Judging from the responses to my last question, I’ve found one very interesting term: Mcdojo. This has really gotten me wondering whether my place is a Mcdojo, because some of the things people listed are true, while others are not. For example, here is a list of telltale signs posted by another user who I have forgotten:
1)there is no sparring, as they clain the art is “too deadly to use”
2) There’s a fee for belt testing.
3) A contract.
4)The instructor mastered 3-5 different martial arts, and he’s 25 years old, or even younger.
5) Kids with black belts.
6) Advanced students who lack technique.
7)Some sort of “quick advancement” program, for a fee.
8)Many different (excessive) colored belt ranks.
9) A black belt club (guaranteed to have one in a fixed time)
10) They offer “cardio kickboxing” and claim you learn martial arts from it rather than overall fitness.
11) Children classes that pretty much are a daycare center with a martial art twist.
12) They force you to buy equipment from the school, or a particular brand.
13) The master or instructors’ claims or ranks cannot be traced or confirmed. e.g. “winner of 400 no-holds-barred matches”
My place:
1. There is sparring (only on weekends, and they last for one and a half hours each, you spend most of the first hour stretching, warming up, and practicing kicks)
2. There IS a fee for each promotional test, yellow belt is $50, and it incrementally increases by $5 by each test.
3. There is somewhat of a contract, I paid $1080 for a full year of membership. I have no idea how good of a price that is, and I’m not obligated to go or anything, but I can attend as many classes as I want, as long as I fit the age group and class schedule.
4. I don’t know if the master has mastered any other arts, but he is in his sixties; yet he has more strength, endurance, and agility than most men half his age.
5. There ARE little kids with blackbelts, such as eight, nine, and ten year olds that have the rank. However, they have been going for a while, and they have successfully passed their promotional tests.
6. This is questionable. The older kids (teens) who have black belts ALL have good form, strength, and endurance (much better than mine >.<, I’m just a higher-yellow belt). However, the younger black belts don’t seem to have nearly as much skill, even when you take age into account.
7. No such thing as quick advancement for money. There is a promotional test for color belts held four times a year, and black belt test is held once a year. If you pass, then you advance. Otherwise, you stay at your current rank.
8. I don’t think so. There are ten belts before black: white, yellow, higher-yellow, green, higher-green, blue, higher blue, red, higher-red
9. No black belt clubs
10. We do real fitness training. Plenty of stretches, jumping jacks, push ups, crunches, and other exercises that I’m not sure of the proper name happen before we start practicing kicks, either “air kicks” or with targets, for the rest of the hour.
11. We don’t fool around. Only warming up, stretching, fitness training, and practicing. Although its a bit more lenient when a student instructor (at least a first dan black belt) teaches.
12. We do buy our uniforms from the school, also our sparring gear, although I think its fine if you bring in outside uniforms as long as their sound.
13. I haven’t searched for my grandmaster’s claims or ranks, (he is an 8th dan black belt who has won several prominent contests in China and the U.S.) but there are newspaper clippings, trophies, certificates, and other stuff that looks pretty dam authentic.
Another note about the advancement tests; you generally pass as long as you show spirit and that you’ve worked hard, unless you really did horrible in your forms and couldn’t break the boards. It’s starting from the first dan black belts that you especially need near perfect or perfect forms and such.
1 - You should have more sparring than this but I am not sure it would qualify…at least you are getting sparring.
2 - Testing fees have nothing to do with McDojo or not. Belts and certificates plus utilities cost money…no basis here…sorry.
3 - $90 a month is about average for TKD in a city anymore and with no limitations on classes it does not qualify as a mcdojo.
4 - Sounds like he is in good shape but age and rank have nothing to do with martial arts anymore as I know some young 6th degrees that are very knowledgable and good.
5 - Kids wear black belts overseas in some of the best dojo and to state this is sign of a mcdojo is ridiculous and untrue but if they are no good at their techniques and are considered a full black belt then yes it is a sign of a mcdojo.
6 - about the average in any dojo honestly. All dojo have good and bad black belts - regardless of what they would have you believe.
7 - four test a year is not a sign of a mcdojo. If no one ever fails then you are either in a very good school with a good instructor or in a school that will pass you no matter what.
8 - That is the normal number of belts in most systems around today…even the traditional ones that are very good.
9 - Black Belt clubs are not a sign of a mcdojo unless it costs a lot of money to be in it and require a long contract.
10 - Nothing on this one as it sounds like a normal TKD class
11 - Sounds like most dojo, TKD or not.
12 - Purchasing through your school shows loyalty to helping the school grow financially. Morons who say this is stupid have no concept of honoring their school.
13 - Winning tournaments does not mean you are a good teacher, or even qualified to teach. Having high rank, especially in TKD means nothing as high ranks are given out like candy today.
So far it sounds like you are not in a mcdojo but the bullshido.neter’s would have you believe that you are just because you do not spar everyday…which is redundant. If you enjoy the classes and instructor go for it…if not then switch….I personally would never listen to anyone who cries out mcdojo anymore because it is as abused as the type of schools out there who are one.
