They are a McDojo for sure! They should b honest and be humble and let the art sell itself. I thought I had standup skills that were not actually there. True, McDojos exist in pretty much all parts of the world, not just the land of hamburgers. Many nations embrace certain religions more openly than others but truly there is no such thing as a Christian or a Muslim country as there are always outliers. (I hope that you already have a teacher like this or that you meet one in your life) No matter what school or style, if you are breaking boards in your first two years, odds are you are headed to having problems with whatever you are breaking the boards with. I spent a few years in a mcdojo (gkr omg!!) Even at age 90, he strives to learn new martial arts (right now, a kung fu style) Curiously that happened before my black belt exam. This is the very image of a McDojo. Due to this, many fake martial trainers are taking advantage of it. Reading some posts I feel lucky reading some horror stories out there, our Sensei doesn't do one penny from teaching us, we only pay to rent the dojo (Which is actually a dedicated college dojo). However, McDojo is telling their students that once you hit the groin, you can easily throw the attacker over and you will be fine. The fundamentals I listed previously are then applied to sparring. I have NEVER seen a dan grade above 4th or 5th and been much impressed because at that level it's all politics and opinion, and no small measure of ego. Because if all they managed was to get fitter and have fun, they will just make a healthier corpse or victim of violence when their delusions of competency are quickly dispelled in a real confrontation. Hello Jesse-san, here in south africa there is a "style" where (94) you have to pay for your trophy at a tournament if you win anything! It all revolves around money. Sadly the same organisation is around now, placing fancy adverts in the press and at sports centres, and duping people. I know what it's like at a traditional karate school, luckily for me I just happen to get the right school first try. Who would be fool enough to wait him until he comes near in real situations? I started a new system altogether (Karate) And I've had no regrets on my decision. That one made me cringe too because I love it and would use it on the 'street'. I really like the article, it's a shame many legitimate dojos and kwoons have to resort to some of these sales tactics to keep afloat. But to belong to his dojo you must pay him even the oxygen your breathe, lol. Let me just tell you that my God guided me to this resource. To belong to a dojo you must have the same political ideas of the leading sensei, if you don't then he/they will make your life miserable until you quit, then they say "He wasn't worthy to be here" or other disrespectfull things about that person. It's funny you say "Demo Team" because the very same place I used to train that made you pay extra for Kobudo lessens also has a Demo Team and that place is surely a McDojo. I genuinely love krav, or whatever Im learning. If so Especially some of the comments some of the keyboard warriors make are just as discouraging as a fellow martial artist lets act like what we preach. you know they know some good shit. Well I could say: At anytime your sensei could become ill and be unable to teach for the rest of his life or worse. Rhee taekwondo EX regional instructors/branch instructors People of every region are eager to know more about it. Osu! It's certainly not that way in the states. But as I resumed training after more than 10 years, I kinda changed my views. You can get together and call yourselves "Bozo-do" and in the states, there is no one to stop you. Muay Thai has become increasingly popular as more people learn about its effectiveness in combat . 96. The dojo sign has the words traditional, commando, classical, effective, 100%, original, Okinawan, dragon, Japanese, secret and elite in the same sentence. There's always something that can get hurt just doing the moves time after time. Many Karate, Kenpo, Kajukenbo, TKD schools do that. An additional one that I know exists at a school near my home is: a Street Combat Course. We mix a bunch of different arts together so we do grappling, kickboxing, boxing, and just started working on ground. Michelle Hall - Sorry to hear, and sounds about right based on what you've said. Majority vote is how we select. And vocalizations should NOT sound like you just got your toenails pulled off with a pair of pliers, ki-hai, ki-hap, or otherwise. Red gi for the grandmaster, black gi for instructors and white gi for regular students. Also, we have a probationary black belt we call a Shodan-ho. Some of those "warning signs" are even present at our own dojo, too, what doesn't mean the place should be viewed as a mcdojo. It takes on average about 4 years from white belt to black belt. Simpler to just have everyone line up according to rank. 96. you are discouraged from practicing full force any of the techniques because it could injure students, (the techniques don't work if your attacker is strong or resisting your resistance) One must read your your DISCLAIMER first. 