How do you tell a McDojo/Blackbelt Factory from the real thing?

Question

What are some things I should ask prospective schools, what are giveaways?

Answer 1

I agree with Saint G.

Yupchagee have a awful answer. It's easy to make up lineage, origin country, and histroy of art. I can easily go to some gym and get info then open my own gym.

Also your gym should have full contact sparring or grappling and contest. Think about this how would you know if something actually work or if it's purely a theory? How will you know how opponent usually react to technique you pull off? Will you be able to do something against a opponent who actualy try to resist your attck and counter or attack?

If it was up to me, I would do following:

Muay Thai, wrestling, Brazil Jiu Jitsu, Judo, Vale Tudo, boxing, Kyokuhsin/Eshin karate, and Sambo to be safe.

Avoid gym that doesn't want to show you sparring and talk about how they don't need to spar. Also if you see any black belt younger than 18 then RUN!!!!! If you see them do lot of flashy techniques like jump in air and spin or kick, raise foot off and kicks few time without put their foot down, leave their hands way down at waist, etc... Then it's very likely you're in black belt factory.

basically to be safe, I would train only at gym where fighters train at. Or they competition at events such as Grappler's Quest, NAGA, etc...

Hope this help you out some.

Answer 2

If the school uses a nationally recognized testing method then you can bet it is not a McDojo Blackbelt factory. The other option if you just want to get into martial arts and you don't care what martial art you take, look for a martial art that does not have a rank system (like Mai Thai). That way the school is more interested in teaching you techniques rather then making you think you are getting results when you are not. Also ask around at the different schools as see if they have free trial nights so that you can see what you are getting into.

Answer 3

Check out dojos that are established and have been around for a while, say 10 plus years. Stay away from schools that claim to teach multiple arts, often the teachers are a blck belt in one art like Karate and then go to learn Judo or Jujitsu and then after a month or so start teaching it to their students mean while they are only yellow belts in the new art themselfs. Gimics like learn how to fight just like a UFC fighter etc.... are BS stay clear. Find out how long the sensei has been teaching. Some dojos use their black belts to teach alot of the classes this is ok but make sure they are all qualified to teach. For instance only black belts qualified to, can teach submissions in Judo for legal reasons. Others will anyways but... Good luck and enjoy what ever you do. Just temember you will not be a black belt in a year or even 2. So take your time and learn as much as you can from the more skilled people in your dojo.

Answer 4

Talk to the instructor & some students. Check the instructor's credentials. What rank. How long in the art. Who awarded the rank. Credentials of the person who awarded tha rank. If you can't easily trace back to the country of orgin, something is wrong. Check out several schools. Even not knowing the art, you should still be able to recognize quality when you compare.
Try or at least watch a class. If the instructor won't allow that, run don't walk away.

Answer 5

If you are ready to get into a Dojo it sounds like you've already chosen the Art you want to study. If this is true then study up before you go into one of these schools. Ask questions relative to the art you've chosen. If you've studied you will be able to cut through the bu-la-la.

lr

Answer 6

ask them how long will it take to earn a black belt...
if they can guarantee a set time, its a scam.
the answer should be given that it is relative to your participation and dedication. people gain them at different times.

best to go for something else though than traditional MA. try Muay Thai (not mai thai... thats a drink!) or something technical yet very sound in application like BJJ.

Answer 7

Yeah. Fool's gold is lighter and has a different texture. Fool's gold isn't good for anything other than that it makes a good fertilizer when it's' grounded up.

Answer 8

First of all, if it's a Tae Kwon Do school...odds are it is a McDojo.

Second, if you see young children with black belts, it's a McDojo.

If you see it say on the window or the website or ad in the phone book "we are a black belt school" then it's a McDojo.

Ask how much they charge for belt testing. If it is ridiculous price it's a McDojo (IMO, it shouldn't cost anything like it doesn't in brazilian jiu-jitsu).

There is one art, and one art alone that is absolutely McDojo-free...and that is brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Answer 9

Here are some things to check out when choosing a school:

http://www.mendersdojo.com/Other/Choose.htm