McDojo
 

I heard about this and wanted to share!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDojo

Thoughts please!

:freaky:

Re: McDojo
 

Well, it's a bit odd someone would feel the need to put it in Wikipaedia, but that'sa pretty good summation of a McDojo, I would think. :)

Re: McDojo
 

Huahahaha...

This is good... Well, like Dave said... it's a pretty good summary. But, they left out the express service that these McDojos serve...

Re: McDojo
 

Hehe, "camouflage belts", that's hilarious!

Re: McDojo
 

What do they serve as BigMac??

Re: McDojo
 

Having seen "McDojo" trainees compete in semi-pro fights here in New York, I wouldn't be so quick to judge. Many of them could wipe the floor with the average guy from a "real" martial arts school.

Re: McDojo
 

"Revenue Rainbow" - I gotta remember that one!!

Re: McDojo
 

Now there's a challenge if ever I saw one :D

Re: McDojo
 

By definition I would say that they are not "McDojo" trainees, as it says that standards are not a priority in a McDojo.

Re: McDojo
 

I agree with Lyle. From what I've seen, some of these guys are good, really good.

David.

Re: McDojo
 

Ive never seen one! ... I WANNA SEE ONE!

Re: McDojo
 

The ultimate McDojo everyone refers to around these parts is "Tiger Schulmann's Karate" (TSK).

I think what happens is that good martial artists want to work in the field, so they gravitate to places that can afford to pay them. With long contracts, standardized and simplified black belt systems, air conditioning, etc, these places make the money they need to hire people who may have spent years training under different conditions.

Re: McDojo
 

Rex-Quan-Do!

If you've not seen Napoleon Dynamite it's a bit lost!

You should watch it as a guide to being a good teacher ;)

Re: McDojo
 

the best mcdojo we have around here teaches the "Blue Power Ranger" self defence course! ... its a comical topic across the the different martial arts schools!
as I always say "beware the school that offers free red nylon uniform or 1 months free training!" lmao

Re: McDojo
 

Jo, you're so right! BOW TO YOUR SENSEI!!!

Re: McDojo
 

I also found this link on McDojos:

http://mcdojo-faq.tripod.com/

Re: McDojo
 

Is there not one right across the street from New York Aikikai? Man, I expected to see valet parking and a velvet rope with bouncers in front of that place....

Re: McDojo
 

I drove by a place that had a huge stencilled sign on its back wall, clearly visible through the glass windows,
"THIS IS A BLACK BELT SCHOOL"

I imagine one is required for entry then....

Re: McDojo
 

I have been meaning to buy one of those Rex Kwon Do t-shirts to wear around the dojo!

From what I have read in the various grappling mags, Tiger Schlumann is the real deal in that arena!

I have to get back to pimping my gi in a little while.

No seriously, you might want to be careful about the criteria you use to judge a McDojo. I have found that aikidoka are sometimes like a viscous pack of wolves. If you compete, wear patches on your gi, don't do the japanese thing and have a bunch of young guys rolling around...some of us might say...MCDOJO!

You might be suprised. I was.

Anyway, I pretty much agree with the definition in wikipedia. It is not so much the appearances of the dojo, but the intent and attitude that makes a McDojo and McDojo.

Re: McDojo
 

A karate school around here had a Help Wanted ad a year or two ago...for an instructor. No experience in martial arts necessary. I kid you not.

Re: McDojo
 

Maybe the ad was really for a "punch bag" ;)

Re: McDojo
 

I agree with this...I haven't read all the posts in this thread, but it seems ironic that anyone would denounce a dojo as something less than credible based upon appearances alone. I'd go so far as to say you can't have good students come from a "McDojo" because to me the term implies a lack of substance. How one wishes to train is entirely up to how that group or individual sees fit; any given form of traing is as valid as it is usefull.
Probably just repeating what's been said a dozen times, but there's my slug in the slots.
Take care,
Matt

Re: McDojo
 

Still it was scary that account of the guy who got beaten up because he thought he could defend himself :uch:

Re: McDojo
 

yea we are all victims of our own delusions! I know over the years I have fallen prey to this...over 10 years of training, and NOT at a McDojo, and was brought back to reality by a fellow budoka who showed me the error of my ways!

I hate it when a guy gets his ass kicked because he allowed himself to be a victim of somebody else that was running a 'McDojo". I tend to take the stance of "Cavet Emptor" though and place the burden of responsiblity on the student, not on the instructor.

I think though, that it is good to educate and enlighten where possible. However, when you do that, you have to be careful as it becomes easy to be judgemental...and who I am to judge what another is doing?

Re: McDojo
 

There is a TSK near the aikikai in NY, but not across the street. It's a couple of blocks away.

It always looks new...