Studio Chains

[classiccopy]

How many people have a dojo/studio in their area that is part of a chain? What is the largest chain in your area? Do you feel that it is a good school? It seems that this is one business segment that does not lend itself to multiple locations. In my area there has been only one real chain school. They have been around for many, many years and I believe have 20 locations. I have to admire that accomplishment and I do like the quality of their instructors but I have never gotten past the whole mysticism/school history/attitude that they seem to push. So what is in your area?

[jaymac]

Sorry, our school is not from a chain, nor is it governed by a larger organization like JKA. I do know their is a Tae Kwon Do chain that is approximately 1 hour from here and I have heard great things from parents of small kids, but negative things from adults who feel the dojo chain focuses too much on the children and promoting rank. But that is the business of these places - to make more business. Kids are great customers.

[DWx]

I have heard great things from parents of small kids, but negative things from adults who feel the dojo chain focuses too much on the children and promoting rank. But that is the business of these places - to make more business. Kids are great customers.

Not all places are out to make money though. There is a TKD dojang near us which is part of a chain and my instructor's old teacher is the master there. They have clubs up and down the country and each dojang is run by either a relative or past student of the original master. The only reason why the schools all carry the same name is for the sense of community it brings them and also as a mark of respect for the original master. Anytime I have trained with these people they have demonstrated utter respect for their art and everyone around them. It may be a chain but I hope this serves as an example of a good dojang that isn't in it for the money.

In answer to classiccopy's original question: yes it is a very good school and the standard is very high.

[bushido_man96]

The school that I attend is part of a chain. My instructor is a very good technician, and I think we have a pretty decent school.

[karatekid1975]

Same here. We have five schools (soon to be 6). My instructor runs two of them (both part time). She is a great technician and excellent instructor. So, being part of a chain, it doesn't effect how she teaches. One other of our schools, however, needs a little "help." I also have a feeling that the 6th one won't last long. But it may. Who knows.

[JackCrevalle]

My dojang is part of a chain if you count two schools as a chain. In some ways it's good, in other ways it seems not so good. For instance the owner seems always to teach at our school which is his second. On the other hand the first school seems to be where the most classes are held and where equipment/uniforms are stocked.

There is one chain in my area that has several locations and has been in business as long as I can remember. There is another guy who I studied under who seems to have gotten rid of his commercial property and now seems to teach many classes for local recreation departments under his school's name.

[learning kempo-karate]

Hello, Single school (Indepentant) or a large organizations has it's good points.

I once belong to an Indepentant school...after teaching (our Sensi)for so long, he decide to just quit. We were left without a Teacher, and no one was train enough to continue.

Today my son and I belong to a so call chain, (Universal Kempo-Karate School Association.) We have four school on the Big Island . Head quarters in the Island of Oahu, with many other branches all over the USA.

We are lead by our Professor Martin T. Buell. Every year there is a Seminar for all the schools at Las Vegas.

We always have new materials and training. You can train at any branch,or on vacation if a schooi is nearby...with permission..you can still train at those schools/branches.

We had a College age student move to the east coast...He hook up with a Ukks branch there and was able to continune his training.

Each Instructor is unique because of there backgrounds, all have to teach the same material set forth by the Professor, but they can add there own flavor too it.

What is important...is you like and respect the Instructor, their training programs. It does not matter if it is Indepentant or a large organizations.

Because if you are learning and improving your knowledge and skills...than you are a winner here. ..........Aloha

[Shotokan-kez]

My sensei has three different venue's, shame that the best one is too far for me to get to without a car. But on the whole it's a great set-up and has a variety on which classes to attend so i like that.

[username8517]

The only chain in my area is the headquarters for the Quest Academies (To-Shin Do).

[ps1]

There are several ATA locations in our area. I've been in most of them. Three are run by the same person and I would call then a bit substandard. Two others are run by a different instructor and seem quite good. It's interesting because they all teach the same curriculum. That is a perfect example of how important a qualified and committed instructor is.

When I began training in Shotokan it was at a single school. It was owned by two people. When the two had a falling out, one sold his half of the school to the other. The one who sold out decided to simply train with his instructor's instructor. Since that time the one who bought the school has opened four more locations. The quality of the school and it's locations have gone way down hill. That's part of why I left. The other part was that the head of the orginization we fell under refused to allow it's members train under anyone outside the orginization. That's something I can never accept.

I now train at a BJJ school that is associated with Pedro Sauer (highest ranking student of Rickson Gracie). It's a phenominal school. Although Pedro has several schools under him, we have seminars at our school with him 4 times a year. Plus private lessons. Under previous orginizations you were lucky to see the head of it once a year. It's the best school I've been associated with to date.