When is a McDojo not a McDojo?

 

This is the third in a series of blogs, starting with Kata, what is it good for?", and followed by "How do your Students grow?".   These are in response to a critique of what I have done to now, and an assertion that I was trained in a McDojo.  There seems to be a genuine difference of opinion at the base of this, which I think is worthy of some discussion.  

So lets start off with what might constitute a traditional dojo or "martial arts school", dating back to say the 1960s in origin.  

1. Introduction might be to do 40 knuckle press ups.
2. Basics only taught a lower levels.  Not learnt slowly but at the proper speed and force.   This includes kicks, blocks, strikes and above all stances.  Speed makes no difference with regard to understanding what a punch or block is.
3. When Grading take place, it is the student's choice to take them, and if not good enough they should be allowed to fail.
4. No concessions in general should be made for acknowledged medical conditions.
5. Forms or Kata not taught until a higher grade is reached.  Once the basics have been learnt to a degree, then simply linking them all together as a form or kata will not require doing things slow.
6. Kata of forms can be learnt a stage at a time but never in a slow way.  
7. No separate classes for minors in training.

Then let's take what might be commonly agreed on as signs of a McDojo.  

1. Very large classes with not enough instructors to give attention to detail for individual students.
2. Head instructors who never instruct.
3. Self defence (as  opposed to self awareness / protection) instruction that is totally non-contact.
4. Cases where all students grade at exactly the same time and nobody fails
5. Schools with 6 year old Black Belts
6. Schools promising to unlock "the hidden secrets"
7. Schools promising the ability to defeat anyone by unlocking the "power of chi energy".
8. Ultimately, schools where money is God

Any thoughts so far?  I certainly would never assert that a "traditional" school is a MacDojo, although maybe some of the teaching methods could possibly improve with the inclusion of ore modern techniques.  Then, we have the massive space of the middle ground, that could incorporate: 

1. Sports martial arts
2. "Modern" martial arts, with a more inclusive approach and perhaps less stringent teaching methods to accommodate
3. Non combative martial arts, such as Tai Chi, which concentrate more of the mental and physical health aspects
4. Genuine self awareness, protection and defence classes

Now, as far as I am, concerned, the dojo where I received my training sits firmly in the "Modern" category.   The features of that dojo include:

1. Warm up exercises are done for approximately 20 minutes prior to the lesson starting formally.  This may include traditional elements such as press ups, trunk curls, planking, squatageris, star jumps, sprints, shrimping, along with other exercises.  Varies from week to week.
2. Gradings take place regularly, but Students aren't allowed to take a Grading until the Sensei think they are ready.  
3. Kata are taught at an early stage, along with the basics.
4. Students learn the kata in chunks, at first slowly then faster as they improve their techniques and confidence.
5. Pad work solo and paired drills, light sparring are practiced.  Ground work is emphasised as well as upright techniques.  These are all set against breaking out and implementing techniques from kata.
6. Lessons often end with cool down kata.
7. Kobudo drills are taught for Bo and Nunchaku as an element of some classes, both Cadet and Adult.
8. Modifications to drills and kata maybe made for students with acknowledged medical conditions.

So, then set this against the opinion of one "traditionalist":

1. To explain what a McDojo is would take ages.  A very big subject that covers many things.  For example everyone at a McDojo club will pass their first few student grades because the instructor does not want to lose a paying customer.  A traditional old school will not do that. 
2. Some karate clubs do it <kata> slow without it being physically demanding so students don't leave.  Same with the basics.  No effort, all nice and slow.  And they say it is so students can learn things better that way.  Hence the term go slow first.
3. A McDojo class is all about keeping students and money coming in.  Hence everything is soft and slow.
4. McDojos have separate classes for younger students.

The bottom line is this is that the dojo in which I trained was judged as a McDojo against these criteria and in part at least based on what I do.  Much of the material I learnt during Covid and beyond is off my own bat, and what I use it for works for me.   In this case I would conclude that there are valid instances of what some would consider to be a McDojo to actually be the real thing.  My conclusion is that the term "McDojo" is distinctly subjective as opposed to objective on the basis of this.

This is meant to be a conversation starter, so all responses welcome.

REY 20/01/2023