Indianapolis Shotokan Karate Dojo

How to choose a dojo?

So, you know the ins and outs of why you want to train and what you want to study? Great! Now you can begin the most important part of starting a martial art – finding a good dojo.

Price is an important consideration. Dojo fees are hard to predict and will vary from school to school. A good organization will be completely transparent about their pricing scheme up front. Beware the school that won’t give you a straight answer about the startup or ongoing costs of training. You can ask the following questions to get a good idea of how much it costs to train at a particular dojo:

• How much does it cost to get started?
• Is there a uniform fee?
• Are there dues that need to be paid to a national or affiliate organization?
• What is the pricing structure?
  • What is the monthly cost?
  • How many classes can I attend a week/month as a beginner?
• Are there different prices for different ranks and age groups?
• Is there a fee for belt/rank testing?
• Are there student or family discounts?
• Is there a cancelation fee if I decide to stop training?

Information on Indianapolis Shotokan Karate’s current pricing scheme can be found here. Feel free to ask our dojo leaders for more details.

Instructors and students line up for meditation at the beginning of practice

Instructors are also an important consideration when choosing a dojo. It is helpful to know how long they have been training and who their teachers are. Sometimes it is hard for instructors to trace their lineage, but a simple google search will tell you whether an instructor has studied with a reputable organization.

Black belt teaching and sparring with a senior brown belt

Each of the instructors at Indianapolis Shotokan Karate can trace their “Instructor Lineage” back to Master Gichin Funakoshi through Tsutomu Ohshima. Being able to follow our roots is an important part of maintaining our traditions.

Watching a class is highly recommended when considering a school. This will give you an appreciation of the instructors teaching styles, the rigor involved in practice, and the mentality of the students. Most schools will allow observers to watch all or part of a basic beginners practice.

Please feel free to contact us for the best times to come and watch one of our practices. We’d love to have you!

Deciding to start a martial art is kind of like learning a new musical instrument; you have to go into it knowing that you will make mistakes and that it will take a lot of practice to get good. If you take the time to find the right instrument for you and a really good teacher, you will derive a lot of joy from whatever you decide to study.

We hope you will consider joining us at Indianapolis Shotokan Karate!

What is my motivation for wanting to learn a martial art?

There are as many wonderful reasons for studying a martial art as there are martial arts themselves! Knowing your motivations will help you pick the best martial art school for you.

Achieving higher ranks takes years of practice. Training with a supportive group of friends helps too!

Do you want to learn self-defense? Does the thrill of combat appeal to you? Are you looking for a physical activity that you can do with your kids rather than watching on the sidelines? Are you tired of the treadmill and searching for a fun way to improve flexibility and stay in shape?

Shotokan Karate and many other styles can fulfill these needs, so it’s important to do a little self-reflection alongside your research into the variety of martial arts schools out there.

It is worth noting that it will take a long time, possibly decades, to master any martial art. Beware the school that promises you a black belt in just a few months. If your primary motivation for starting a martial art is to achieve a particular rank or title, I recommend you consider another pastime.

What is the best style for me?

Once you know what you want to get out of practice you will have an easier time choosing a style that fits your goals and personality.

All martial arts are great for developing strength, flexibility, and speed, but they offer a variety of approaches to self-defense. Some styles, like karate and kick boxing, focus on developing fighting ability while one is “on their feet,” while arts like jiu jutsu and Greco-Roman wrestling teach how to fight on the ground. Other styles, like aikido and judo, are excellent for learning how to throw an opponent.

It is important to understand whether a particular school focuses their study on sport and tournaments, or self-defense and combat. Of course, there are always school that are excellent at teaching both aspects. For instance, a Brazilian jiu jutsu dojo might train in self-defense and tournament fighting, while others will focus entirely on preparing pupils to protect themselves in a real-life situation. Your personal goals can help guide you in whether to

Gichin Funakoshi

choose a school that is heavily involved in tournaments or one geared toward teaching self-defense. Of course, there are school that are excellent at teaching both aspects.

At Indianapolis Shotokan Karate we practice traditional Shotokan karate-do in the same manner as it was first taught by Master Gichin Funakoshi, with the greatest emphasis placed on the “art” aspect of martial art. Developing self-defense skills through rigorous training is our method toward self-development. Though we do participate in tournaments on occasion, new students should know that developing real self-defense prowess comes only with discipline and hard training.

Making a healthy lifestyle change or exploring a new exercise routine can feel overwhelming. This is especially true when getting involved with martial arts for the first time. New and potential practitioners often don’t know where to begin or how to sift through all of the information online when beginning their martial arts journey. Hopefully some of the materials posted here over the next few weeks will aid you in your search.

But am I in good enough shape to start training?

Advanced Black Belts Sparring

If you can’t run a mile today, nobody is going to expect you to complete a marathon tomorrow. Likewise, if you don’t know basic fighting techniques, nobody is going to expect you to put on gloves and spar your first time in the dojo.

A good dojo will start everyone off with the basics. At Indianapolis Shotokan Karate beginners learn basic blocks, punches, kicks, and stances at a reasonable pace in a supportive environment. As a new student at our dojo, you will build strength and endurance over time as you become increasingly adept with basic techniques.

In other words, you don’t have to be some super human, muscle bound person to start a martial art. You don’t want to go straight from the couch to the dojo floor either. If you can walk at a brisk pace for 20-30 minutes with no issues, then you are probably in good enough shape to start training. However, as with all changes to diet and exercise, you should always consult with your doctor before beginning a new routine if you have any questions or concerns about your ability.

As for kids – different schools have different class structures based on the child’s physical ability, age, and maturity. Some dojos will have programs for very young kids that focus mainly on developing self-discipline, respect for others, and forming good attention skills. Other schools will teach kid’s classes that require a greater degree of athleticism, making them better for older children and teens. Some dojos will have programs that bridge the two, allowing kids of all ages to train.

At Indianapolis Shotokan Karate, we tend to be on the more athletic end of the spectrum. Our kids are taught via the same traditional methods employed in our adult classes, but with shorter class times. For this reason, we require that children joining our dojo are at least 8 years of age. For youth who are elementary to middle school age, we also ask that parents be present throughout practice.  Hey! If your child is starting practice with us, why not get the whole family involved? Training as a family is a great way to connect and grow together.

Beginners are always welcome at our dojo. Don’t live in Indianapolis? Check out our national website to find a dojo near you.

Regardless of your age, sex, or current physical condition, you can begin karate practice and enjoy it. Through serious martial arts practice, we can learn to face ourselves strictly and show our best spirit in all situations.

In our next post we’ll explore different motivations for starting a martial art. Stay tuned!