Here is what is usually overlooked in martial arts

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Therefore, you need a conditioning regimen that boosts muscular endurance to unprecedented heights of achievement, but leaves you with enough energy to devote to your skill training. If your conditioning workout leaves you dead tired, your martial arts will suffer.

 Choosing a style based on popularity rather than something that fits your personal strengths. Just because a style is the most popular thing going doesn’t mean that it is right for you. Taekwondo has held the interest of many a young person due to its dynamic and spectacular kicks. If you are athletic and flexible then this might be the art for you but if you have bad knees and worse hamstrings, then think twice.

Not too long ago, Tae Bo was the big thing. At first glance some people thought this was a martial art, especially as the founder Billy Blanks was a former karate champion. However, some of them were disappointed to find out that Tae Bo was a new style aerobic workout using martial arts techniques that has little to no self-defense value.

More recently Mixed Martial Arts has become hugely popular and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is attracting record numbers on its Pay-Per-View events. Consequently, many young people are hoping to ride the next wave of popular martial arts. However if you want to keep your good looks, straight nose and nicely-shaped ears you might want to reconsider.

The bottom line is that you should try to find a martial art that matches your strengths and not your weaknesses.

Picking a martial art that has conflicting values with your core beliefs. The majority of martial arts have a certain amount of traditional “baggage” that comes with them. This “baggage” can sometimes include some rather esoteric practices and mystical thinking that you may or may not be comfortable with. Most people are able to accept these practices at face value and in many cases the various martial arts schools water down some of the stranger customs and forms of etiquette in the interest of blending in with our popular culture.

No matter what style is being taught at the school, we often overlook what I believe to be the single most important issue: cleanliness. While there is some romantic notion of cranking out blood, sweat and tears in a rundown gym like Mickey’s place in the movie “Rocky”, the truth is that safe training starts with having a clean, comfortable space to work. Dirty mats can lead to skin infections and eye diseases like pink eye and trachoma. If there’s dust or mold in the air…you’re going to be breathing that in, and nobody wants that.

Important questions to ask yourself, and the school’s owner, include:

How well does the facility’s air conditioning & ventilation system work?
How often are the mats cleaned?
How are they cleaned? Vacuumed, mopped, steam cleaned?
How strict are you about enforcing clean uniforms, equipment & trimmed nails with your students?

Using your eyes will provide just as much information as any set of questions. If the school is in an area with a very high ceiling, like a converted warehouse space, there may be issues with temperature control or dust coming down from the ceiling. Look at the mats – do they have ground-in dirt, fading, or worn spots? Are there dust bunnies in the corner?