35. I stopped training with bo when the Sensei couldn't explain the bunkai to meI understand blocks and strikes with a stick, got it, but some of that stuff is just plain silly. Great list! The dojo is located inside a mcdonalds 89. 85. We teach discipline, respect, and actually stick to the five tenets of Taekwon-Do. I think you're right, sadly great part of the public wants mcodojos. 75. And use them to claim they trained under them, when it was actually just a seminar or 2. 74. When top instructors are promised a chance to open their own school in a nearby town and the Grandmaster never follows through. Don't panic. lol, I only found 54 to be true. Most styles in martial arts have been around for a long time and have been carefully studied and refined. students). I dont think that my dojo is a McDojo but still I would like to know. :). Agreed that a crescent kick could be used against a knife; but one could make a case that it's irresponsible to teach empty-hand techniques against knife-wielding attackers without a thorough discussion of why there is almost always a weapon of some sort around (chair, broom, pool cue etc) and why that might be a far better option than an empty-hand technique. Kyu grade students are recruited to become instructors early on, and put in accelerated learning programs. Actually I have first hand information on this group. Everyone unto their own - just don't talk to me about it :). This was a fun read for a recommencing karate student looking for a new dojo! Now I'm studying Muay Thai and I'm happy with it. Many thanks! I prefer to use crescent kicks in a clinch/grappling situation (on the back of my opponents leg/thigh for pure damage, takedowns/leg trips), or against his kidneys (if I'm on the ground and he's sitting in my 'guard' position). Would love to see more positivity in so called martial artist instead of the popular negative ones. The dojos web address is printed on the back of your uniform. Keep in mind that the forearm block might actually be a strike that comes in combination with a preceding evasion/deflection/grab. What a great list. Perhaps it itches. I dont think that my dojo is a McDojo but still I would like to know. My Renshi is trying as hard as he can to teach good Karate and not charge students for knowledge, but when the rent is due sometimes you have to bite the bullet and decide what is ok to compromise on and what isn't. I'm in Tang So Do, and it's a really good art. like everything else with the right teachers. Don't fall for it, folks! The Belgian Police academy has incorporated some of Kissaki's techniques into its training manual. If the head of the school has a patch that says "Expert," you're in a McDojo. People love to live in denial nowadays. The teachers in these dojos claim to be the ultimate masters of martial arts, whereas they only teach bullshido. 71. Most martial artists will never be in a "real" situation, as a norm the majority of normal people will never have a violent fight encounter after high school. Antonio, no falo espanhol mas acho que me compreenders em portugus. While a lot of schools have crap instructors, there are some that will have actually great instructors. Your class is not required to wear a full gi. We have used up to three stripes on a kyu rank belt to enable an instructor to know at a glance what kata they should be learning. Al Moore II, had enough of Rodger Martin, and ordered Rodger Martin kicked out and took away the Moore's Martial Arts Franchise in 2018. I think a some of these are suggested out of bitterness and far more a reflection of the poster's short comings rather than a genuine sign of a McDojo. Or step in to block at the opponents elbows if possible. I am Cheng, from Singapore. Your sensei has registered his fists as deadly weapons with the local police authorities. Any recommendations or hints? * Different senseis have different standards in how one should strictly perform katas & safety on executing techniques. if they cross train, show of their Rhee taekwondo skills outside of the organisation, train with an ITF taekwondo style or train with other martial art styles, and have a bad mine set etc. Free training will drive people to the nearest McDojo. Most martial arts will follow their own unique belt structure. I hope you understand my comment. (Just take a look at the pics of their front line forces currently in Ukraine, enough to make you lose your appetite!) I think you hit the nail on the head. The instructor is assigned a list of duties to fulfill throughout the day to benefit the franchise owner. I just enrolled my kids in this and they have contracts but they didnt say they was mandatory and they also say ATA Taekwondo on the back of their uniforms. Yes, martial arts should also benefit the practitioner by aspects of learning discipline, respect, confidence, exercise, healthy living, and so forth. Other than the two of us, I don't know any student who has been promoted to JBB or 1st dan in less than three years. 