How to Choose a Martial Art School - Allan Lawson's Fighting Arts, LLC

ALLAN LAWSON'S
FIGHTING ARTS,LLC

Arizona Kung Fu San Soo, Jeet Kune Do, Escrima

How to Choose a Martial Art School

Which is the best martial arts instruction?  Wondering how to find and recognize a really good martial arts school or club? Are kung fu lessons superior to karate? What about internal styles verses external styles or hard as opposed to soft? There are four basic types of martial art schools:

1. Those teaching sport, which can be recognized by the trophies on display at the school and by competitive points sparing with rules prohibiting attacks to vulnerable areas of the body,
2. Demonstration or theatrical arts schools which focus primarily on board or brick breaking, forms training and exhibitions, acrobatics and other stunts,
3. Schools teaching  health promoting arts, and
4. Schools offering lessons in effective self defense or combat arts.

Attempting to do all these ensures that none are done well.  Once you have decided upon your personal goals and have determined which type of school will best help you reach those goals, it is time to start visiting and evaluating schools. Questions you should have in mind are:

1. Is the instructor's kung fu (or other art) any good? Is there evidence that he possesses impressive skills and abilities?
2. Can the instructor teach? Does he know what good martial art practice looks like, can he see what a student may be doing wrong and devise drills or exercises that will help the student confront and solve the problem? Will he be doing the teaching himself? If not, how skilled is the assistant instructor?
3. What are the other students like? Are they helpful and courteous? Are they eager and ambitious? Are they making good use of the class time? Are they and you quickly developing skills? Martial arts training takes time and effort but you should not spend years without improvement, expecting to some day suddenly possess miraculous abilities.
4. Is the owner a good business person? Will he be around next year? Are his business systems and practices sound, fair and ethical?
5.  Are there hidden costs such as fees for testing, certificates or belts in order to advance in rank, or additional registration or membership fees which may not be revealed up front? Be cautious about entering into long term contracts with or making large advance payments to someone you have no track record with. What is the cost of uniforms, weapons or gear you will need to purchase in order to participate, as well as the time and transportation costs involved in traveling to and from the school location.
6. How many 60 minute hours per week of class time you will actually have access to?
7. Most important of all, what will you take with you each day as you leave the class?

At Allan Lawson's Fighting Arts, LLC the primary focus is on fighting skills development and techniques that will not fail you when you need them, with a secondary and complimentary focus on fitness training and your health. You will participate in training and receive lessons in tested and proven combat arts including Kung Fu San Soo, Jeet Kune Do, and Escrima.

With your membership at Allan Lawson's Fighting Arts, LLC you will enjoy the following benefits:

             Fast results (with your cooperation),
             Reliable self defense skills,
             The best martial arts fitness training available,
             Stress relief,
             Optimal mental function and capacity,
             Improved concentration and self-discipline,
             Increased confidence,
             Plenty of class time,
             Adult instruction (minimum age 13),
             Small group and private coaching,
             Individually tailored programs,
             Motivated and cooperative training partners,
             Video enhanced training,
             More fun than you can imagine.


At Allan Lawson's Fighting Arts, LLC there is a spirit of cooperation, not of competition. Whatever you can do to improve your training partner's skills, will improve your training and make you better as well. We will pull each other up.

Testimonials:

"I began my work with ALFA 7 years ago training with Master Lawson. I was educated in the Kung Fu San Soo fighting system primarily. It is a practical and effective fighting system which provides many benefits. It is truly a fighting art. Also, a solid foundation is provided in punching and kicking using long range styles and weapon instruction. The one on one instruction and personal training are top notch."
                                                              Steve Lundeen, 1st Degree Black Belt

(Allan Lawson has not been officially awarded the Master certificate in the KFSS ranking system by another instructor holding that title. Steve uses the "Master" designation here in the traditional sense, indicating a mutual respect between teacher and student. Thank you Steve.)

"Allan is one of those rare individuals that put in that extra effort."
         Henning Wallgren http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5Hy2P5yPRg

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Petition For ALFA Membership

   Please see the other four pages of this site for additional information by clicking on the index near the top of each page.

   It will not be easy for you to get into this school. It will be harder still to stay. We do not need your money.
   While animals will always act in their best interests instinctively, humans on the other hand are thinking, reasoning beings. Thus they are able to evaluate and choose. The few use this ability and become godlike while the many become silly creatures because of it, continually manipulated and misled, enjoying becoming confused and fooled.
   This ability, without awareness and reliable perception, enables most to be easily distracted by the ten thousand things and led off course, continually going from one thing to another seemingly better, easier or quicker thing, never completing anything, never accomplishing a thing, never satisfied. The defect is in you not out there.
   If you are just dabbling and the idea of this type of study does not resonate with something deep within you, then get off this site. Stop wasting your and our valuable time. Seek and find something worthy of your life, then pursue it diligently until you attain it.
   Be advised that opportunities only exist for a time then disappear. If you believe you are serious, send this application, e-mail whatever additional information or documentation you want. We promise only to consider your application.

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Answers to Home Page Questions

3. Tsoi-li-ho-fut-hung was brought to America in 1935 by Jimmy H. Woo and taught under the name Kung Fu San Soo.

2. In the preface to his The Book of Five Rings Musashi states that he had dueled more than 60 times by the age of 29. Historians say that this is a conservative estimate.

1. According to Jesse Glover, Bruce Lee's two foot punch was timed at 5/100 of a second. His slower punches were 8/100 of a second.

                       Excellence in Martial Arts and Fitness Since 1999
                               Integrative Functional Conditioning SM   ALFA TM