I agree with Trek - It's a lifelong practice. I've been studying Karate and Ju Jitsu for 9 years and many days I feel like a beginner. My original school was traditional and wonderful. When that sensei moved and the school closed, I jumped into a contract with one of the largest schools in the area and learned that many many schools are just contract generating aroebics classes. They make you feel like you're learning something and get your heart rate up, but in truth you might as well be jazzersizing. It's like any sport...lots of people can play but not that many are good at teaching the real art!! Ask around. Ask about his teaching history. It doens't sound like you're looking for a cardio kickboxing class (not that there is anything wrong with them!). To really learn the art, is a special thing and requires a special teacher with a lot of experience.

Karate is the greatest thing I've done for myself. When I started practicing I'd recently broken my back and lived in daily pain. I give a lot of the credit to the life I have now to what I learned in Martial arts. It's effected everything I do!!