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You actually think that just because you advertise big, that means you have to be "only caring about money" or teach like a mcdojo? Advertising is one thing, masses is another, and teaching quality is another. They dont have to directly affect each other. Ive seen very large schools that had excellent students. It can be done, Im doing it now. I hope "traditional" doesnt always mean "small" and "broke". Because Ive seen "traditional" be large and rich. It doesnt ean he nly cares about money, It just means he know you dont have to be poor to be a "real school". You know what Im saying? Please believe it can be done, otherwise your limiting yourself, and pigeonholing your mind into thinking "only poor schools can be good, so Ill be poor". "If I care about money AT ALL, Im selling out and am a McDojo" Mcdojo, and poor quality have nothing to do with how many students you have. I gurantee mcdojos were mcdojos when they first started and had 20 students.

I dont think people want quick results...thats just what they get, because thats the schools that advertise effectivly. Thats what they get because thats all they know. See my post on pg.3 That kind of thinking that "only special people will last at a good school" or "they want quick results" , is whats going to keep small schools small and keep mcdojos in business. The masses cant come to you, and you cant expose the mcdojos as frauds to them, if they dont know you exsist.

Thanks for the info. Ive tried to web search it, and didnt come up with what I want, so these will be good to look at. Im looking for a group thats just interested in alliance. I think maby by the end, Ill be buying the certificate CD from century until I can promotemy studens from my ORg. Keep them comig though if possible. Thanks

I dont think so. I think McDojos just advertise to the masses. So, thats where the masses go.

Hey, I ve been part of a Large org. for 15 years now. I have had to deal with sooooo much politics that it really drives me crazy. Also, everything is WAY too expensive. In order to open a school I have to be "certified" (I have been a "trainee instructor" for 9 years now ) which costs about $1000. Then I have to buy a school license for $1000. Its crazy. They "certify" anybody with the money in my opinion. I need a TKD Org. that wont make me do any certain forms, and wont charge me a arm and a leg to promote to my next DAN. I also just started a club, and want to be able to promote my students without all the politics. For Loyalty reasons, I will adventually pay the fee and stay with the large org. but until I can I need help. I do Taekwondo....can anybody help me here... We have our first testing coming up in a month. Thanks

You want to put Mcdojo's out of business? It wont happen over night, but start with yourself. And I dont mean keep doing what your doing. I mean Learn the Mcdojo way, and use it for good..then eliminate the bad...and insert the quality. Go to the seminars, aggressivly prospect students, put money back into advertising, learn to teach all ages by attending MA teaching classes/seminars, Get the red/white/blue paint and go to town. Its all a image. Its a image that Americans like...its flashy, comfortable, rewarding with the stars and whistles...all the "good job johnnys" and positiver reinforcment. Actually sell the mcdojo image, but this is whats different.... Run the floor like a "good" school. Dont sell out on your students....be there for every correction and to push them hard. Your style of actually caring about the student and their ability in MA is what makes you better than the mcdojo. Its just noody ever gets a chance to see it, and you dont let them because you dont want to "look" or "sound" like a mcdojo in advertisments. Thats what people want to see nowdays....the smiling kid in the ad, not the hardcore blackbelt with boxing gloves on. Use the mcdojo way to advertise and seem like a "big player school". Even use some of the programs and teaching styles...just take out "easy and fast" and insert "hard work and caring". Use the mcdojo way to let the pubic know your not a "dungeon school" then introduce them to hard work and caring. They will love you for it and the local Mcdojo will be exposed. But you cant do it with 20 students..use their best asset...the advertising campaign and "the look".

Weight lifting DEFINETLY builds power and strength in the MA. They work the same fibers. As far as the squats, weighted squats would be much better. If one quy did these for a month, and another did weighted (assuming guys are equal size/strength to start with) then the weighted squat guy would be stronger, and have developed more strength. By far. I would bet money on that.

He was Kidding.... "It could easily kill you" HAHAHAHAHA

I have a very small school right now. The workout floor is only 200sq.ft. so the parents are almost (literally) sitting on the workout space. This makes the kids stare at their parents all class, and the parents gesture and shout to the kids. Its completly disruptive. It doesnt happen always, but definetly enough. Thats why Im so glad we are moving. This place is going to be a carpeted gymnasium with a office and everything. The parents will sit on the bleachers, FAR away from the class, and It will start to feel more like a big school. Definely no more paren problems. I to always correct them when they would dothis, and it caused tension and stress. This will be great.

I think your a little late.

I have been teaching for a long time also (15 years), and while I find that my classes are of excellent quality without a plan, with a lesson plan they are even better. I have one lesson plan for each testing cycle, for each club. I have; Basic club (white-yellow) Black belt club (green-purple) masters club (blue-black) leadership club (instructor training...blue-black) I wont compromise the rank structure for the clubs no matter what. Its one thing that keeps me from becoming a mcdojo. Some schools I know of take white belts in their instructor training as long as they pay the $. I will not even take a withe belt out of basic. The plans are written out and posted on one sheet of paper and posted at the front of the dojang, so even he newest of helpers will be able to "know what they should do". The class structure is the same for all the clubs, just taught at different levels, or with ore material as they progress. except the instructor training/leadership club. That class is mostly a breakdown of 3-4 students performing "moch classes" and trying to practice the quality of instruction for that class. All other class structure is like this. Warm-up weapons forms bag/pad drill theme (BJJ,XMA,Boxing,Muai Thai, or traditional self defense. We spend a month on each and rotate) Boards Lifeskill discussion/awards Ever class follows this structure...however the way it is taught is independent of each intructor. However, Im the only instructor right now.

