CHOOSING A SCHOOL

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#003333" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="3d4d4c00dduajq.gif"> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="95" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 46 WIDTH="91"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="46" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="91" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FF6600" FACE="Arial" >WORLD KARATE UNION HALL OF FAME</FONT>   |   <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="WORLD KARATE UNION HALL OF FAME"><U>home</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="ABOUT US"><U>ABOUT US</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="UPCOMING EVENTS"><U>UPCOMING EVENTS</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id28.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="WKU HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES"><U>WKU HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id147.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="12TH YEAR WKUHOF AWARDS"><U>12TH YEAR WKUHOF AWARDS</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id100.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="TOURNAMENT REGISTRATION FORM"><U>TOURNAMENT REGISTRATION FORM</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id62.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="TOURNAMENT"><U>TOURNAMENT</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id84.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="NOMINATING BALLOT"><U>NOMINATING BALLOT</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id63.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="WKU/AUSTRALASIAN HALL OF FAME"><U>WKU/AUSTRALASIAN HALL OF FAME</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id142.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="WKU / CARIBBEAN HALL OF FAME"><U>WKU / CARIBBEAN HALL OF FAME</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id68.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="IN MEMORY"><U>IN MEMORY</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id61.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HALL OF FAME GALLERY"><U>HALL OF FAME GALLERY</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id106.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="10TH YEAR WKUHOF AWARDS BANQUET ANNIVER"><U>10TH YEAR WKUHOF AWARDS & BANQUET ANNIVERSARY</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id146.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="11TH YEAR WKUHOF AWARDS"><U>11TH YEAR WKUHOF AWARDS</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id141.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="INTERNATIONAL MARTIAL ARTS OLYMPICS EAST"><U>INTERNATIONAL MARTIAL ARTS OLYMPICS "EAST-WEST OPEN" /  WKU INTERNATIONAL KUMITE RULES</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="IMAC MARTIAL ARTS PASSPORT RECORD BOOK"><U>IMAC MARTIAL ARTS "PASSPORT" RECORD BOOK</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="WKURS RATINGS SYSTEM"><U>WKURS RATINGS SYSTEM</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="WKURS RATINGS APPLICATION"><U>WKURS RATINGS APPLICATION</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id99.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="WORLD KARATE UNION COLLECTOR CARDS"><U>WORLD KARATE UNION COLLECTOR CARDS</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="NEWS"><U>NEWS</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id72.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="WKU ACADEMY OF MARTIAL ARTS"><U>WKU ACADEMY OF MARTIAL ARTS</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id104.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="THE STYLE"><U>THE STYLE</U></A>   |   CHOOSING A SCHOOL   |   <A HREF="id75.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="THE INSTRUCTORS"><U>THE INSTRUCTORS</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id76.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="CLASS SCHEDULES"><U>CLASS SCHEDULES</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id77.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="WKU ACADEMY PHOTOS"><U>WKU ACADEMY PHOTOS</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id97.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PEDONES HEAVY HITTERS "><U>PEDONE'S HEAVY HITTERS </U></A>   |   <A HREF="id98.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LINKS"><U>LINKS</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id137.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="WKUHOF MEMBERS WHO HAVE SERVED IN THE US"><U>WKUHOF MEMBERS WHO HAVE SERVED IN THE USMC</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id140.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="SUPPORT OUR TROOPS"><U>SUPPORT OUR TROOPS</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id101.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MARINE CORPS MARTIAL ARTS PROGRAM / AFGH"><U>MARINE CORPS MARTIAL ARTS PROGRAM / AFGHANISTAN</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="CONTACT US"><U>CONTACT US</U></A></div> <div> <IMG SRC="04558020.gif" border=0 width="600" height="2" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="0eec1520.gif" border=0 width="193" height="82" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> You more than likely would not undergo surgery without checking your surgeon's references. You probably would not buy a house without checking for liens. Would you purchase a car just because you liked the color? Hire a babysitter without references? Then why not check references of your martial arts instructor? Although age does play a part in it,  older is not necessarily wiser or better, experience is a major key in selecting an instructor. While your instructor may be blessed in age, he may not be blessed in knowledge!</div> <bR> <div> Don't be intimated by the instructor. You have the right to ask certain questions.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> 1. Who is he? </div> <div>  ( has anyone ever heard of him? More important than being the good guy, is he respected in  the Martial Arts Community? )      </div> <div>  </div> <bR> <div> 2. Where did your instructor train? How many years has he trained? Does he still train? </div> <div> ( contrary to some, achieving a black belt is not the end, but only the beginning. Read between the lines. 15 years in the Martial Arts does not necessarily mean 15 years active and continuous training. There is a difference! Who has your instructor trained</div> <div> with? Or are you so fortunate as to have met an instructor who knows it all, and is self-</div> <div> taught? Then congratulations! You have found a real winner!)</div> <bR> <div>     </div> <div> 3. What are his credentials?</div> <div>  ( is he ranked legitimately by a higher rank than he is, in the style he is teaching or    </div> <div>  is he a self promoted lifelong martial artist specializing in his own thing? Or degreeing himself based on time in? Or merely recognized by someone? Belonging to an organization is great, being recognized is even greater, but your instructor should be</div> <div> promoted by one who is higher in his own style!)</div> <div>  </div> <bR> <div> 4. Can he teach? </div> <div> ( some of the most talented martial artists do not have the patience needed for teaching)</div> <bR> <div> 5. Does he teach? </div> <div> (or is his main job sitting in his office?)</div> <bR> <div> 6. What is he teaching? </div> <div> ( is he  well versed in forms and fighting? Does he know weapons?  Does he have a        </div> <div>  background in other styles? Is he teaching in the style he has acheieved rank in? Doing lessons via mail order programs?)</div> <bR> <bR> <div> 7. Is he teaching correctly?</div> <div>  ( is he teaching things in a way where you will not be injured? Is he afraid to take    </div> <div>  you to outside competitions? While competition is not for everyone, it is a good way to see how you rate among yor peers. Some students in large classes and some Black</div> <div> Belts have never seen the outside of their own Dojo! A sure way for false security!)</div> <bR> <div>     </div> <bR> <div> 8. Is your instructor in control of his class? </div> <div> (or do you tell him when you would like to be promoted? Does he make you do things correctly by constant repition or do you threaten to quit because it is too hard or you are bored?)</div> <div>   </div> <bR> <div> 9. Are safety precautions taken?</div> <div>  ( is equipment in good working order?  Safety gear worn when sparring?)</div> <bR> <bR> <div> 10. Is your instructor insured?</div> <div>  ( your instructor demands you sign waiver forms to protect him, but is he  </div> <div>  protecting you by carrying insurance?)</div> <bR> <bR> <div> 11. What is the cost?</div> <div>  ( is your instructor in line with others in the area? Is there price gouging for uniforms and  safety gear? How many hidden costs?)</div> </td> </tr></table></body>