DoctorQui

I think that simply trying to make money, or career out of teaching Karate doesn't make it a McDojo. For me, the biggest McD red flag is the over pricing of things, I have seen some chains charge 100% on the smaller clubs/instructors. A Gi that would cost you £25 if you bought it yourself, costs £40 + from them and you MUST buy theirs otherwise you cant join/grade or whatever. Charging astonomical monthly fees for set amounts of lessons that you can only pay by signing up to monthly contracted direct debits, guaranteeing black belt within any set time, attending Dojos where you have a ratio of, say, 15-20 students to one instructor (where you are clearly not getting your monies worth. These are the red flags for me. Making money is what we are here for and noone should be criticised for doing it or wanting to do it. Its how the money is made that should be criticised. IMO!

Sorry, I've always understood that Heian (or Pinan) Shodan (or Nidan in Wado) through Godan are the five levels of 'Peaceful mind'.

Sounds good! What style does he teach?

Concisely put and I agree!

I was having a think about this this morning following a general discussion with my training buddies. What does a person need in order to make a good movie martial artist? You look at Chuck Norris for example, yes he was world karate champion but his technique, if you look closely, is really quite clumsy in the movies. He didn't at the time, have a very good kick for example. But he had the look. Pat Johnson had the skill and is a big player in the movie martial arts consultancy arena, but never really made it big in his own right, Robert Wall is another one. The there was Bruce Lee, who looked small and puny and had the chinese look which the west did not consider to be the movie hero look, yet, he was about to explode onto the western movie scene in big style entirely down to his pure enius at martial arts. Likewise Jackie Chan, who isn't strictly a martial artist, more a chinese circus performer, yet his skill and, to a degree, his look has carried him. As a movie martial artist, do you have to be an ok martial artist but look great, be superhuman martial artist but look ok. Are there any movie martial artists that you don't think are much cop at all! I should put in a disclaimer that ALL the above is strictly MY own opinion.

Awesome! I've been a huge fan since I was about 8 years old watching grainy reruns on PBS here in the states. I've been a fan since as long as I can remember, Jon Pertwee was my first Doctor and I have been collecting since 1976 (unfortunately, my ex wife destroyed some of my most valuable and irreplaceable items in our recent divorce) I used to have signed photos after meeting Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, Peter Davison and Colin Baker as well as a Elisabeth Sladen and Nicholas Courtney signed photos...all recently destroyed! I am still in shock!!! Having heard that I think a little piece of me just died. That stinks! Baker was the Doctor I started on, and hence, my favorite. However, I have fond memories of the Pertwee era as well (reruns of course). I was less than happy with the post- Davidson run but I hung in there. Even thru the 90's made for TV movie. But, despite the considerable issues with it, I will argue that McGann had a great look and take on the role. I've loved some of the 8th's books. McGann was ace and it's a shame he didn't reprise the role for the new era of Who. Who knows, he may return for the 50th anniversary next year, god knows he's certainly made it clear he's interested. Have you seen any of the new stuff?

I suppose, in a nutshell, being an expert Karateka is a skill like any other that can be used to make money, whether you are running a school for yourself or working for someone else. Karate (or any martial art) is one of those things that attracts a lot of interest from the young. Youngsters, imo, at a certain age almost always go to Football or Martial Arts. By attracting such a lot of interest, it can generate revenue which can drop off quite dramatically when kids get bored with it (having realised that they don't break boards on their first session). I suppose, like Gyms do now, the easiest way for a full time Instructor to ensure that they maintain revenue is have a 12 month contract where a parent (or student) pays a direct debit. As discussed in other threads, the Karate school can then start legal stuff if the parent stops paying because the child gets bored. As unscrupulous as it sounds, it is actually very business savvy. My only issue with the Professional Instructor v the Hobby Instructor is that the emphasis for wanting to teach shifts from wanting to impart knowledge and produce good Karateka to simply wanting to make as much money as quickly as possible!

Sorry but it sounds like a typical McDOJO to me Me too! I think I may have talked this guy into trying out my own club

Awesome! I've been a huge fan since I was about 8 years old watching grainy reruns on PBS here in the states. I've been a fan since as long as I can remember, Jon Pertwee was my first Doctor and I have been collecting since 1976 (unfortunately, my ex wife destroyed some of my most valuable and irreplaceable items in our recent divorce) I used to have signed photos after meeting Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, Peter Davison and Colin Baker as well as a Elisabeth Sladen and Nicholas Courtney signed photos...all recently destroyed! I am still in shock!!!

Hahaha, so I was right! When I saw your name I thought "I wonder if he means Doctor Who." since "qui" is who in French Yep, but Qui is actually flemish...but close enough!

I restore old dinky and corgi cars, collect Doctor Who memorabilia (I'm a big fan, my username sort of gives that away ), walk on the fells, make or restore furniture or any other DIY. I am also a qualified dog trainer!

Having done a little reseach I can confirm that its a high velocity sniper rifle with laser guided targeting. XD

Interestingly, the same club won't let you grade unless you purchase one their own gis with badge at £60 a pop for adults and £45 children. The same Gi I bought from a retailer for £30. It works out, for an adult, that your first grading can cost £125 with the cost of a gi and grading fee of £60 then cost of belt £5. I've never really understood why clubs need to be so prescriptive in order to squeeze as much cash out of you as possible.

