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Sard has a good list. I would add a few other things: Unwilling to let you watch/try out classes for a week or so. A very high proportion of new students to more advanced students (Unless it is something like a brand new school) - this indicates lack of retention, which can be indicative of problems. Phsyical (As in contact) discipline. Long term contracts ...

Here is a non-exhaustive list of warning signs. If any of them are present, you should definitely politely leave and never return. Cult warning signs. Run, just run. Here is how to spot the signs although a Google search can lead to other sites. Injuries. Too many people with injuries should let you know that something is wrong with the way they train. ...

I don't have a lot to add, as others have done a good job of answering this one. I do have a pet favourite thing to look for, though: Are the higher-ranked students obviously better than the junior students? I'm not talking about fitter, or stronger, or able to jump higher. Even to a relatively-untrained eye, you should be able to tell the difference ...

First thing I look at is cleanliness. I expect the mats to uniformly be the same colour, unless they're distinctly different, but all the red mats should be the same shade of red, and the green mats should be the same shade of green (reasonable exceptions are made for colour fading due to age). I also want to see by the end of the first class that the mats ...

Some of the answers on the following questions may be helpful: What qualifies a school or business as a legitimate martial arts system? How important is lineage when it comes to credibility or trustworthiness? What characteristics should I look for in a sensei? Some of the danger signs I would look for in what people call a "Belt Factory": Either ...

My answer here is going to be very similar to my answer to What qualifies a school or business as a legitimate martial arts system? The short answer is: "It isn't unless you think it is or you are operating in a culture that thinks it is, and then only to the degree that you accept it as valid." Lineage is frequently claimed but difficult if not ...

Note: This is from my own perspective training within a specific style and culture. It is skewed to my own personal experience and observations, but I hope that the thoughtfulness will be valuable to other people. Lineage's importance in relation to credibility or trustworthiness of an instructor and school depends on what you are looking for in martial ...

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'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 ...