FAQ- Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best martial arts school for me?
All martial arts schools should teach many of the same principles including courtesy, discipline, and self-confidence. In order to find the best school for you, the best thing to do is visit the school and meet & speak with the staff to see if what they teach is in line with your goals for what you want to get out of your martial arts training.
What questions should I ask the staff before I start?
First, before visiting any school, decide what your goals are for starting martial arts. Are you looking for competition? Health? Self-defense? Focus, discipline, or other character-building principles? Then ask the instructor if their school focuses on those areas. Also, ask to see their facility so you're sure it meets your needs. It's also a good idea to ask about their safety record and how their staff is trained so you know that they're qualified to teach you.
Is there any way to know I'll like it before I get too involved?
A good school should have a trial program in place to allow you to try it out before getting too involved. Most schools offer a free trial class which is a good start, but should also have a trial period of at least a couple of classes, so that you can get a good feel for the school. After all, the first class you may have been nervous or been having a bad day. A couple of classes will allow you to get a better sense of the school.
What does the Randolph Martial Arts Academy focus on?
There are five aspects or areas of martial arts training: self defense, demonstration, tournament, health, and character training. While we do touch all of them at least a little, our primary focus is character development training which includes focus, discipline, courtesy, self-confidence, respect, etc. and also includes life lessons. Right behind that, our secondary focus is on self-defense and health. The only tournament participation that we do is within our association with no outside events so that we can monitor the safety of all that we do as safety is our #1 priority, and we have strict no contact policies to ensure student safety, not often found in other schools.
What are the days and times for my age group?
We currently have classes for younger children (ages 4-6 only), older children (ages 7-11), mixed age children's classes (ages 4-11) and teenager/ adult (ages 12 & up). Our current class schedule with days and times can be found here. We may be adding additional classes soon, and when we do we'll announce it on our website and update our schedule.
Do I need to enroll in a special club or pay extra to learn everything and advance at the Randolph Martial Arts Academy?
No. Because students are all learning the full Academy curriculum based on their rank and continue to progress based on attendance and the effort they put in, we have no need for "Black Belt clubs", "Special "this group only" clubs", or other gimmicks, and we don't charge extra to learn various arts or other parts of our curriculum. You should know up front how much you need to pay in order to get everything a school as to offer. Any special classes that we do for our staff or for some of our higher ranking students all have a specific purpose, and are all free, and any special classes or events offered to the public or to our entire group are clearly marked and spelled out in advance.
What is the association "American Budo Kai" that the website often refers to?
The American Budo Kai is the professional association of schools that our school belongs to. It is made up of over 12 schools in NJ and NY. The American Budo Kai was founded by Master Dale Jenkins in Jersey City in the 1960's and continues under his students today.There are benefits to being a part of our association such as multi-school events such as our Year End Shiai and our annual Summer Karate Camp.
Can I find out more about the staff of the Randolph Martial Arts Academy before I meet you?
Yes, you can view our staff profiles on the Our Staff page, as well as read the story of how our dojo got started. The best way though to get to know the staff is to meet us in person.
Does your school have any specials or discounts that I could use?
Yes. Visit our discounts and specials page to see our current specials. These change from time to time, so take advantage of one of our current specials today!
Where is your school located?
Our address is 16 Old Brookside Rd., Units 5 & 6, Randolph NJ. The driveway to the school is shared with the St. John the Beloved/ St. Mary Magdalene Church (their large maroon sign is right next to the entrance.) The driveway goes in a circle, so pull in and follow it around to the back of the main building which is where we're located, and there is ample parking in the rear parking lot. Our Head Instructor lives in Randolph and our Staff is very familiar with the area, so if you need directions, please feel free to call us at (973) 933-2383.
How do I get started at your school?
To get started, you just need to click on our How to Get Started form, fill out some basic information, and we'll contact you to set up a FREE consultation, and your first free trial class.
What if I have other questions or need directions to visit your school?
For additional information or other questions, or to use our map powered by Google Maps, click on contact us.
