Dojang overtaken by a McDojang

[Adonis]

depends on the style if other styles of Taekwondo has same names and forms and don't belong to that org then there screwed on law suit issue's. If that was the case then american kenpo guys like tracy, traco, and other break off's of Ed Parker would have been sued. Now using the name of that org can be copyright protection but you would have to come up with a diffrent name, worse case scenerio change the names of the forms.

many have done it before that why there exist so me break off's of diffrent systems.

Either way, if you want to stay at the school do your best to create quality students make sure you have high standards for them and make sure the students work to excell for them. People aren't stupid. Well most people aren't they will reach a degree and find out that black belt either doesn't know what she is talking about when she does teach or figure out for themselves really quick when I bet she has to ask the lower ranks how the moves go again or she is teaching them incorrectly.

Unfortanely your not the head of that school so how the instructor wants to run it is his choice. Do your best to create quality students and have your standards for them to move on high.

If you can't handle the situation there any more

Distance and cut your self off from that school and form your own. YMCA likes martial art programs if they dont' have one already there in your area. OR you can check out gyms or other places or take up a diffrent style.

I would have a talk with other black belts and then if all feel the same with you every one can sit down and talk with the owner this could be a good or bad thing depending on how its done the owner could listen to every one and maybe change his mind about the situation or he can feel every one is ganging up on him and he feels he is being attacked emotionaly or overwhelmed and resit your pleas of good quality.

So you can also talk to him one on one but he may feel okay with it and change his mind or think that the other black belts aren't bitching about it so he will keep doing what he's doing.

OR you can get fed up with the politics and persue other schools, styles, or create your own.

Good luck to you.

[KempoTiger]

Karate25, you make some very good points, and I have to say I almost spit out my drink when you said that comment about Black belts asking lower ranks how moves go again....oh man if I see something like that again it'll be too soon

The problem is, is that there's a fine line to walk between making the system easy to digest and making the system effective. And there's only so much leeway that a non-owner instructor can take liberty of.

Most dojo's that strike it big and spread their schools around tend to follow a process of watering down their system in order to pull in more students and more money. I mean who wants 5 awesome students when you can have 50 mediocre ones that feel just as confident in their ability as those 5 would have been?

I suppose I'm comming off as quite a bit cynical and egotistical but I suppose I'm a bit jaded after seeing quite a few things in other schools.

But anyway the worst part is, is when students break away from their Dojo to open their own schools....only to follow the same process and have their students leave them in a few decades once the money becomes more important than the art.

[Adonis]

very true that is why its "buyer beware"

Yes I have seen quite a few black belts asking lower ranks stuff. Sad isn't it!

He can teach the best he can thats all he can do. IF all the instructors are at a certain level and one is definetly doesn't match that level the other students will know. To bad that waters down the belt qualifications.

[MasterH]

Mutiny in the dojo. Good luck with that.

Mutiny? Nah, I call it a necessary bargaining chip when you finally hit that point in your training when you realize that not everything about your dojo is all smiles and for lack of a better word, "kosher."

I have the utmost respect and loyalty to my Sensei and my dojo, but as far as organizations go, I've never found one whether it be a karate school, or any other business for that matter that's truly put what's really important before the politics and the money. Although I have little to no problems at all with my school or system I know that if I were to dig a little deeper I'd find things I didn't like. It's human nature....or at least American businessman nature

No, if I were in the position that Head instructor would be in I'd be talking to a legal council because legally there is nothing this person can do but eather talk to whom ever is in charge or leave. That person has been left in charge. There is a chain of command in MA and it needs to be fallowed. I undersand you do not like situation but nothing can be done. I'm sure this person has a buisness licence, insurance, pays rent......and on, and on, and on. Mutiny in the dojo will only do more harm than good. This person has absolutely no legal stand. He may have a moral stand, but welcome to america people.

[Muaythaiboxer]

i would leave and try to take as many of my friends and students with me i know it sounds mean but jeez the school is falling apart

[MasterH]

i would leave and try to take as many of my friends and students with me i know it sounds mean but jeez the school is falling apart

Well thats the Head Instructors problem, and yea quietly talk to everyone you can. Just don't get sued over it. Be verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry carefull.

