What is a good way to maintain a traditional Dojo yet be able to flow into modern MA without losing tradition?

Question

I am curious as to what others think of how to maintain a good traditional Dojo but not be so inflexible not to be able to stay with the times and use modern techniques and methods, but without becoming a McDojo? I have my ideas, but I am curious to others opinions.

So far I really like the answers I am hearing and I agree with just about all of them so far. Its going to be hard to pick a best answer now. THanks so far for great answers and not small bs ones. For me this is a serious question and i only want serious answers. I will decide tomorrow the best answer and explain my views on how to combine them.

Oh and to Bluto, I dont mean endless Katas. I mean traditional teaching of philosphy, history and lineage, respect of Senseis and parents that will give them a good core outlook on themselves with confidence and still be respectfull to others and not use their training for selfish and violent reasons. I hope that answers you what I mean by traditional. Yes kata has its proper place in traditional training, but not endless kata. I definately beleive in lots of Kumite but i will go into my definition tomorrow after i choose a best answer and I did like yours as well. thanks.

Bushido. You are so predictable and easy to manipulate lol. I set this question up for two reason. I wanted others honest opinions as to what a good mix was as I already have accomplished it and if you read my question carefully I already said I have an opinion and was going to state it tomorrow, I have been waiting for YOU to respond to this to see if you are a true MA or just full of hot wind. Well I hear a Tornado coming ha ha. Yours was the worst response as predicted and even those here with 14 years experience have more clue on how to successfully combine the two than you do. Your poor poor students. After 42 years and 12 dojos, 3 overseas (Germany, Hungary & Australia). Our connections and contacts are very long and full of true honorable MA such as Chuck Norris, Aaron Banks (a good friend of mine) Les Harnos, Former Thomas Lapuppet and Ed Gross, and more and more. My point is that only through respect and honor can you be an overall good MA and you dont seem to have that down.

It is also obvious Bushido who gave the negative thumbs down you make it so obvious seeing there were none until now and you are the last to answer. Why do you carry so much anger and hostility in you? I simply came to the other askers defence on a good question about the usefullness of kata and you cared more about his 10points offering than paying attention to the substance of the questions. That is why I asked this one, to weed out the true MA from the lost, misguided or simply hoax's. I truly hope that you find you path again because i do not think you are a hoax, but are full of resentment and why and what for? Did you and you dojo get looked over for the large USA National and Olympic tournaments? Are you simply Jealous? I have no dislike or anger towards you Bushido I just think you were a bit harsh on the last asker. There is nothing wrong with disagreeing, its how you do it and i do it with honor why can't you? I am certain you have that within you if half of your skill isreal

Answer 1

I operate a traditional Dojo and also stay with the modern times as well by implementing seperate courses, such as Ninja Tots for kids under the age of 6 then kids MA 7-13 and adults from 14-35 and Seniors 35+. They all receive traditonal training, and what I mean by traditional is not kata over and over again, but teaching the proper codes and conduct of the Bushido way. Teach them honor, respect, Dojo courtesy, how to respect your seniors and adults and learn humility at the same time as earning respect from your fellow Dojo mates.

If you have a large enough interest for students wanting to mix it up more and learn more than just the traditional standards of a style such as their kata, ippon, kumite and historical education of the style and other styles. You can add to this and make it less formal by removing the long tradional bow ins, and bow outs as taught tradionaly.

Keep a traditional class and one mixed for those that want less formity and they can still get quality training and not be at a McDojo. Just dont focus on kata and kata and kata as some traditional schools do. Kata has its place, but not to be overkilled.PRactical Kumite, self defence, awareness, the Bushido way, and more modern techniques from grappling for every style should know how to fight from both the ground and their feet.

Best of luck and look forward to your opinion seeing you say you have your ideas, I hope you will share them with us.

Answer 2

To maintain a traditional Dojo, you must teach the traditional style. If you stray from the traditional style then your Dojo is not traditional. You can’t have one with the other if you do then you are now a modern Dojo, McDojo, or whatever you wish to call it. But once you incorporate different methods within any particular style then you are no longer a traditional school. With that being said keep in mind that I’m not saying that your traditional Dojo can’t teach weapons training as long as the weapons don’t stray from the traditional weapon or weapons used if any for a said empty-handed style. I don’t know what if any kind of organization your Dojo belongs to? Most schools are affiliated with some kind of Association or Federation, and those schools may or may not be as restricted as far as what you may teach within that organization, at the same time, you must stay within their traditional or non-traditional teachings. It’s harder for a teacher to start and run a Dojo without belonging to some kind of organization. So, I guess that you could find an organization that teaches traditional and modern, but that organization would not be considered “traditional” by the old school standards.