I think I would have made an example out of that parent too, by stopping class, looking back, and saying something like " we dont need that kind of language in here maam, please dont do that again". This would have stopped it. Unless of course whe was a little drunk, and generally not of the "classiest" people. Sometimes these parents come to you. In most cases though just pullthe parent into your office, and nicely explaing and ask not to disrupt the class. In my school, encouragement in sparring is somewhat ok, but not in regular class. Most parents just dont know the rules straight away, so they either have to learn or be told. again, for that situation though, I would have nipped that in the bud right there, because thats just unacceptable, even for a private class...much less a public one. Next time (if you didnt right then) make a public example of that, so there is no room for misundrstanding by her, or those hearing her.

Aodhan- 188/Arizona is a good region. Master Babin is a great guy from what I hear. Not one of those masters that takes himself too seriously. Thats probably why your contracts were able to transfer, less politics in good regions. As for me, it didnt have to do with a contract. I wasnt on contract. My not being able to test had to do with percieved disloyalty for wanting to expand my abilities as a instructor. I as a instructor, would of course accept if my student wanted to go somewhere to learn something I could not provide. However, as long as he came back when he was through learning, it would not be disloyal...as I did come back, and still have the same instructor. Everybody aventually flies from the coupe anyways though...you should expect seperation at some point as a instructor, and not see it as a slap in the face. This is my career...I cant just stay in one place, I have to learn...I did and its made me who I am today....and Im glad I did...even though I couldnt test for 7 years. Im done whining now.

sorry but that last post was a bit much. Were just expressing our opinions here. Adohan- There was nothing to my not testing other than what I said. What ATA region are you in?

I think over the years Bruce Lee has been shaded to dull. I have never, in my 21 years in MA, seen anybody even coming close to what Bruce Lee could do. If you dont know what Im talking about, you should do indepth research about his ABILITIES. I have never met anyone as fast, as dedicated to workout, as strong in fighting, as what I see from Bruce lee. p.s. Im not talking about the movies. he could do sitting V's for 30 min at a time. thats where he would sit down, push his butt off the ground wit his hands, with his legs straight and off the ground. He then would brng his legs up to a 45 degree angle and hold that position for 30 min or longer. You should try it. I can even get my legs at a angle, much less hold my bodyweight off the ground from that position for any amout of time. Its crazy and Bruce Lee was crazy good.

youd be suprised what you can learn from a mcdojo as far as business. I use the mcdojo way to an extent because its just good business, however, I seriously slice away at the cost of the carges and I dont charge "what I should". Mcdojos are the industry leader in business....its very easy to take the good and ignore the bad for the betterment of your school. The camo belt in ATA was not made for "business reasons". ATA has 9 colored belts and 9 black belts. Its part of the system and mcdojos are individual in manner. Its how you teach it. I know a lot of Karate places that have 5 ranks but like 3 stripes at each rank. My old shotokan place did, and I got charged for every testing for my stripe. Thats like 15 different "ranks". So, like I said...black belt clubs, testing fees, belt meanings and 9 belt colors does not mean mcdojo...in fact these things are industry standard. How many "Stripes" does your system have? Its how you teach and where your heart is that classifies you as a mcdojo or not. Just because my belt rack has a camo color in it, and I have a Black belt club t-shirt does not mean I went to a mcdojo. I personally would not assume that or state it, based on belt systems...or striping groups withn those systems, or on a black belt club or anything else. These all could be a good school being up to date and proactive in the MA industry. It does not mean the school is mcdojo. These are business tools. To be honest...Ive seen a lot of mcdojos with 5 belt colors and no testing fees. What they were learning there was from a overweight instructor, who had difficulties tieing his belt.

as far as the instructor responsibility thing...think about it this way... Im sure all of us have had that onw teacher that really came through to us in school. The better teachers are the ones that work on themselves to be able to understand all learning styles. That one teacher that really got to you, imagine if that teacher had just thought "well, hes not involved or interested in the class" or "he seems like he doesnt want to be here" so he never takes the time to do what he did...which was get through to you and make an impact in your life. Im sure most of us still remember "that teacher". If I see a student that is uninvolved or doesnt want to be there, I take a litte time to get through to that student for many reasons. So, he can test, so I keep him as a student...yes all of those. Mainly though I do it because I want to be "that teacher" that got through to that student and really mabe a difference. It has taken a lot of work on teaching methods and patience...but I believe this is what seperates those who have a large student base from those that do not. Even if you dont want a large school, if you were "that teacher" I think you would have to turn people away to stay small. when you connect efficivley with each student, both parent and student see and appreciate your extra work, or hard work on your teaching to be able to get through to their child. That will not go unrewarded through various ways. As olong as your heart is in the right place when doing it, that what will make your school stand out...in my opinion. Just my opinion from my experiences.

