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First off, there's a difference between teaching and doing. Depending on the art you are in, there may not be a big difference (e.g. Aikido). In different arts, particularly sport or combative arts, there's a large gulf between being a good teacher and being a good practitioner (e.g. TKD). It's not impossible to be both, or find someone who can do both ...

You will be able to tell a good teacher by evaluating the students. Students should be: Engaged in the class Proficient in the material for their rank (Assuming they aren't brand new belts) Of a wide variety of ranks (not all brand new or been there for years) If the students display the above, then the instructor is presenting the material in a way that ...

As an adult I've only studied Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Before starting a new gym, I do some research to see what the community has to say. For example, I would Google the gym and maybe ask for a review on a popular martial arts forum. In my opinion lineage is important as well, so before visiting I make sure they're a black belt under a ...

I view the dojo as a place to train and lean a martial art. Therefore anything that is not directly related to this, I will either ignore as a student or stomp on as an instructor. I include in this both politics as martial art organisation(s) politics and religion as in boogly and magic stuff. Now, after class and in the pub/bar, it is the perfect time ...

I think schools can have whatever rules they think is best. The idea people "should" do a particular thing is a bit bogus, it's really whatever they want. They could require everyone to wear pink and speak klingon if they like. You just don't have to go to those schools if you don't like the rules. I personally have never been to a MA school which has ...

I co-sign the preceding answers. As a ostensible "lineage holder" myself, my contribution is more personal: I'm a direct student of a famous grandmaster swordsman, from whom I have a fabulous diploma certifying me as "a master." He officially made me a lineage holder and expressly permitted me to teach the discipline, use its symbol, and propagate the art. ...

I don't think the problem should come up. If people are talking so much that it's disrupting the class, that's a problem regardless of what the topic is. It doesn't matter if it's about their hair and nails, politics, religion, bowel movements, the fights on TV last Saturday, or their charity work. I like a rather loose class dynamic with a lot of ...

I'm personally skeptical of any school that advertises its lineage prominently, and have never signed up to train at one of them. My reasoning is; don't they have something better to sell me on why they're good? What about the school's values and principles that they expect students to (mostly) follow? Even if I don't feel it's for me, I'm at least impressed ...

Keith's answer hits the ultimate essence of the issue - it really doesn't matter because you can always look for a new dojo. That said, no matter what, political/religious thought should not be interleaved with training. If that is the case, you are no longer in a dojo, you are in a religious/political school that is teaching you martial arts as well. ...