is my dojo a mcdojo

[dear john]

in my tae kwon do

 

it seems that everyone moves up a belt no matter what, it seems that simple time is the only factor. in fact we even had a, in my opinion great instructor quite because he believed that several people should not have moved up. i see this too. i get a little frustrated because i see how hard i work at it and others dont and they move ahead along with me.

 

i know that we have some great instructors and i know we have some crumy ones too.

 

it seems that this sort of belt system is the same up until you try out for your black belt. your technique could be horrible, like white belt style horrible, but when black testing comes around that is when it is looked at.

 

 

 

does anyone think that my dojo is a mcdojo

[cross]

Bottom line is,

 

If you are learning alot and happy with the training that you are recieving then you should continue. If not either:

 

1. talk to the instructor about your issues.

 

or.

 

2. Leave and find a school that provides for your needs.

[Flying Tiger]

I agree with cross. you hould speak to your instructor and voice your opinion. To me, it does seem like a "Mcdojo," But of course I don't attend your school. My instructor tells people that thier ready based on two things, time spent at the school, and ability. In my school, you have to have a checklist completed of things you're supposed to know before you can test.

[CloudDragon]

There are a couple of great threads on this topic already. Check them for more discussion on your topic. Cross is right though, a mc dojo is a subjective thing. Everyone sees things differently.

[Bad_Vibes]

I think many TKD schools promote people based on the amount of the potential they have achieved within themselves. Not everybody is gonna be able to achieve the same perfection, strenght, style, ect.... So if that makes it a McDojo then so be it. But that doesn't mean they won't be able to help you achieve your full potential.

 

Coincidentally this is the reason I left TKD. The two schools I had attended had many higher level students that would obviously get their azz handed to them in a real scirmish. Being a part of that just wasn't for me. But that doesn't make it wrong or not benificial.

[Shorin Ryuu]

Just make sure you don't write off a school simply because it seems lopsided. I have been to a dojo where there was an 8th dan, a 7th dan, a few 6th and 5th dans and about 15 other dan levels. These were legitimate rankings. The 8th dan is the head of our system in North America and has refused every dan promotion at least once...since he has round eyes, as he puts it, he won't get any higher, but for an American to be promoted to 8th dan in a traditional Okinawan system is rare indeed (In most Okinawan systems, 9th dan is reserved for the successors to the system). In fact, he is senior to almost everyone in our system, Okinawans included as he has been training for a very long time. In addition, the shodans were far better than a lot of sandans and yondans I have seen in other places (not in the same style, usually). This kind of dojo is an exception to the rule, though. All too often I have seen 8th dans and 9th dans who looked like nidans maybe who bought a certificate off of ebay...

[47MartialMan]

Look, if you are not sure, or "feel" some hardship, check out your instructor's lineage. If it is hard and true, then you must stay hard and true. Look not upon what others do or achieve, but reflect upon these onto yourself.

[dear john]

i think im going to stick with my original decision, which was to ignore the crumy instructors and to only listen to the ones that are good and fair to the system.

 

ill stay, but if i find better i might leave.

 

and as for the lineage. there pasts are all different.

[Rick]

Aw man, i definately smell cheeseburgers here - oh man i'm so hungry.... Um, *ahem*, but anyway - it definately sounds like something's wrong there man, and if ur after serious training ur most definately not getting it....

 

Not everyone achieves the same things, that's right - but they have to have achieved something... I see a lot of people who don't deserve their ranks a lot of the time... The way i see it u have to know at least 90% of ur tested stuff proficiently, and to become a 1st dan (master of basics) u should know EVERYTHING UP TO BLACK BELT proficiently...

 

Just my opinion... Man i've got the munchies.

 

Rick

Edited September 19, 2004 by Rick

[47MartialMan]

Good luck on your continuance "dear john"