10)There's a peep hole in the men's locker room facing the office of the school owner Premier Martial Arts studios across the United States empower lives through Martial Arts. Or he could even be himself in a bad Financial situation for whatever reason and be force to fill for bankrutcy. 3) kick kids out of program for no reason How many people do you know were? I am referring to my senseis as 'sensei' here for the first time like ever. My Sensei(s) is/are just AWESOME!!! 1) since the sensei is asking for you to pay years ahead of the current training. they also use McDonalds titles like. Just a few that make me chuckle. :) Food for thought, at least! Learning how to touch (light contact) only sets you up for failure the first time you are really hit. with the difference that this sensei (which is still my current sensei) Actually tells what was wrong and right. These Dojos make claims to provide black-belt training in 1-2 years. If i were you i would worry about my own bubble before I try and burst some elses. And yes, he got promoted every year! Though these are Kajukenbo tournaments. All in all, I'm quite happy with my experience and thank all that is holy that I never wound up in a MacDojo. Point sparring or heavy emphasis on practicing the "sport" part of MA is one sign of mcdojo. McDojo Nr. I am Shotokan Karate black belt. I understand why an overweight instructor that promotes himself the Grand Master may upset someone that trained so hard like Bruce Lee. Thankfully, McDojos arent as common these days due to the growth of the internet that has exposed such shady practices. dojos the truth is not so obvious. I didnt have adequate sparring against people at that level. 8) kata rotate 5 times a year, only required to know one kata at a time 9) "karate is about kicking and punching" 10) instructors (they are not TEACHERS) don't actually teach just supervise. Students bow more than they punch. Grading Day = 100 push ups, crunches, squats, burpees, obi jumps or stick jumps, walking the dojo on hands, kihon, 20 Kata including URA, goshin-jutsu, 40 man kumite bare knuckle (broken ribs the first attempt and dislocated finger), seiken, hiji, kakato and shuto tameshiwari to finish 57. You school sounds like one of the few gems where children actually learn martial arts!! How many of us can block out that amount of time to train 5-6 days a week? The levels are intensity are something like: drills < positional sparring < light contact < full contact < competition < street fights. Next- Are crescent kicks really that wrong for disarming armed attackers? The no contact thing is not true. Instructors are required to have the dojos decals on their car. I have good flexibility but I know the techniques both from bunkai and kihon. The purpose behind sparring is the betterment of response time and providing the touch of a real fight. thanks jesse. Training McDojo for years and getting no results is absolute wastage of time as well as money. Yes I agree it was so hard to find a dojo here. Whatever happens, if you see kids wearing black belts, you should seriously consider training at this dojo. That would probably translate to 'terrible' for anyone else. If you make a mistake, its quickly (and often loudly) pointed out by your sensei. Movements dont have names they have numbers. But of course it helps to be able to do more advanced physical techniques like spinning kicks and so fort. I've got a feeling the two are connected. So then, in a perfect world, in a perfect dojo, where mental strength is taught along with physical strength, and all the students (regardless of age) are willing to learn Your grandmaster is 14-times World Champion (WKITSKTFKTAF). Premier Martial Arts. It doesnt automatically make them bullshido, but they probably are. The word 'Mc-Dojo' is the union of two words: McDonald and Dojo. This is in TKD and the kids love it, get proper training and are required to know their form to move up a belt. It is an art that makes a karateka harmonize its mind, body, and soul. Giving the students off handed compliments on their improvement at the same time not making them forget how lousy they still are. Whilst many people will happily train at a McDojo to serve their own needs, whats sadder is those who do so without genuinely realizing it.