How to Find and Choose an Art/Sensei/Dojo
Once you've made the decision to take a martial art, finding a sensei and a dojo is the most important step you'll take in your progression along the Way. The words sensei and dojo are used here, but this information applies to arts other than the Japanese ones.
The first thing you must do is answer a couple of questions to yourself. These will help you determine what you are looking for.
What art am I going to learn?
How often (and on which days) am I willing to attend a class?
How much money a month am I able/willing to spend? Be sure to think about uniforms and other miscellaneous equipment in addition to monthly fees.
How far am I willing to travel?
Next, you have to find a list of dojos that fit within the answers you have provided. Check the phone books, the internet, and perhaps most importantly, local martial arts supply stores. Most such stores have a bulletin board of some sort that is loaded with ads. Call/e-mail the instructors at the dojos and ask them about prices and if you can stop in to watch a class. It is important to note that, if a sensei does not allow you to at least watch one class before signing up, he or she is almost guaranteed to be hiding something, and that something is most likely a lack of quality. Forget about that dojo. Never go back there.
Once you've set up times to visit all of the dojos that fit the description of what you're looking for (some dojos don't require appointments to be made, others do. It's best to ask, though), it's time to actually visit them.
When you're at a dojo, there are a number of things you should be paying attention to.
Are the adults and children (if any) in the same class? Children require much more attention to train than adults, and should have a separate class.
Are the newer students getting more attention than the senior students? White belts also require more attention. Senior students can be shown something, told to focus on a particular aspect of its execution, and practice it for awhile before the sensei comes back, corrects something, and sets them to practicing it with the change.
Is the sensei friendly? Does he answer questions readily? This, in particular, refers to the time he is talking to you personally. Many senseis seem very brusque while on the dojo floor, but that is pretty typical.
What do you think of what you saw being taught? It helps a lot to know something about the art before seeing it, so you're better equipped to answer this question.
Is the sensei motivated? Does he motivate his students?
After answering all of these, sit down and think about things. Weigh all of the factors and make a decision. The worst thing that happens is you discover that a particular instructor isn't what you originally thought. Even if all you learn is what you don't want in a martial art, you've learned something. Chances are, though, you'll pick up more than that. The level of care you've taken in picking a dojo will have weeded out the entirely useless dojos early on.
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