Could someone please check the authenticity of this dojo?

[Aodhan]

When a student signs up at our school they sign about 4 different documents stating that there is risk in martial arts so they need to train at their own risk and the school owner has massive amounts of liability

Many times those liability waivers aren't worth much more than the piece of paper they're printed on. All they say is that you recognize that MA is riskier than walking down the street. If you injure yourself at the dojo, you can claim the mats are old and that's what caused it, so the school is negligent. You can sue for any reason, then the burden of refutation is on the school.

As far as contracts: Yes, there are a lot of bad schools that use contracts like a club. However, used properly, contracts are an excellent thing. They allow the owner to budget, plan costs, and do other things like that to ensure that the dojo will be open 6 months from now. The things to watch out for are 3 year non-breakable contracts.

Our school uses contracts. We have 6 month, 1 and 2 year agreements. There are clauses to get out of the contract if you move more than 30 miles from a school in our system, or if you get injured and cannot continue training. Just getting bored is not a reason.

If you truly want to know if a school is a McDojo (Although I think that's a stupid term), here are things to look out for:

1-Excessive number of low ranks with very few upper ranks. This usually means that people don't like the instruction and quit.

2-Refusal to talk about the "hidden" costs. Testing fees, equipment needed, "required" seminars, etc.

3-Contracts with NO escape clauses (See above)

4-Refusal of the instructor to talk about his lineage.

Some other small things that show that a MA school IS striving to be professional:

1-Membership in the BBB. This generally shows that a business acknowledges their responsibility to the consumer.

2-Clean, well organized school.

3-Decent lighting and safety equipment

4-Students that are happy. If you see a lot of surliness, maybe there's a reason.

Everyone points to trophies as "Ooh, a mcdojo! Headbands? McDojo!", etc etc. Do your own research, rather than try and fit a preconceived definition to an MA studio that you think is suspect.

Aodhan

[Sohan]

I agree with 99.99% of what you say.

But I REALLY don't like headbands, especially when all the students in the school wear them. Seems a bit silly to me.

With Respect,

Sohan

[Aodhan]

I agree with 99.99% of what you say.

But I REALLY don't like headbands, especially when all the students in the school wear them. Seems a bit silly to me.

With Respect,

Sohan

Me too, but it doesn't necessarily mean a mcdojo, more likely an instructor with really bad fashion sense.

Aodhan

[MartialArthur]

Great post, Aodhan.

BTW, I don't allow headbands in my school

..

[younwhadoug]

check out a few and compare them with eachother

[Jersey Devil]

You guys should listen to beka- she has t3h correct.

The exception being that even legit quality MA schools will have you sign contracts in order to sign up for class- its a simple matter of financial security- And I dont pay for insurance.

[jaymac]

I agree with Aodhan, I think there are way too many people who claim to know what a McDojo is or isn't, when their own school could fit the term "McDojo" by somebody elses definition. Contracts-no contracts, headbands -no headbands. The only way to tell if you are going to enjoy the dojo that you are asking about is to try some classes. I think every dojo offers trial memberships. A website isn't going to prove to you or anyone on this thread if this guy and his training style is legit or not. Good luck.