How do you tell if you are at a "mcdojo"?

[bluetiger]

My dojo could very well be considered a mcdojo, but for some reason I like it. Any Shotokan students out there that can shed some light on what to look for in a school?

 

Just for a little more info:

 

1. It's not a very old school. Maybe 8 years old.

 

2. It's in suburbia, so there's a ton of kids.

 

3. The blackbelts appear to be very skilled, but some of the younger ones I have my doubts about.

 

4. Sometimes I feel they are too lenient with the lower rank belt promotions.

 

Any input would be appreciated.

[Luckykboxer]

the biggest key to telling if it is a mcdojo is if they supersize your karate for 39 cents more

[Drunken Monkey]

mcdojo is a generic term for a bad school.

 

some things that make a bad school:

 

bad teaching/teaching of bad techniques

 

i.e no background, unproven history, lineage

 

(or perhaps strange 'new' style)

 

more concerned with making money

 

i.e many ways to get money

 

(lots of gradings, lots of belts, lots of inbtween belts grades...)

 

suspicious practices

 

(i.e a person doesn't turn up for a grading session but has paid....

 

and his name is read out as having passed....)

 

but

 

these things are by no means a good judge of things.

 

just cos the style is 'new' doesn't mean it's not good.

 

just cos there are a lot of grades doesn't mean the teaching/technique is bad.

 

a place has to make money to survive.

 

and in the final example, well, mistakes can happen...

 

the only way to really tell is how you feel.

 

forget all that jazz about being 'open minded',

 

be rational and see if anything is amiss.

 

don't ignore your instinct on these things.

[bluetiger]

Thanks for your response, DM. I had never heard of a mcdojo before checking this stuff out online.

 

My gut feeling tells me that my school is a good one, but being new to MA, it makes you second guess.

[P.A.L]

McDojo is a place where:

 

1- they say " oh that was beautiful Mr. X,just as I want it"

 

2- they test every month

 

3- kids are hanging to the sensei gi and he is smiling at you.

 

4- Sensei is allways preparing for a seminar or is in japan or sitting in his office talking to new clients.

 

5- it's a karate school but you see lots of kids spin kick over each others head.

 

6- they charge you late fee after the 3rd, and they sell water for $2 per bottle.

 

7- they have small ninjas sleep over.

 

,,,

[CloudDragon]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Long term contracts that are high priced with no provision for termination and guaranteed black belts. Also, go with that little voice inside, if something doesn't look right it probably isn't.

[Red J]

Like CloudDragon, I also do not like those iron clad contracts. My rule is if you feel like you are buying a car, run!

 

Contracts are OK if there are benefits for both parties and they are fair.

[G95champ]

everyone pretty much hit the nail on the head.

 

1. I would look at the quality of the black belts. If you don't know what a good black belt looks like go to another school and watch one class. When you see a BLACK Belt you will know it.

 

2. High testing fee's or ways to make money without teaching.

 

3. A lot of high ranked kids. IMO and Ill go to my grave preaching that no one under 16 should have a blackbelt.

 

As far as being eaisy on low ranks on tests I think we all do that from time to time so we don't tear them down to much. If that happens on higher tests then you have a prob.

[Drunken Monkey]

.....not sure about that blanket statement about contracts.....

 

i mean, often, the contract also contains all of the legal stuff about safety, responsibility, insurance and all them disclaimers and stuff.

[bluetiger]

everyone pretty much hit the nail on the head.

 

1. I would look at the quality of the black belts. If you don't know what a good black belt looks like go to another school and watch one class. When you see a BLACK Belt you will know it.

 

2. High testing fee's or ways to make money without teaching.

 

3. A lot of high ranked kids. IMO and Ill go to my grave preaching that no one under 16 should have a blackbelt.

 

As far as being eaisy on low ranks on tests I think we all do that from time to time so we don't tear them down to much. If that happens on higher tests then you have a prob.

 

1. The black belts at our school train with us newbies. They also help teach the kids classes. From what I've seen, I wouldn't want to tangle with any of them. I've seen 2 kids with fairly high ranks. (one was probably 14 and a black belt and was was about the same and a purple or red???) There may be more but I haven't seen them. The largest kid classes are green belt and lower ranks.

 

2. Testing fees are fairly inexpensive. $25.00

 

3. Already mentioned that one.

 

Thanks for all the replies. You guys really help us new guys out.