I do agree with most of the red flags for 100% with the exception of having young black belts. I've already shown my colours over kids with BBs but at my Dojo, we have young BBs with about 10 kids under 11. The reason in my Dojo for having a lot of such young BBs is because their parents are all 3rd Dan and above, trained at the club for years and have been teaching their kids Karate since they could say their first words. These kids were already at a high standard when they first started and simply progressed in line with the clubs timescales. I train with my step daughter who started in March. I had taught her quite a bit before she joined because she was interested. The night she started, the chief instructor asked me if I had been coaching her because she got all her form and techniques spot on straight away. There was a grading coming up 3 weeks later and she graded because she was good enough, she actually double graded. Now after 4 months, she is about to take 5th Kyu and she is advance to the point where the instructor is now using time to get on with her next Kata which she already knows it as she is extrememly dedicated to Karate and I catch her practising virtually every day. She actually puts me to shame! At the rate she is going, she will be BB at 13 (she is 11). My club has a membership of only 35 students across the district (3 classes) so it doesn't really make money and the chief instructor is not a full time instructor so not what I would calla McDojo to the letter of the red flag.

One the the questions I get asked every week without fail by a junior is... 'Why do you sweat so much?' My answer is... 'Because I train hard!' Its not all about physical exertion either, although I do a lot of that, its a lot about intense concentration and, believe it or not, learning how to breathe (how many of us, even after many years, still tend to hold their breath during some Kata) in a way that gives you maximum energy. All of this together with a physical work out adds to a session of very hard training that is not measured by extreme physical activity alone.

I think it depends on what you mean by mistake. Are you talking about a blatant error or simply having your foot at a wrong angle or may be doing a wrong block or maybe a kiai in the wrong place. Even the most experienced instructors make mistakes, ie slip into a move from another similar kata etc. My own Chief Instructor made a slight error this evening and corrected himself (he is 8th Dan and 45 years Karateka) so to fail someone for making even one mistake seems unrealistically harsh and would put undue and unwarranted pressure on the student imo. Its not really about someone being ready, you can be absolutely ready and still make an error, noone is perfect and mind blanking happens to the best.

Like I said, I've not seen anything goofy yet. Seems pretty solid. I'll keep my eyes open though. I was referring mainly to George Dillman the person and martial artist. In terms of an affiliated Dojo...its only as good as the chief instructor who in your case maybe top notch!

A grading is ultimately to see if you know what you are doing and are competent at the required stage. Making a mistake in a grading (unless its persistent and shows lack of focus) should never result in a fail imo. If the examiner is happy that you are competent and know what you are doing, then that is all that is needed NOT perfection. Noone is expected to be an expert Karateka after all!

I have never bought a belt before I have graded for it. In my current Dojo, the cost of the grading includes the belt so if you pass, the chief instructor presents you with it. I must confess, I DID buy a very cheap black belt recently in order to model and sell a gi on ebay (I think they look better with a black belt). I have since thrown the black belt away as it has served its purpose and is not MY black bet or even the black belt I would choose to wear. When I finally get my BB I want to order a special one because its the only one I will ever own. I've heard some clubs issue their own belts between white and black, which you have to return when you progress. basically, your White and your Black are the only belts you own. Not sure what I think about that!?!

A brown belt in 6months from no previous experience? I switched styles with a 12 months break inbetween so I have been training on and off since 2008 and will be taking my 1st kyu in a few weeks. Unfortunately, the mandatory 6 months between 1st Kyu and 1st Dan means that I miss the only Dan grading of the year which is December, so I will be 1st Kyu for 16months.

If you are saying thay a junior should be awarded a full Dan at any age then I can't agree with you. As many have said, there should and normally always is, in my experience, junior Dan grades which last until 18 (16 in some cases) after which adult Dan grades issued on completion of a full Dan grading. Junior Dan generally do NOT undertake the same grading or complete the same requirements of a full adult Dan. In fact, there are some techniques that juniors are not permitted perform until they are adults. For example, in some styles, to get Dan grade you have to do full contact kumite (no pads) and it would be entirely inappropriate for children as young as 7 or 8 to do this. In a previous style, Dan grading was extremely strenuous and exhausting and again there is no way a child would or shoulf be expected to do something even an adult finds challenging to the point of possibly failing. No, imo Dan grades should be age bound and certainly should not be given to children under 12. In addition, generally, 1st Dan is the grade where many people stop training so extending the time it takes to get there (particularly for children) separates the wheat from the chaff in terms of attitude and goals.

I'm not suggesting that it is a McDojo for sure BUT it is part of a very large national franchise. I have made some further enquiries and it seems that you pay (rather heaftily it appears) to do your blackbelt and then to do your 1st Dan 12 months later.

I tend to do kata and technique/combinations in my 'between' times. I have quite a muscular frame and have always had a lot of strength so don't do a lot of muscle building at all. I do find that I am pretty much training all day everyday because if I'm not actually doing the kata or technique, I am going through the moves in my head. I also shadow spar (only in private though ) Stretching and flexibility is my biggest enemy on the Dojo so I do a lot of this too. I watch telly in a box spit (not a full one mind ) and do as many other exercises, like kibadachi for an extended period, or deep zenkutsu dachi etc etc

Blimey, that was a very long time ago! These guys are looking a little more seasoned these days LOL! KUGB (or the KGB as they're known in my Dojo) control the majority of Shotokan in the NW (and many across the Country). My own club was created following the great KUGB split after Master Enoeda returned to Japan.

I smothered her in emolient and gave her antihistamine medicine and she was more comfortable but it was still really angry. Good thinking on the compression bandage though I will try that at her next session. Cheers. Oh and I like the idea of not having to iron her gi everytime I wash it so may just invest in a cotton one for her next gi once she has grown out of this on, or sooner if she keeps getting a reaction to the polycotton one. Thanks guys x When she settles in and it looks like she's in it for the long term, I would invest in a heavier gi as the heavier cotton stays away from the skin and creates a layer of air which cools you down and will no doubt e better for any skin problems. Always go a size bigger imo!