It seems that new martial arts schools are "popping up" each year. Schools frequently change hands without the students being forewarned and can go out of business without prior notice. The longer a school has been in business, the greater the chances it will stay in business.
Satori Martial Arts & Healing Center has been serving North Fulton since 1989. Originally Karate Works of Roswell, the center has evolved under the direction of Shihan Pete Pukish, owner and Chief Instructor, and now offers several styles of martial arts, healing arts and yoga. The name change to Satori - meaning enlightenment - more accurately portrays the on-going commitment to our students in their Quest for Excellence.
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2. Does the school teach an authentic art or was it "created" by the Instructor?
Many schools claim to have "invented" their own style of karate, saying that they have combined only the useful things from several different arts to form the "ultimate" style, "modernizing" the old teaching methods and techniques that they feel do not really work. Japanese and Okinawan Karate was formulated and tested on the battlefield in life or death situations. Jiu Jitsu was created out of the need for the samurai to defend himself after losing his sword in battle. Do not be fooled into thinking that wearing pads and fighting in tournaments is "modern combat."
Satori Martial Arts & Healing Center teaches the authentic style of Shuri Ryu Karate Do whose lineage can be traced back to 1135 A.D. and the authentic style of Shinto Yoshin Ryu Jiu Jitsu as well. Both these arts are taught on an international level and only through certified Instructors with at least 15 years experience. Certification of belt rank comes directly from Japan and is recognized internationally.
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3. Is the Instructor certified by a legitimate organization?
Don't be surprised to find out that an Instructor is given his teaching credentials after just 3 years of training or is certified through a "board" of "Instructors" that he himself has formed! This explains how a 25 year old Instructor claims to have a 5th degree Black Belt.
Satori Martial Arts & Healing Center is affiliated with many of the top organizations in the world. All belt certifications go through the ABI, American Budokai International. Shihan Pete Pukish is the State Director of the ABI with responsibilities that cover all schools in the state teaching Shuri Ryu Karate Do and Shinto Yoshin Kai Jiu Jitsu. He also serves as the Chief Technical Advisor to the ABI and is one of the Chief Instructors of Shinto Yoshin Kai Jiu Jitsu. The ABI ensures the highest level of training standards for Instructors and students throughout the world.
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4. Does the Instructor or school representative exemplify the qualities you or your child are hoping to achieve through training?
Courtesy, integrity, respect, discipline, and an excellent level of Physical Fitness are all qualities attributed to many years of training in the martial arts. Arrogance and a large ego have no place in the dojo (training hall). The Instructor speaking to you about the programs and teaching the classes should be very friendly, honest, and patient. Only consider training where you feel most comfortable.
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5. What are the hidden costs that go along with signing up?
You may have won a "free introductory course," or pay just $9.99 for 10 lessons, but what does it really cost? Registration fees, membership fees, testing fees, mandatory equipment, books and videos, and tournament fees can cost you more per month than the actual tuition. Remember, Karate was created long before sparring equipment and videos were invented! Many schools require that you buy their manuals and videos along with over $100 worth of pads when you sign up. If a school is forcing you to purchase things up front, they may not expect you to be around when you will actually need them.
We do use safety equipment at Satori Martial Arts & Healing Center but it is not required until 6 months of training. As for additional costs? There are none!!! Testing is free at Satori Martial Arts & Healing Center. We do not tie your progress to money. There are no registration fees or other mandatory purchases to make. You can get started for as little as your first month's payment!
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6. For what length of time does the school require you to sign up and what must you pay on the front end?
Many schools require a minimum one year contract and payment in full at sign up. If they were confident that you would still be taking classes after a short Introductory Course, why would they force you into a long term contract?
It is important to make some type of commitment to training. At Satori Martial Arts & Healing Center, we offer a free introductory lesson, then you can sign up for a 3 month course with easy monthly payments. We also offer a 30 Day Money Back Guarantee on all courses!