[KempoTiger]

No, if I were in the position that Head instructor would be in I'd be talking to a legal council because legally there is nothing this person can do but eather talk to whom ever is in charge or leave. That person has been left in charge. There is a chain of command in MA and it needs to be fallowed. I undersand you do not like situation but nothing can be done. I'm sure this person has a buisness licence, insurance, pays rent......and on, and on, and on. Mutiny in the dojo will only do more harm than good. This person has absolutely no legal stand. He may have a moral stand, but welcome to america people.

I fully understand and agree with what you're saying but I think I didn't clarify my point enough. The concept of quitting your job is always an unspoken variable on the table when it comes to any job. In an environment such as a dojo, employees are (usually) far far less expendable than in other businesses simply because of the required personal nature of the business.

Having an experienced instructor leave your ranks over petty political garbage isn't something most Dojo chain owners want to deal with.

I said in my initial response that the first plan of action would be to issue a complaint to the next higher person in charge. BUT if they didn't do anything about it, and you felt that you working was doing nothing but promoting a Mcdojoesque (I can make up words!) business then leaving would be something I wouldn't exactly hesitate to do.

As far as this persons "legal" stand, well of course there's nothing within the legal system he can do about it. What law was ever written that defined the requirements for advancement in a martial arts school? No one ever suggested legal action, but rather political action by trying to get him removed from his position and/or fired. I suggested that if those higher were to ignore him, then to just leave or at least threaten to leave.

[MasterH]

No, if I were in the position that Head instructor would be in I'd be talking to a legal council because legally there is nothing this person can do but eather talk to whom ever is in charge or leave. That person has been left in charge. There is a chain of command in MA and it needs to be fallowed. I undersand you do not like situation but nothing can be done. I'm sure this person has a buisness licence, insurance, pays rent......and on, and on, and on. Mutiny in the dojo will only do more harm than good. This person has absolutely no legal stand. He may have a moral stand, but welcome to america people.

I fully understand and agree with what you're saying but I think I didn't clarify my point enough. The concept of quitting your job is always an unspoken variable on the table when it comes to any job. In an environment such as a dojo, employees are (usually) far far less expendable than in other businesses simply because of the required personal nature of the business.

Having an experienced instructor leave your ranks over petty political garbage isn't something most Dojo chain owners want to deal with.

I said in my initial response that the first plan of action would be to issue a complaint to the next higher person in charge. BUT if they didn't do anything about it, and you felt that you working was doing nothing but promoting a Mcdojoesque (I can make up words!) business then leaving would be something I wouldn't exactly hesitate to do.

As far as this persons "legal" stand, well of course there's nothing within the legal system he can do about it. What law was ever written that defined the requirements for advancement in a martial arts school? No one ever suggested legal action, but rather political action by trying to get him removed from his position and/or fired. I suggested that if those higher were to ignore him, then to just leave or at least threaten to leave.

Yea, I dig it. And your word usage is original, I dig that as well. It's just an overall bad position to be in, I feel for this person.

If I were in this persons shoes I would do what a military man would do. Go up the chain of command, crap rolls down hill but gripes go up.....and I would make as much noise as possible going up that ladder. Remember in an org there are students - instructors - chief instructors/school owners - regional leaders - regional presidents - org leaders - and finnaly the org pres himself. Outside of leaving, that's where I would go.

[KempoTiger]

Yea, I dig it. And your word usage is original, I dig that as well

Thanks

If I were in this persons shoes I would do what a military man would do. Go up the chain of command, crap rolls down hill but gripes go up.....and I would make as much noise as possible going up that ladder. Remember in an org there are students - instructors - chief instructors/school owners - regional leaders - regional presidents - org leaders - and finnaly the org pres himself. Outside of leaving, that's where I would go.

Exactly.

[Muaythaiboxer]

i unfortunatly dought this will work but in all sencerity good luck, i really hate it when schools fall apart but if you feel like your not being taken seriosly then leave there are plenty of good schools out there that would like to have an extra teacher avalible.