boybuilders use powerful, explosive repititions to gain size. Thats how you build and tear down fast twitch muscle fibers. Fast twitch are the only fibers that grow large. Thus, a bodybuilder works on building bigger muscles through building fast twitch fibers, the same that are used in MA. I would say most bodybuilders have more muscular endurance than most MA. Thus, the cardio never gets tired if the muscles are not tired.Tired muscles cause you to breath heavy witch causes cardiovascular endurance to com into play. Have large, strong muscles will add to musclar endurance, which helps cardio endurance by keeping it at bay. That being said, Ive never seen a bodybuilder who just does 8-12 repititions on all the exercises. Most all of them also have the 4-6 rep. range Also, most mass builders are compound movements, so most buiders work largely on compound movements. Ive never seen any lifter do a lift slowly, unless it was a special "concentration" rep. To build mass you have to use forceful,explosive movements with compoud exercises, that attack the fast twitch muscle fibers.

belt meanings have nothing to do with the integrity of the school or the quality of instruction.

the ATA belt system follows a young sapling of a tree int full growth. Each belt has a specific meaning. Camo is "the sapling is hidden amongst the taller pines and now must learn to fight its way upwards"...meaning the student begins to spar at this level and has to learn to effictvly fight the higher ranks to move up. The color camo signifies the color of tree branches and greens as the "student tree" tries to rise up amongst them. believe me I know most of ATA is a belt factory, but the "system" derived my the late grandmaster H.U.Lee, is well thought out and very good. I dont think he ever meant the ATA to go where it has today. The sad thing is its actuall a great system if taught right and crostrained. More belts just means more rewards along the journey...not less time (it shouldnt anyways). I think most TKD places use belts where Karate places use stripes. I know in shotokan, when I was a kid, I thought of my yellow tip or whatever as a "belt" even though the color of the actual belt did not change. SO, in the end I think its all the same...as long as the BB is not achieved in 2 years or something....the integrity of the time at rank has to be maintained.

I would not go around saying that bodybuilders are not strong, or do it just for looks. Its pretty impossible to gain muscle size without strength. Also, your slow twitch fiber information is incorrect...I would do some research on your own befre you listen to bodybuilding friends. Most people workout too much and dont eat enough to gain anyway...if they would just research. Bodybuilding greatly increases stregth and size all of which are very useful in fighting. If your bigger your strikes will be harder (granted you keep up your speed w/ drills and work) and your ability to take a blow will be much greater. Bodybuilders are excellent athletes with very strong frames and I would not say otherwise to a dedicated one.

I can relate to you a little bit, because I currently run my club out of a small parks ad rec. building. We are moving to a larger (gymnasium) location, thats more conviently located which is great. We grew into it tough by student # before we could move. I would definetly go wit it. Sounds like you cant beat the deal all the way around. However, I would use the space of the weight room to rent out to different personal trainers and their clients. I would also use the small room your in now for a growing dance scool, or cardio aerobics classes. This building and location you described would have endless possiblities.

sevenstar; Im 27 actually, but I do think MMA have no desire to learn the mental benefits of TMA. Thas not really the concern right? Im a TMA, and as I get more involved in training for MMA it seems much more hardcore and aggresive which makes me that way in comparison to how I was with just TMA training. I think a jaded view of MA is what most MMA view is. Just want to learn what "works" and forget the rest. Thats what I find myself being more concerned with lately also. Which I dont really mind to an extent.

IMO...nobody is more prepared for a "real" situation than a MMA/UFC etc. fighter. The "sports" look pretty real to me...and I highly doubt anybody throwing stones toward a MMA training for a competitive fight, would say anything of the sort in their presence. Because they are beter conditioned, better trained to take blows, and just more hardcore and brutal than those not training for a competitive fight. I mean really...what MArtist worrys about a "real fight"....not the competitive MMA...I guarantee that. They train to destroy top of the line tough , skilled fighters...who cares about joe across town wanting to take you on...it seems to me TMA worry about those things a lot more because they never get to test their strength- physicaly/mentally, or their abilities, in a hardcore enviornment like MMA cage fighting. It seems NOT training MMA leaves a lot more questons to ones ability than training in it. I dont think MMA competitive fighters worry about a "real fight" at all. But getting back to my original point...most eople dnt worry about a "real fight" ever. most people have no clue how to fight and dont really care. The focus on "fighting" definetly stems from mental issues most society doesnt have. ....but maby that doesnt really matter....I just dont see how most people can walk around being ok with possibly having their butt kicked at any time.

hey, thanks for the responses. Im going to flow into the training within the next year. Its A LOT of training you guys do. You really have to train like a "professional" fighter, from what it seems. Chaz: I dont think that training for MMA matches hinders you from being the best fighter you cab be. However, the deeper I get into wanting to become better and better at the physical, I notice the mental benefits of MA trying to flee away in some sense. Primarly focusing on just trying to hurt people somehow makes it harder to be a nice guy with manners and respect. I mean, I am, and do have those things...but not as much as I once did.