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7. Are the Instructors also students themselves?
From the greatest boxer in the world to the greatest musician, each has a teacher that continues to improve their skill level. Martial arts training is a life long endeavor. If the teacher is not actively training under an Instructor, he will not continue to grow and learn. He will also forget what it means to be a student. Remember, an Instructor claiming to have 15 years experience, may have started 15 years ago, but may have only taken classes for 3 years.
Satori Martial Arts & Healing Center Instructors spend at least 15 hours a month training under top internationally certified Instructors. Shihan Pukish trains and is ranked with instructors like Hanshi Steve Roensch, 8th Dan Karate, 9th Dan Jiu Jitsu, Founder of the American Budokai International and owner of the West Coast Martial Arts Academy and Professor Tom Ryan, Roku-Dan in Danzan Ryu JuJitsu and owner of Palmetto Jujitsu Academy and Healing Arts Center. Shihan Pukish also has been greatly influenced by Professor Ramon Lono Ancho and credits Ancho with maximizing his talents as an instructor. Professor Ancho is a 10th Dan in Danzan Ryu Jujitsu.
Satori Martial Arts & Healing Center regularly offers seminars, workshops, demonstrations, and symposiums featuring internationally recognized authorities from many different styles.
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8. What is the difference between a "chain school" and one that is individually owned?
Look for a school that suits your personal needs. A chain school often has a regular employee turnover rate. You may sign up under one Instructor that you really like only to find out they have left or been transferred. Starting and operating a new business is a risky endeavor, and a newly opened, individually-owned school may not be in business down the road. (Most new schools will tell you they have just relocated to the area and ran another school somewhere else. Ask what happened to all the students that enrolled there!)
Newer schools tend to be less flexible with their class schedule due to a lack of students and chain schools may have so many students you get lost in the shuffle.
Satori Martial Arts & Healing Center runs over 50 different classes per week, all separated by age and experience level. Being an owner-operated school, we are able to pay attention to the details that make our school stand out above the rest.
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9. Exactly what are you paying for when you sign up for classes?
Many schools spend a great deal of money on advertising. The coupons you see for schools in the mail, infomercials, lead boxes, and telemarketers cost the school thousands of dollars per year in advertising expenses. Schools that have a high student turnover must do these things in order to bring in new students each month to replace the students that are no longer training.
Satori Martial Arts & Healing Center maintains students so there is no need to replace students through advertising.
New students at Satori Martial Arts are chosen through a careful selection process to make sure they enhance the dojo and the student body. Most of our students are here because they were referred to us by other satisfied students. Our Yellow Page ad and web site are the only advertising we do so that people new to the area can find us.
Your money goes towards the expenses of the facility and the instruction you will receive from the Internationally certified Instructors. Shihan Pukish regularly travels throughout the US and Europe teaching seminars & training regularly with his instructors.
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10. Is the school based on principle or personality?
The first tell-tale sign that a school is based on personality and not principle would be that the school or style is named after the Instructor. Karate and Jiu Jitsu are based on certain principles, or underlying truths.
Karate Do is an external expression of universal principles. These principles apply to physical aspects like speed, power, proper form, and body timing. Mental principles such as focus, intent, flow, and awareness are applied. Martial Arts teach the student to align themselves with these principles through their training, and bypassing their own personalities.
Basing a school on personality would mean that the student is taught only what works for the teacher. This would be very similar to learning how to play only one song on an instrument. Failure to learn the principles of music, such as notes and scales, would make it impossible to progress musically - just as studying a series of techniques or a fabricated style instead of an authentic martial art based on principle will not make you a complete and well-rounded warrior!
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Satori Martial Arts & Healing Center
Owned and Operated by Shihan Pete Pukish.
11235 Alpharetta Hwy, Suite 118, Roswell, GA 30076
770-521-1152
E-mail us: satori@satoriroswell.com
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