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How do I choose a martial arts school for my child?


By Jessica Militello

There are several criteria that are a good idea to look for when choosing a martial arts school for your kids. Obviously anytime you are investing time and money into something, you want to make sure it’s the right fit, but more importantly, you want to make sure your child is spending time in an environment that is conducive to their overall well-being and ensure they are getting the most out of their learning. Martial arts is a fun activity that can turn into a lifelong practice for someone and finding the right school can play a major factor in the length of a child’s training. 

Here are some things to keep in mind in order to find the right school for your child-

Great instructors vs good instructors

A good instructor will teach your kids martial arts, correct their mistakes, start and end class right on time, smile at the kids and parents, and simply do their job as they’re supposed to-and there isn’t anything necessarily wrong with that. But a student will go so much further in their training with a great instructor who is passionate about the art they are teaching and truly believes in the art’s philosophy in order to positively influence their student’s lives beyond the training floor. At our school, the instructors have over ten years of training in Jeet Kune Do. Many have experience in other arts but ultimately found Jeet Kune Do to be an art that is better for both their body and mind. And because the instructors here started as students and invested so much time at the same school, it’s not just a job for them, the school is a second home and the instructors care about the overall well-being of their students and fostering a positive environment in a place that truly means something to them.


 
Emphasis on character development 

Another really great attribute of martial arts training is the focus on growing and becoming better as a person, but in the midst of teaching techniques and mechanics, this lesson can sometimes get skipped over depending on what school you train in and whether or not they personally feel a need to emphasize these concepts. Throughout every class, parents can see for themselves if lessons of integrity, self-control, and discipline are being integrated in their kids’ martial arts lessons, and whether the way these ideas are being conveyed by the instructor is making an impression on kids. The instructors at our school put a lot of effort into making a positive impact on kids beyond kicking and punching on the training floor, and they care about making the school a positive environment for everyone who trains there.

 

Fostering an environment for making friends

 

Martial arts can be competitive and learning to challenge yourself builds resiliency, but it's also important to make sure your child’s martial arts school equally fosters the idea of working together and making friends. It’s important to be part of a school that learns how to balance these two concepts on the training floor, and it makes training a much more fun experience when students get along and actually enjoy training with each other. 

Learning how to fight for self-defense

While all martial arts has something to offer, Jeet Kune Do is an art that was designed for self-defense in a real-life situation. This differs from other arts that, while helpful, in some instances can have limitations when it’s geared toward competition where there are rules and restrictions that would not exist in a self-defense situation. The earlier your child starts training and stays with it, the better equipped they will be if they need to defend themselves. The instructors always emphasize that their training is meant for instances where the only route to safety is fighting and what they learn in class should never be used to show off or hurt someone unprovoked. 

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Read Reviews from Our Students

