Tired of searching “Taekwondo studios near me” and not finding what you need? Here is what to look for.

There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing a Taekwondo studio near you. Unfortunately, there are many schools open it is hard to find one that has the right classes to fit your schedule and the right instructor for your family needs. How do you find a school that gives you (or your child) belts based on the progress of your abilities, rather than your ability to pay? How do you avoid a Taekwondo studio that teaches a watered-down version of martial arts?

Before making a decision, consider the following criteria:

●     Who is the instructor?

●     Is the taekwondo studio near me or near where I live or work to make class schedules easy?

●     How much is it going to cost?

●     Which types of Taekwondo does the studio teach?

Since Taekwondo is booming in every corner of the world, many academics and studios have appeared in the market offering their training programs. Some of them may be taking advantage of a good business opportunity with little experience. It’s important to find a studio near you that has a real interest in passing along real teachings, philosophy, and techniques of accurate Taekwondo.

How do I find the right Taekwondo studio near me?

1. First you have to understand that there are different styles of this martial arts. The most recognized styles are ITF (International Taekwondo Federation) and WTF (World Taekwondo Federation), which are the two main taekwondo federations in the world and have a lot of history behind their rivalry. The ITF has evolved with time but at its original form you will find traditional Taekwondo.

It’s not just about choosing the right studio but the most important thing to keep in mind is to define and recognize what to expect and what you want to achieve.

2. Now filter all the Taekwondo studios near you in the style you have picked, for instance, type “taekwondo studios near me”. Check their website, social media, and reviews to have an insight into how the culture is and will it be suitable for your preference. Since this hopefully will be a long term investment for you or your children look for a studio that is convenient from where you are coming from, whether that’s work or home, look for a location that you won’t mind going to regularly. If you chose a studio that is out of the way or far from you when you start out it might sound like a big deal and you won’t be consistent in attending your training.

3. A complete Taekwondo curriculum includes philosophy, meditation, basics, forms, self-defense, sparring, leadership skills, and fitness. A studio that doesn’t adhere to these rules may still be the right school for you but the further the teachings stray from tradition, the more careful you need to be in selecting the studio. At the very least, inquire as to why these discrepancies exist. Check the following:

●     Taekwondo is Korean martial art. But they might include weapons such as staffs, nunchucks, etc that may be from other martial arts.

●     Taekwondo teaches self-defense. Physical fitness is a prerequisite for self-defense but each person should be allowed to make progress at their own pace. Limited contact sparring is also an essential step in learning self-defense skills. Beware of the Taekwondo schools that do not use sparring.

4. Not everybody is qualified to be a Taekwondo instructor. Do a little research on the instructor. Find the instructor’s certification and the organization that issued the certificate. How long has the instructor been practicing? What is the rank of the instructor? Get professional references and verify them. Don’t make a mistake of thinking that all of the martial arts classes in a particular school will fall under the teaching expertise of the owner or the instructor. That is why it’s essential to ask plenty of questions, read reviews and verify them before making a decision.