Yet Another McDojo Thread

[bushido_man96]

Yes, cell phones are daily use items, but there was a time when they didn't exist, either. My point is, contracts can be very beneficial to anyone involved in the school setting, and it shouldn't be the "auto shut off" that it tends to be when people are researching schools to attend. If the instructor is sincere, then if someone wants to quit, the instructor should work with them to get the contract taken care of. If its an issue from the beginning, then kids should sign up for 1 or 3 months at a time, and then re-assess when the time is up. There should be several contractual options to fit the needs of the student, and not just a one year and your stuck with it option.

[pdbnb]

BTW Since you called them "patterns", is it an ITF school? I can tell you more about the style if you want?)

Yes, it's ITF. "Patterns" is what the instructor called them. I've only had two classes, but I've already nailed the Four-Directional Punch

Again, all the arguments I presented were gathered from articles about McDojos. I read A LOT of them, and most of them indicated one or more of those factors as a 'sure sign' of a McDojo.

BTW, if it matters, my area is quite affluent. Not my village specifically, but the towns around it are mostly populated by upper-middle-class and well-off types.

Actually, DWx, if you're in the UK maybe you've heard of my school. It's called Premier Taekwondo, and they're based around the Alton-Bordon-Chawton area of Hampshire. My instructor is a Scottish guy named Mr Hollinsworth (no idea what Dan he is).

[sensei8]

BTW Since you called them "patterns", is it an ITF school? I can tell you more about the style if you want?)

Yes, it's ITF. "Patterns" is what the instructor called them. I've only had two classes, but I've already nailed the Four-Directional Punch

Again, all the arguments I presented were gathered from articles about McDojos. I read A LOT of them, and most of them indicated one or more of those factors as a 'sure sign' of a McDojo.

BTW, if it matters, my area is quite affluent. Not my village specifically, but the towns around it are mostly populated by upper-middle-class and well-off types.

Actually, DWx, if you're in the UK maybe you've heard of my school. It's called Premier Taekwondo, and they're based around the Alton-Bordon-Chawton area of Hampshire. My instructor is a Scottish guy named Mr Hollinsworth (no idea what Dan he is).

Mr. Hollinsworth is 5th Dan!!

[pdbnb]

I really like him so far

[sensei8]

I really like him so far

That's very important, and I'm glad that you do like him. I've never met him before, by that I mean, what I do know about him is through what others have told me and what I've read, and what I like the most is that he teaches a special needs program. These program types are far and few, but very important. My 18 year old son is a special needs adult, and what Mr. Hollinsworth is doing with special needs students is extraordinary admirable.

[pdbnb]

Something slightly worrisome today: while talking to another student, he said they hold gradings every month (another 'sure fire sign' of a McDojo in many lists) and that basically "you go in, do what you normally do in class, and bang, you get a belt'.

Should I be worried about this?

With that said, their contract seems on the up and up (even though they do use a third party), and BLOODY HELL was that a good class tonight! Light/point sparring, and I got to take part (I don't even have a suit, mind you!) And I managed to catch some of the higher grades out a couple of times too I am now the good kind of wrecked.

[DWx]

Actually, DWx, if you're in the UK maybe you've heard of my school. It's called Premier Taekwondo, and they're based around the Alton-Bordon-Chawton area of Hampshire. My instructor is a Scottish guy named Mr Hollinsworth (no idea what Dan he is).

Ok I don't think you have anything to worry about. I don't think I know this Mr Hollingsworth (there is another one in the UK that used to compete a lot and I don't think it's the same guy) however, he is in the same ITF as I am and the association he is in (UKTC) is related somewhat to mine (UKGT).

