Question to ask to potential instructor?

What is your view on martial arts?

This should tell me if he is the right guy to train under

First of all i will observe the environment.See how he teach the class and see how well he performs and teaches the techniques.Then i will observe the students.After that i will ask for his credentials.If everything goes well,i'll see if the instructor's nationality matches the particular art that he's teaching.In other words,i would want to learn Karate for instance to a Japanese instructor.

How long did it take you to achieve your rank?

I'm always shocked to see 5 and 6 Dan instructors that are only 20 something.

A instructor 20 years old with a 2nd BB in Tae Kwan Do and a 2nd deg. BB in Kempo. I'm politely leaving that school. to find someone who has earned it the old way by working for it.

I want an instructor who has experience teaching. I want an instructor who is dedicated to his art.

To me, the most important thing I want to know is his lineage.

This is something I consider the most important because I research all practitioners of the arts that I am partial to.

I want to know if he is the student of, and passing down the knowlwdge taught to him by his teacher.

Let's say he represents Onaga Sensei of Shinjinbukan... I know Onaga Sensei is one of the highest level practitioners of Okinawa.

Or let's say he represents Tetsuhiro Hokama.. then I know he is learning the real thing.

This is not saying that all who learn from these practitioners are excellent students.. that is another issue.

That doesn't mean I won't join their school. I know if I do I will get noticed and will wind up learning the deeper teachings.

I strive to learn the deep teachings of the martial arts. I would never want ot learn from someone that I can teach something to.

I would not leave it up to a potential instructors answer to be the deciding factor.

I want to know that the front kick in Gekisai kata is not your typical front kick. I want to know that it has a specific application that amplifies its effectiveness. I want to know that the cross leg step over in the beginning of Naihanchi is a leg trap.

Only a handful of the older Masters know these things. They are the ones I want to be associated with.

Can I pay you by credit card or cash ? :)

Or - How long did it take you to earn you rank and who did you train with and promote you?

May I see your certifications & diplomas and Keizu (or Lineage) please.

From those I could tell almost all I need to know, but not all of course, I would still have to watch them and see them teaching.

I would ask him/her if they thoght their martial art was better than any other. Depending on that awnser I would choose to train with them or not. And to SifuFrank, Just because your 18 or 20 and your a 2nd or 3rd degree black belt in a martial art doesnt neccessaraly mean you studied in a McDojo. The person could have started as early as five, his parents are martial artist themselves and taught him all they know, or mabey they are really, really good. To define someone as a bad practicioner just because they are young and 2nd degree blackbelts really shows how little you know of the martial arts and I really would advise you to change your profile name from "sifu" to something else.

You shouldn't base if you train there on a question; you should watch a class and see how he trains his students.

Where and by whom were you promoted to black belt? (get the contact info and call to verify credentials)

Who was your sensei and how did he view earning rank?