Help Avoiding a McDojo

[Vausch]

I've practised martial arts for several years and wanted to continue my training after a move, but sadly there are no branches around here that happen to teach the style I used to study(Bujin Ryu Karate).

I found 3 places nearby but some of them raised a couple mcdojo flags for me.

The first is a kung-fu class [http://www.csckungfu.com/kung-fu-curriculum-new/]. The flags that were raised were:

Wrong uniforms, (they're karategi), using a coloured belt system (dunno fully if that's the wrong thing; I haven't studied Chinese styles but I'm told that's not the norm), and they spelled the name of their grandmaster wrong. The last one was pretty egregious since he was apparently quite famous.

The second is Doshinkan Karate. [http://doshinkan.com/] It seems okay and I didn't see any major flags, but I got worried when it turned up on a site that seems to be focused on outing mcdojos (Bullshido, as they called it).

The third was an Aikido place. No red flags, I just would rather study a more offensive style. I like Aikido plenty but it's not a first choice.

Has anybody heard of these places or knows if they're legit or best to avoid? I wanted to get a real experience and enjoy the classes while learning something useful, rather than getting into an equivalent of K-Tigers.

 

[Eclipse Dragon]

snip

I wouldn't consider a belt system to be something ONLY McDojos use, however I would run very far away from dojos that use extended belt systems with no possibility of skipping ranks. I wouldn't go beyond six ranks (example white, yellow, green, purple, brown, black) anything more than that screams "we're keeping you around just to get cash from you."

Maybe you could ask to sit in and observe a class or two? You sound like you have enough experience to recognize if the students coming out of there are worth their belt colors.

 

[Vausch]

snip

I wouldn't consider a belt system to be something ONLY McDojos use, however I would run very far away from dojos that use extended belt systems with no possibility of skipping ranks. I wouldn't go beyond six ranks (example white, yellow, green, purple, brown, black) anything more than that screams "we're keeping you around just to get cash from you."

Maybe you could ask to sit in and observe a class or two? You sound like you have enough experience to recognize if the students coming out of there are worth their belt colors.

The main thing I know about belts is if there's an excessive number of people under 30 with black belts, be wary. If there's anybody under 15 with one, run. Obi are common in Japanese styles and only mean you've mastered certain Kata up to that point.

The Karate I could give some judgement but for kung fu not so much. I haven't studied Chinese styles before outside of observation.

 

[GrumbleGrump]

You know what I find helpful in avoiding McDojos? Go to the International/World/American Federation/Organization of X martial art that you'd like to study and search for a dojo that is near you. That's my MO for when I want to find a non bullshit dojo. Either that or visiting the armed forces licenced dojos, although that might exclusive to Chile.

 

[alandavidson]

Hello! Former martial arts instructor here.

I instructed at several ABKA (American Bushido-Kai Karate Association) dojos, and have studied at various places. A lot of good points have been raised on this thread already, but I want to go ahead and lend my "professional" opinion.

If you're in America, it's going to be an American version of the art

Some will be upfront and honest about it, others won't.

Colored Belt Systems aren't bad

They're most common in Japanese forms of martial arts, but also exist in Korean styles and Americanized versions of Chinese martial arts. They primarily exist as a benchmark to show what you know, and what you're allowed to know.

At first, the self-defense will be bullshit

This is intentional. For the first few belt levels the "self defense" will be just practical application of what you know. This allows the instructors to watch you carefully for about six months, and see if you're responsible enough to learn techniques that will cause real damage. It will still be several years before you are allowed to know lethal techniques.

Real Dojos don't have a lot of black belts

It will take you around three years to reach black belt at a reputable school. The classes become increasingly difficult, and the tests become more and more mentally and physically challenging. Of your average 40 person white belt class, two of them will become black belts.

What is the background of the instructor?

At my home dojo, the head instructors were a former Army Recon operator, and a former Mongrel biker. At another dojo I taught at, the head instructors were both national champion fighters. The head and founder of the entire system was a seven-time world champion PKA fighter. A good school has a good pedigree.


Hopefully that helps in your search for a martial arts school/