Enlightened

[pdbnb]

Remember all those topics with me asking if my school was a McDojo? It's not. My instructor's great, very composed, professional, and while he offers deals on equipment and classes, he is never too pushy about it.

His competitor, on the other hand...

Yes, I found another school in our town (our sabumnim bad-mouthed them once or twice in passing, and used to offer classes in the same locations as them, which is why I was initially confused about class venues when I first joined.) They have a kiddy programme with a similar name and identical uniform to ours. So far, so good, right?

EXCEPT...

1. They actually include a warning in ALL CAPS about being aware of cheap imitations with similar uniforms ON THEIR MAIN PROGRAMME WEBPAGE, which I find fantastically unprofessional. Our school stands on its own merits and doesn't take potshots at anyone IN PUBLIC!!!

2. They require that parents sit in on class. My instructor does this too (apparently it's mandatory for 3-5 year olds?) but specifically asks that the mummies and daddies DON'T interfere.

3. Their kids have to buy everything, including a book 'worth its weight in gold'. Our school offers the suit, at least for junior and senior TKD, as well as insurance and membership to the UKTC.

So yeah, I think they're the real McDojo in our area and I was lucky enough to join the good school. Of course this point of view is skewered by my estimation for my instructor and fellow trainees.

PS they do offer a 4-week trial period for the little tots, which is not a bad idea, since kids tire of things easily. Overall, however, I think they're extremely unprofessional, especially with the personal barbs at - I assume - my instructor. I wish I knew what the beef was there...

[Wastelander]

It doesn't necessarily sound like a McDojo, to me, but I don't have enough information to be sure.

1. Part marketing tactic, part bad blood between the two instructors. Unprofessional, but not necessarily McDojo material.

2. I highly recommend that parents be watching class, and parents should absolutely not interfere or otherwise distract their children during class. Cheering or clapping during sparring is one thing, but kids have a short attention span as it is, and having mom or dad telling them what to do takes that attention away from the instructor.

3. Students having to pay for everything is a sign of a commercial school, but it isn't an indicator of the quality of the instruction. Sometimes that cost is just rolled up in your monthly dues so you don't notice it, sometimes it's separate, and sometimes you're getting charged in both places, which is a shady practice.

[MasterPain]

Don't worry so much about it. You are fairly new in the arts, so take it from a balding guy with some grey in his beard, STAY OUT OF POLITICS!!!! A wise man (or a jerk) once said "Shut up and train." My mother taught me to be more polite than that, but the sentiment remains the same no matter the words used. Learn what you can, work hard at it, make sure it works and have fun doing it.

[Harkon72]

Sound advice from Master Pain there; if you can afford it, you enjoy it and it feels good - get your head down and train. A system is only as good as you make it.

[mal103]

Don't worry so much about it. You are fairly new in the arts, so take it from a balding guy with some grey in his beard, STAY OUT OF POLITICS!!!! A wise man (or a jerk) once said "Shut up and train." My mother taught me to be more polite than that, but the sentiment remains the same no matter the words used. Learn what you can, work hard at it, make sure it works and have fun doing it.

I think it's customary here to say "Solid Post!"

Many paths to the top of the mountain type scenario, just some clubs will be making more money out of it and being more "human" about it.

In an ideal world all MA in the same area would train together regularly and share knowledge and gain experiences, when i'm PM I will make this law... just please don't vote for me as I will be too busy training.

[sensei8]

Don't worry about the 3 you've listed as "bad" things because all of that will just get in the way of your training, and that's what you're there for...training!! As always, talk with your instructor about those things and afterward...

TRAIN!!

[bushido_man96]

Don't worry so much about it. You are fairly new in the arts, so take it from a balding guy with some grey in his beard, STAY OUT OF POLITICS!!!! A wise man (or a jerk) once said "Shut up and train." My mother taught me to be more polite than that, but the sentiment remains the same no matter the words used. Learn what you can, work hard at it, make sure it works and have fun doing it.

I agree. It appears you seem very determined to root out the McDojos in the world. I would worry less about that, and more about your own training. Its apparent there is some form of rivalry between your school and this one. Don't let it be a distraction from your training.