My son has been training at New York Martial Arts Academy for a few months and absolutely loves it! The students learn to focus, follow directions and coordination all while having fun with other kids their age! The children also have discussions about topics such as discipline, politeness, respect, etc. If you are looking for a martial arts school that respects all students and works one to one with them to help them improve their form, look no further. I highly recommend New York Martial Arts Academy! Phyllis Trilivas | Queens Phyllis Trilivas | Queens's Rating
My son has been attending classes here for two years and I only have the best to say! He has learned so much and loves going each time which is a testament to the amazing coaches and staff. We will be going for years to come! Dimitra Stellatos | Queens Dimitra Stellatos | Queens's Rating
I am truly honored to have my daughter attend here, I am satisfied with the teaching here, the instructors teach with passion, the place is welcoming, I love the bully prevention, the defense moves, and the confidence she is gaining. My daughter enjoys coming here, I highly recommend! Thank you guys and keep up the great work???????????????? popping up | Brooklyn popping up | Brooklyn's Rating
My daughter and I couldn’t be happier with our experience at NY Martial Arts Academy. She is treated with respect and also shown how to treat others with respect along with learning important self defence which I’m sure will lead to boosted confidence in the long run. Such a great place for kids to attend! Kimberly Ross | Brooklyn Kimberly Ross | Brooklyn's Rating
My son has been attending NYMAA for over a 1.5 year and overall he has gained more confidence, discipline, and love his classes. We had the pleasure of working with many of their Sifus and they are all amazing. Special thanks to Sifu Chuck, Sara, Carlos, James and everyone else that my son has worked with. We started doing private classes and then switched to group classes. Great place to have your child gained discipline and learned martial arts. Marcia S | Astoria Marcia S | Astoria's Rating
I am extremely pleased with instructors Sifu James, Sifu Carlos and Sifu Dino. My son has participated in their classes for the past 3 months now. have noticed a great change in my son's school work and how motivated he is to come to class! They are the best of the best!!!!! Would recommend for all ages! Víctor Santamaria | Astoria Víctor Santamaria | Astoria's Rating
My daughter loves it here, and I can see improvements in her character. Lenny Lam | Astoria Lenny Lam | Astoria's Rating
I've been training here for almost 3 years now and it has allowed me to meet great people and form strong bonds with the people I train with. It's a great environment to learn martial arts because not only are you surrounded by good people, you also have a lot of fun training as the instructors tend to crack jokes throughout the classes. Great place get in a hard training session, and a real confidence booster as you will be pushed to your limits and be encouraged by the instructors and your teammates to continue despite being tired. Great instructors that know their stuff and will explain why we do certain techniques or drills a certain way. More importantly than that, it's great for personal growth as it also tends to highlight the more philosophical aspect of Bruce Lee and martial arts as a whole. mcgregor conner | Queens mcgregor conner | Queens's Rating
I have been a student at New York Martial Arts Academy for about 10 years and it is such an amazing opportunity to be a part of this school! All of the instructors are very knowledgeable and are always there to help you. You can tell that all of the instructors love what they do and they want to see us become the best version of ourselves, both on and off the training floor. The instructors and students at New York Martial Arts Academy have created such a welcoming and fun environment for anyone to learn martial arts in. I would definitely recommend training at New York Martial Arts Academy! Angela Gallo | Queens Angela Gallo | Queens's Rating
When I was looking for a martial arts to try, for the first time ever, I was very nervous especially starting at the age of 30 and not having had any prior experience. Starting from day one I felt comfortable with the trainer who was amazingly patient, had a positive attitude and didn’t make me feel self conscience about my inability to land a half decent kick. But after attending for many months I started to get the hang of it. The instructors here as well as my fellow students who I have the privilege to train with are top notch. The culture is amazing, you will never feel out of place and the teachers here are absolutely amazing, they will provide you with all the tools you need and all the attention you need to make sure you succeed and achieve your goals. I Highly recommend you check this place out! Dan B | Queens Dan B | Queens's Rating
I've been a martial arts practitioner for 12 years now, and have trained in different countries around the world. New York Martial Arts Academy has, by far, the best facilities of any school I've been a member of. The instruction is top tier as well. I haven't met an instructor here that doesn't have at least 10 years of experience. You can tell that they all really love what they do. Whether your goal is to get in shape and have some fun, fight in a cage, or defend yourself in the street, NYMAA will be able to accommodate.

One of the things that most impressed me about the school was the camaraderie between students. You won't find cliques here. Advanced students are encouraged to help newer members, and I've never seen anyone be disrespectful or intentionally try to hurt anyone else.

If you want to learn a skill that helps your confidence, increases your fitness, allows you to be able to defend yourself, and make some good friends at the same time, then I would de initely recommend checking out NYMAA.
eassae | Queens eassae | Queens's Rating
Growing up, I have always admired Bruce Lee's unique fighting style, so I was extremely happy when I finally found a Martial Arts Academy that based their instruction on jeet kune do. I have tried several different academies, and I can proudly say that none of them met the exceptional experience that I received from NYMAA. In here, the instructors, staff, and even students form a team based on mutual respect, creating a great atmosphere. I also love how the instructors pride themselves in teaching their students a new way of life rather than just self-defense. I would highly recommend this place to anyone who is interested in seeking new opportunities to better their life. Elke Xenophontos | Queens Elke Xenophontos | Queens's Rating
Joining was the best decision I've ever made. It's an amazing workout that I genuinely look forward to everyday and I have never felt better.

I highly recommend the NYMAA to anyone looking to take martial arts for any reason.
Richard Boehm | Long Island Richard Boehm | Long Island's Rating