But now we know who the school is, this'll explain some of the costs you've mentioned. Like the majority of ITF groups in the UK, the UKTC is a member of the British Taekwondo Council (BTC) who are in charge of regulating TKD and for providing things like insurance and licensing instructors. All students in an association that is a member will have to pay a yearly fee (can't remember what it is atm but I think it's definitely sub £30). You'll also most likely pay some sort of association membership fee but most schools tend to bundle these two together. So my guess is that comes under the registration fee of £20. (I would have thought this'd be yearly payment and not a one off so maybe you might have to pay again next year?). Just for comparison my school charges us £25 / year for BTC/association membership. If he's giving you a free dobok in with that fee then that is a very good deal as doboks can cost up to the region of £50-60 depending on the brand.

The pricing structure isn't all that bad compared with most TKD schools in the UK. I think an average rate is around £5 per class from what I've seen so your £30-40 per month would be in line with that. Besides which I don't know but the association may even set instructors recommended lesson prices.

As it is ITF TKD there will most definitely be a focus on patterns as they are one of the five key training elements. Likewise there should be a heavy focus on sparring. Both step-sparring and free sparring. Pads are a BTC requirement however once you get a bit more advanced there should be opportunities for you to do pad-free controlled sparring. Along with patterns and sparring also expect breaking (should be a requirement from green belt and above, if not before) and lots of physical conditioning.

What you said about the gradings shouldn't necessarily be cause for concern. Since he has a number of locations and there are other schools in the area, it's probably just an area grading which instructors send students to when they are ready to test. Doesn't mean that all students will be asked or that all will pass it either just that they have these regular dates set up.

I wouldn't read too much into the "do what you normally do in class" comment either. Probably just trying to reassure the person that they're not expecting them to go crazy for a kup grading and ask them the jump over a car and smash a house brick with their face..

That's my take on things anyway.

[pdbnb]

Thanks for all the info DWx! You just described tonight's class perfectly (except I don't know what breaking is). We had to run a circuit, then we did some sparring with pads (FUN), and then a bit of patterns. I was getting so into sparring that Mr. H had to tell me to lighten up when fighting a junior girl (I wasn't actually going at it with any sort of power, but I was trying to catch her out with block-feint-jab to the face and it was working. Guess Mr. H just got scared, and I don't blame him).

They do offer you a gi/dobok, as well as insurance & membership, which I think is a really good deal. All you have to pay is the £20 reg fee and then your monthly fee (I'm going for unlimited classes per month for £41 because I want to try out Hapkido as well). Plus I think Mr H mentioned me only paying the reg fee this month, so I think I'm getting a month for free. Not bad.

My Mr Hollinsworth is fair haired and Scottish

Re: belts. If the requisite for becoming 9th kup is the four directional punch...not meaning to sound cocky, but I could probably take the test next week. Although I did get my feet mixed up when performing the four-directional BLOCK on my own (with everyone around me doing their level's forms).

There's this kid in my class who's a red belt, and he looks to be about 13 at the most (probably 14 though, since he trains with the adults). I got to spar him today as well, and was more than happy to go on the defensive and let him practice his kicks. Then, right at the end, he gave me an opening and...jab to the face In a real fight he would have had his teeth busted.

(Don't worry, though, I'm not acting like I'm Royston Gracie in there!)

[brickshooter]

IMHO, for those starting out, I'm unsure whether there's a real concern that a Dojo is a McDojo.

In the 1st year, it's not really going to make that much of a difference because one is still working on the basics. And unless you're extremely deficient, it's difficult to screw it up.

Just my 2 cents that people are generally concern about something that they shouldn't worry about that much.

[DWx]

Glad you're enjoying it

Saju jirugi (4 direction punching) and saju makgi (4 direction blocking) are things you really want to nail from now as it'll make life a lot easier in the future To get your feet right, just remember that the foot you move first, whether stepping forward for saju jirugi or stepping back for saju makgi, is the only foot you're moving until you start the other side!!! Your other foot does not and should not do anything other than pivot. So for the first bit when you step forward and punch with the right hand in saju jirugi, you only move your right foot until you come back to parallel and swap to do the left side. Focus on getting your stance the correct length and width and you should be well on your way

FYI breaking = breaking boards (+ other things), my favourite bit