I guess I'll have to start calling/visiting schools in my area to be able to ask the students, if that's what you call them, how long they've been going to that particular school. I'm guess I would also have to visit an advanced class to ask questions of the students who would be at that level to where they could have been going to that particular school for a long time. It would probably be good to visit a beginner class since that's what I am. I would be able to see how the teacher works with a beginner class. I'm a newbie so I'm not even sure of the terminology... class, teacher, student etc.

Are there belts in MMA? I assume they divide the classes by age and experience/belt?