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Message: <blockquote data-quote="CombatWombat51" data-source="post: 1753582" data-attributes="member: 10473">Like everyone said, it's all about the instructor. A few tips for what to watch out for:Anyone who calls themself "grandmaster" and is under 50 years old.Anyone who won't let you watch a class before you sign up.Classes priced by the hour.Anyone who doesn't have insurance. Anyone who acts like a used car salesman when trying to sign you up; ie. doesn't answer your questions, constantly gloats about their claimed rank, trophies and other accomplishments.Anyone who uses a picture of themself standing next to a famous martial artist as "proof" of their abilities. Hidden fees. When the give you their quote, be sure to ask about other things you have to pay for. Popular ones include testing fees (that often grow to ridiculous amounts the higher rank you achieve), membership fees for their organization (WTA, ATA, NAPA, etc.), mandatory tournaments, processing fees (especially for debit and credit cards), and special fees for special gear. Note that just because a studio charges these things doesn't mean that they're a bad place. Just keep all these extra fees in mind when you're comparing prices. Along with testing fees, there's also the hidden striped belts to watch out for. Many places will have about 10 ranks before black, plus a stripe on each belt, each of which must be tested for, with a scaling price.There are also things that the average person might see as bad at first blush, but aren't necessarily bad things.An instructor who's "only" a black belt of a lower degree. Different styles and studios have different methods of ranking. Keep in mind that you can buy a black belt from a retailer for 5 to 15 dollars. Spiffy red stripes can be added for a dollar apiece. The instructor's ability is more important than his rank.A guy that teaches out of his back yard, the local gym, or some other non-dojo place. Hey, he might just not currently have the cash for a studio, and you get to pay less for instruction, since you're not paying his rent.Instructors with day jobs. Nothing wrong with that, it just means he's not charging insane prices and/or he's just starting out in the teaching business.An instructor who's short, small, skinny, female, or an unexpected ethnicity. Honestly, I'd rather learn from the red headed step-child than the 6'6" football player. The step-child that doesn't fit in the local area likely has more at stake with the effectiveness of his training than the huge guy does.Remember, rank can be bought (as can the certificates), and skill can be nearly impossible to determine, especially from an untrained persons point of view. The best guideline for choosing a studio is finding an instructor that you think you could be an actual friend with. If the guy gives you a bad feeling for whatever reason, he's not the one.</blockquote>

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