How many MA schools do you pass by?

[JR 137]

I saw somewhere in a thread a person said they pass by a few dojos on their way to where they train. Got me thinking, and counting.

I pass by 3 MA schools on my way to the dojo in my 6 mile commute from home. If I went directly from work, it would be 6 in about 15 miles (I'd have to drive by my house, so it's not like 6 new ones). Two of those have multiple arts taught by different CIs under the same roof. If I go a few blocks off my main routes or a block or two passed a turn, there's several more. If I go a different, almost the same mileage route, again, there's more.

I got lucky when the best dojo I could find that fit my criteria was only 6 miles away!

I guess it's some sort of tribute/testament/can't think of the right word here to my dojo to drive by others ones on my way to train.

[sensei8]

Good topic; thanks for starting it!

Owning my own dojo since 1978, I've always been conscious of where other schools of the MA were in relationship of my own dojo. I love to put my dojo in the center of the other schools of the MA in my 25 mile radius ratio because there's nothing more accelerating than putting yourself on point.

Being in the MA epic center, many had to pass my dojo to get to the other schools of MA. However, not always being centralized got me in the eye of any future students because of this important ratio: Dojo to student's house/work. This ratio does present a different difficulty because I can't know where everyone works or lives. In the San Fernando Valley, I was one of the first to use Billboard ads for the MA, and for using ads on the RTD buses.

I was in Van Nuys, CA; central to the San Fernando Valley. People that lived in Burbank, CA, for example, might not ever leave the Burbank area because someone who lives and works in Burbank, CA, can do their shopping, dinning, and entertainment right there. And Burbank, CA had their share of schools of the MA.

Get the attention, and you get the students interest!!

In Houston, TX, I pass 1 school when I drive to Pearland, TX, but when I drop my son off at work in Pearland, TX, I pass 5 schools...my ears perked quick. I'd place my dojo right in the middle of them all!!

[Kanku65]

On my 8 minute drive to the dojo, I pass by 2.

If I took the 12 minute alternate parallel route however, it would be 4, maybe 5.

That's about half of what's in the city. The other's including mine are off the beaten path.

When I go to our regional headquarters, 3 cities and 35 minutes away, I pass by an incredible amount. In fact, there are 4 on the same strip as our regional headquarters, one next door to the other, etc.

Perhaps there's no rule to distance in this city, or perhaps all dojos have existed so long that it's been made irrelevant.

I've found similar clustering in the city 25 minutes east from my house as well. In this area you pass by so many dojos at such a rapid rate, it's hard to keep count/track of different styles.

The lower mainland of British Columbia has an incredible amount of martial arts schools...

[Nidan Melbourne]

I travel past a Seido School to go to my dojo.

I travel 10.6 km (6.5 miles) to my dojo. Honestly I am surprised I don't pass more on my commute.

[JR 137]

I travel past a Seido School to go to my dojo.

I travel 10.6 km (6.5 miles) to my dojo. Honestly I am surprised I don't pass more on my commute.

Heresy!!!!!

I kid.

[Lupin1]

I don't pass any (pretty short commute) but there are a good 5-10 in town. Most are just too expensive for me, though there are a few I wouldn't hesitate to try if they were less money.

[liger]

Depends on which dojo location I go to.

The main local branch is in a small town that takes back roads to get to. So none for that one.

And the in town branch depends on what way I go. Most the time is 0 until heading home in which its 1.

Long story short on this one is we have the main building that is in a small town on Mondays and Thursdays. On Sundays my teacher guest teach at a dojo in town on Sundays. Ironically were he guest teach was the original location for us long before I started.

[Spartacus Maximus]

The present location is not on a main street, so there are no other dojos directly on the way there. In the general area within 2km or less, there are at least 5 dojo of kyokushin and offshoots, aikido and perhaps other less popular martial arts.

My sensei knows most of them and is at least aquainted with the other instructors in the city. As for me, I took notice of the locations but my interest goes no further. Compared to the other dojo in the area, I would say mine is very private. Looking from outside there are no signs that identify it as a dojo whatsoever.

[Spodo Komodo]

There is only one other MA school within 10km of my home and that is a GKR club. If you include Tai Chi with the grannies (most have an average student age of 75 and are exclusively female, most men are long dead by 75 around here) then there are 9 and about another 8-10 yoga groups. There used to be Enshin Karate, Shotokan Karate, TKD, Japanese Ju Jitsu, Brazilian Ju Jitsu, Wing Chun and Kendo but they all shut down during the global financial meltdown of the past five years.

[CTTKDKing]

Hmm interesting question.

I don't actually pass any on my 2 mile drive to my dojo (got lucky in regard to location).

That said I live in the Hartford area of CT and there are a ton of schools within a 10 mile radius of where I live. In the neighborhood of my dojo there are at least 3 other schools within a mile of ours on the same street. Different styles are taught at 2 of them (ITF and WTF TKD respectively) but there is another gym that teaches Muay Thai and BJJ. They are newer and less established. Based on the quality of our instruction/students, I think in our neighborhood, they may have a rough time staying afloat. Hopefully they've found a way to coexist with us. Don't wish negativity on anyone from other gyms.