To recap the last installment, we talked about calling around to different martial arts schools. You might be interested in Karate, or Aikido, or a mixed martial arts school in Grand Rapids, or wherever you may live. Using the list of questions in the last post to ask the person on the other end of the phone, you’re going to gather some vital information about the school, the martial art, the instructors and their beliefs, and pricing. You, most likely, were able to shrink your list a bit using this process but hopefully you didn’t base your initial decision solely on low price.

Now you’re ready to schedule some visits to local martial arts schools to watch some classes. This can take some time but I guarantee it will be well worth it since you are the best judge of what you’re looking for and you really wont know until you start visiting some martial arts schools to see how things are run.

I recommend that you print out the list of questions from the last post and bring it with you when you visit the martial arts schools you have on your list. This may sound silly and common sense, but I have to say it anyway, please make sure you visit schools when they are having actual classes. This will be mostly in the evening. You want to see a couple of key things: how big are normal classes, how are the students behaving with one another, how are they interacting with their instructor and whats the overall feeling you get from the whole “scene”. This process should take 45 minutes to an hour (or more) per visit to get a good idea of what martial arts classes are like at this particular school.

Remember that each martial art and each martial arts school will have some things in common but will also have vast differences. Only you can tell what style, art, and practice suits you. Some schools are very strict and will call themselves “traditional” while others are not as strict and tend to be a bit more loose and, in my opinion, “fun”. However, even though I’m turned off by the so called traditional and strict schools, you may very well be looking for that kind of experience. You’ll find out when you’re there if it “moves” you one way or the other.

In the next installment we’ll talk a bit about what to expect when you are watching a class. See you next time!

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and MMA Workshop In Grand Rapids, MI

Saturday February 6th, 2010
From 4-6pm

Held at the Toyoda Aikido and MMA Center
3808 S. Division Avenue, Grand Rapids, MI 49548

with instructor Rob Masko, a highly ranked student of Royce Gracie under Tony Torres-Aponte and one of West Michigan’s few elite professional MMA fighters.

Rob has been involved in martial arts for over 25 years. Practicing many different styles including Tae-kwon-do, Karate, Jeet Kun Do, Thai Boxing, Boxing, Wrestling, Judo, Kali, And Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. He has been practicing Jiu-jitsu longer then anyone in West Michigan.

Rob has trained with many different instructors including : Tony Torres-Aponte, Louis Heredia, Helio Senaka, Jorge Gurgel, Carlson Gracie Sr., Carlson Gracie Jr., Royce Gracie, Monte Beghtol, Caique, Michael Jen, Charles Gracie, Fabio Leopaldo, and Rento Migiaccio. Rob’s “ultimate” goal is to make his students reach their fullest potential. Rob has never been interested in the ranking system until recently. But it is a testament to his teaching that one of his former students is now a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu.

“My goal is to make my students the best they can be. If I teach for 30 years and never create a student that can beat me, then I have failed as an instructor. I give credit to all my instructors, but I do not live in their shadow. They’ve helped me with the knowledge, but it was up to me to do something with it. I need to make my own shadow. Just like every student I teach. They are not good just because I am their instructor, they are good because they worked hard to be good.”

Besides instructing for over 10 years, Rob has won numerous Jiu–jitsu tournaments, as well as being a professional fighter. His first fights were back when they were bare knuckle. In fact, in his first fight ever, Rob went the distance with Shonie “Mr. International” Carter. Below are just a few of Rob’s further accomplishments. Rob now has several satellite schools throughout West Michigan with one of his largest programs at the Toyoda Aikido and MMA Center in Grand Rapids.

-Tim Moral Grappling Challenge Open Division Champion 1994-1995

-The Dungal Invitational Open Division Champion 1996-1998

-The JKD Middle Weight Champion with submission wins over Jim Theobold and Stephan Bonner

-A 2008 International Fight league Qualifier

-2008 NAGA Champion

-Hook and Shoot Fighter

-Renegade Extreme Fighting Championship fighter

Total cost for this workshop is only $10.00. There will be a host of prizes being given away and all experience levels are welcome, from beginner to expert.

You can register by clicking here!