MC/DOJO Martial arts

[Davemantis 10]

so what makes a McDojo martial arts center?

[Carcass 10]

The sign above the door that says 'GKR'?

[chefkicker 11]

Theres a variety of ways.

 

Generally the term McDojo is used for a martial arts club that charges a lot and gives very little. Kind of like McDonalds.

I will let you use your own intelligence to see what you term as a McDojo and what you dont.

[Johnny_B 10]

The sign above the door that says 'GKR'?

 

Or Castle Black Belt

[RobbyBrown 10]

McDojo. Sounds like a sandwich sold in McDonalds.

[richardquinn 10]

Also where you get someone knocking at your door asking you to sign up or where they are stood in the middle of a shoping centre trying to get you to sign up... had a nice run in with a one of these back in newcastle, stupidly they asked me to join there club just after competing in the regional championships... they told me and a mate that our style was rubbish and followed us outside... unfortunatly for them we were not trained in a micky mouse club and they regreted it... was funny at the time but looking back it was probably a stupid thing to do in retaliating but it was self defence.

[Carcass 10]

McDojo. Sounds like a sandwich sold in McDonalds.

 

...I'm assuming that post is a wind-up?

[Master_J 10]

Mc Dojo's are everywhere and there are far too many Black Belts that think they are instructors. Regarding chefkickers comments regarding 'colourful uniforms'??? whats all that about? People live in a modrn era where we have colourful minds and want to feel good. We train in freestyle 'pants' (red black and white) plus t-shirts. Mc dojos are clubs, not academies, that just turn over students without that personall touch, that personal feel good factor. Any one can become an instructor, but can they actually instruct. So the next question comes to a head, are you an instructor or a coach? Is there a difference? I have seen many clubs come and go around my area, and I survive because people believe in what I teach. My head is on my shoulders and not in the clouds and after 17 years my teachings still thrive. I have never had a Taekwondo grading ever where I have not had a new starter there. We train hard and impose a strong belief of positive mindset.

Mc Dojos(?) They are everywhere(just like the fast food chain) and give no thought of the final product. My son is a third dan freestyle taekwondo student at the age of 11. Come see him spar and train, he would leave the average student standing still and as for his kickboxing skills, wow, just watch him go.

[Davemantis 10]

chefkicker

What’s wrong with???

 

Colorful uniforms,

wave master bags and those freestanding bags all over the place ,

Pay by direct debit,

you can get to a high grade without sparring.

 

It’s more the ethics and instruction at the club not what uniform they have and what type of bags they use? (A bag is better than no bag isn’t, no matter what the type)?

I put the last one in as some arts don’t do sparring at all but are still a Martial Art.

 

 

To me a McDojo is a place that you don’t get what you want from training

i.e. they say they do kickboxing when they don’t, you want to do weapons and they teach themselves from books and DVD before teaching you. And things like that.

 

 

Master_J

Are you an instructor or a coach???

I’m an instructor when I teach the traditional side of the arts that I do but a hope I think more like a coach when im teaching the Sanda (sport) side.

[chefkicker 11]

chefkicker

What’s wrong with???

 

Colorful uniforms,

wave master bags and those freestanding bags all over the place ,

Pay by direct debit,

you can get to a high grade without sparring.

 

It’s more the ethics and instruction at the club not what uniform they have and what type of bags they use? (A bag is better than no bag isn’t, no matter what the type)?

I put the last one in as some arts don’t do sparring at all but are still a Martial Art.

 

 

To me a McDojo is a place that you don’t get what you want from training

i.e. they say they do kickboxing when they don’t, you want to do weapons and they teach themselves from books and DVD before teaching you. And things like that.

 

 

Master_J

Are you an instructor or a coach???

I’m an instructor when I teach the traditional side of the arts that I do but a hope I think more like a coach when im teaching the Sanda (sport) side.

 

 

Ok you both have valid points. I agree with some but not others.

Colourful uniforms:

Freestyle pants + T shirt or thai shorts + T shirt are ok for kickboxing.

 

As for colourful pants , that means you wont find the terms " shiny pants kickboxing" offensive then as that is what we refer to Full contact (kicks above waist system) as, Shiny pants kickboxing

Note I did say Full contact and not Semi, Light continuous is a legitimate form of kickboxing, more a precursor to real kickboxing than the ultimate end. A legitimate kickboxing club will not specialise in light continuous but will use it as a "starting point" for the novices.

P.S I have competed in shiny pants kickboxing and many of my students still do

 

 

With regard to the "freestanding" and "wavemaster" bags.

I personally prefer sandbags, heavybags, maize balls and speedballs.

 

An 11 year old with a 3rd Dan Black belt? How can someone aged 11 have the power or the correct mindset and maturity OR have contributed as much to kickboxing at that age?

Im sorry but I disagree completely.

The only place to see him go would be on a kickboxing show. I would be glad to match him up with your consent MasterJ. Obviously with another of equal standard regarding age, weight and experience. We will have our next show in November.

 

We agree on a few things and disagree on a lot. That is what forums are for.

The main thing is your ethics are good.

Yours in Martial Arts.

Farhad Ali

a.k.a. chefkicker

a.k.a. the annoying pest

[Master_J 10]

 

With regard to the "freestanding" and "wavemaster" bags. A true kickboxing club will not use bags such as the aformentioned.

Those kind of bags are for kids quite simply. A real kickboxing club should have sandbags, heavybags, maize balls and speedballs.

 

An 11 year old with a 3rd Dan Black belt? How can someone aged 11 have the power or the correct mindset and maturity OR have contributed as much to kickboxing at that age?

Im sorry but I disagree completely.

The only place to see him go would be on a kickboxing show. I would be glad to match him up with your consent MasterJ. Obviously with another of equal standard regarding age, weight and experience. We will have our next show in November.

 

We agree on a few things and disagree on a lot. That is what forums are for.

The main thing is your ethics are good.

Yours in Martial Arts.

Farhad Ali

a.k.a. chefkicker

a.k.a. the annoying pest

 

Ha ah chefkicker, an 11 year old not having the 'power', correct mindset and maturity!!!!!! My son has trained since he was five years old and has been graded for his 3rd dan by Grand Master Liversidge from Canada. He was the highest scorer on the day and was grading with five adults, two of whome were also grading for their 3rd dan. To have the right 'power'....power for what? He did his grading impecably and his attitude is to all martial arts is second to none. Having won his first British Title at full contact TKD Sparring at the age of 7 and also winning the team Bo Staff competition on his first attempt, i'm affraid it is I who disagree with you this time. And offering to show his worth in the ring, just to prove a point to you he is worthy...well chefkicker, you must only judge how good your students are by how many times they knock each other out????? Just how good is your Insurance? To train to purposely hurt others is against all Insurance policies. So we all must train in a controlled manner, mixing light contact with controlled contact to full body armour contact. Yep we have it all covered here. Multi styled and multi skilled. Blinkers removed and seeing others as equals and not below us.

Wave masters are only to be used by kids!!!!! OH dear chefkicker, you have not obviously seen a modern dojang for some time, we have moved on from the darkened seventies my friend, most academies have both hanging bags and freestanding ones, becasuse we can actually teach multi-styles martial arts incorperating diffent techniques for all. The freestanding ones are more expensive and have its advantages and disadvantages, but advantages out way the dis-advantages big time. Wake up to the new millenium and move forward with your eyes open. There is more to life out here than just 'real kickboxing' which by the way is actually 'American Kickboxing'.

few!..... now I can breath and look forward to your reply.

[RobbyBrown 10]

I'm looking forward to this one. Get ready for world war 3