Answer 3

Nothing wrong with having a traditional marital art so long as it works.

If by tradition you mean doing endless katas and not testing the techniques with resistance and eventually full resistance then that is not tradition, that is a mcdojo.

You don't have to teach MMA, not everyone is looking for MMA, just make sure that what you do teach is real and it does work and you are giving good teaching and making sure the students can use it against a fully resisting opponent.

Not all styles and systems are complete, if you teach a stand up only style that is not focusing on groundfighting, but recognize that what you teach is only part of the puzzle and don't lie to them and tell them it is the whole puzzle there is nothing wrong with that. It is far worse to teach crappling in a striking school or crap striking in a grappling school than it is to simply admit you are not that kind of specialist.

When you go to an orthopedic surgeon whose specialty is hands, and you have a foot problem, wouldnt' you rather he be honest and open with you and reccomend you see a foot specialist rather than attempt a procedure himself?

Same thing.

If you want to teach MMA and hold an MMA class there then good too. Just make sure you are qualified to perform what you teach or hire someone who is. Or you can work a deal with another school that has a different type of art than yours and maybe offer joint classes or some discount referral program between your schools.

Answer 4

I believe every day traditional schools become more rare. Modern Americans do not seem to want traditional training. They buy into the McDojo concept because they believe that things are fast and easy because they watch to many TV shows that solve problems in a 1/2 an hour. They believe that more money can get them things faster. They also believe that you gain a certain rank (black belt) and it is similar to getting a diploma and then quit training.
These are not true martial artists. These are the people with black belt stickers on their vehicles.
People who desire traditional training will find a master. Teaching it is not, and should not be, a profitable exercise. It is a way of life.

Answer 5

Show the formal techniques and forms, but then give your students the real-world application of them. Never be narrow-minded when it comes to styles shown. Teach what you know, if a student can bring in a little TKD or boxing experience to lend some assistance allow them, but make a specific time for things like this so it does not interrupt the formal class. Also an additional workout day or time just for working on the individual's needs, or experimenting with new moves can always be beneficial to students and the school. Command respect, but let students ask questions, understanding of techniques is paramount.

Answer 6

May I propose an alternative viewpoint for your consideration? You repeatedly make the statement that Christians tend to come from more modernized, educated societies. Has it ever occurred to you that certain societies are more advanced and educated BECAUSE they were once Christian? Is it difficult for you to see that there's a connection there? Your statement that "All this knowledge and education has the power to easily counter any of the Christian beliefs" only tells me how little you understand about Christian beliefs. I have engaged in prolonged debates with non-Christians and based on that experience I can tell you that my opponents did not have an easy time countering the Christian arguments. Far from it. If you think it's "easy" to do so, you must not have ever encountered a worthy Christian opponent. Feel free to give me a try by e-mail if you want.

Answer 7

Whats wrong with teaching a strictly traditional style and then on Saturdays or maybe at nights to MMA? There is nothing wrong with adapting, but also something to be said for keeping tradition.

Answer 8

well to answer the question in general.it's not that hard,basicly you just keep the traditional side and the katas.then when you teach self defence moves you just intergrate any take downs,grapples,how to get out of or avoid grabs and holds etc. into whatever moves you are already teaching that are part of your style.now i've answered the question i have a personal message to you,it does pertain to the question because how do you teach traditional values if you dont have any?and any one who thinks that the following is uncalled for please look at his answer to a previous kata question.
Personally to you scorpion s you say youve been a sensei for 42 years?well you certainly havn't learnt much about the tenets of ma in that time.i would hate to think what your students would be like,they certainly would'nt have any patience,tolerance or the forsight to think before they acted.and i do know and show respect and i think you need to look at your understanding of the word respect. instead of trying to find fault with me you should have another look at the question and yours and my answers and if you want to make comments about rude or arrogant you should take a look at yourself.yes i may be blunt but im honest that doesn't make me any of the things youse suggested,in fact it makes me a far better man than those who made thier illinformed comments and rantings.i'm not going to tell someone what they want to hear just to get 10 points.in my opinion it's about an honest answer not whether or not you get 10 points.maybe you should read some of my more serious answers and comments before you make judgement and run off at the mouth. and your own ma tenets.
PS.i also partly agree with bluto.i must mention the fact that if you teach other stuff in your classes you must also learn other styles as well.

Answer 9

I would say teach techniques that are in the spirit of the old martial art, but that apply to new situations.

Remember, these martial arts were developed to combat the tactics of the time they were invented in, so it really is in the spirit of the martial art to keep it current. Old principles, new situations, new weapons. The fundamental ideas of the style are likely to be the same no matter what you do.

Answer 10

I teach Northern Mongolian style, and have split my dojo into different sections to accomadate different styles and levels.....good luck