another friend embarked upon
finding a teacher. In this case, as the instructors were supposedly high level masters with excellent lineage charts, he did not expect to be able to
directly perceive the level of their practice. Instead, he utilized indirect examination. Here one goes to the instructor and asks a series of questions
over time. That part is simple enough. The problem crops up, however, when one receives the answers. The reason one seeks a teacher is
because they are supposed to know more than you do. How does one evaluate whether their answers are correct? Certain basic ideas, such as
kindness, sincerity, selflessness, patience, generosity, ethics, etc. come to mind whereas egotism, conceit, and arrogance should be eschewed.
These notions are clearly in the best interests of society, and martial arts training should develop one’s character in a positive manner. Think
about the example of someone who claims to be the best martial artist in the area. If he is correct, making that statement is fine. However, has he
met every martial artist in the area and does he really know? If the answer to either of these questions is no, then the statement shows arrogance,
a weakness for a martial artist.
Some of the more profound ideas, however, manifest in a variety of ways that may be difficult to fathom. For example, an instructor teaches as an
important part of the program that, according to Confucius, a superior person should not compete with others, but only with themselves. On the
surface, it sounds as if this idea might result in developing positive character, but this notion falters upon further inspection. How do I compete with
myself if there are not two of me present at the same time? If I compete with the past or the future me, which me is supposed to win? If I believe I
am supposed to achieve steady and continuous progress over time, that may sound comfortable. However, in the context of martial arts training,
that idea is well known as nothing more than an obstacle to learning. A well known martial arts master heard this and laughed. He said Confucius
knew better than to say such silly things. When asked where exactly did Confucius say this, the instructor who used the quote regularly refused to
answer. As a point of information, correct instruction is the idea that the attacker (or competitor) is not the true enemy, but the true enemy lies
within. Identifying and defeating this enemy is the point of martial arts training. Therefore, through indirect examination, one might utilize the
writings of the masters of the given art or other masters whom you know and trust. (Examples of some of these classic texts and writings can be
found in the library of the Westchester Aikido Blog, which can be entered via the Bulletin Board/Blog link at the bottom of the page.) If you persist
in this process, you should be able to develop some idea of the teacher’s level of understanding over time, and also learn the art in more depth.
An instructor may not know everything, but they should be sincere if they err and show a willingness to learn from their mistakes. They should also
appreciate your diligence and effort in learning. In the case of this friend, he examined two teachers. It took 3 classes over 4 weeks to establish
the first instructor had very serious character flaws. He evaluated the next teacher within 20 minutes. While he could not see what either teacher
was doing directly in their technique, he was able to establish definitively that neither one was an appropriate instructor and so saved himself 15
years of training in the wrong place.
Direct perception is always best, but in the event you cannot see definitively what is going on (which will be true in most cases) the second
approach is an important alternative. True, it requires work, and one must let go of their excitement over starting something new, but you will wind
up saving a great deal more effort by avoiding training for untold years in the wrong place, only to find a need to begin anew.
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Class Schedule: Aikido Meditation