How do mcdojos stay alive?

Question

In this time when we have the UFC and similar organizations how do Mcdojos still operate. We've seen what works how come people still insist point sparring and kata are the best way?

Answer 1

Because they tell people what they want to hear. That they are great fighters and are untouchable and can beat anyone. And they promote them to shodan and beyond at warp speed. Which is what most people want - the mystical black belt that proves to the world they're invincible. It's a shame, but most people want everything handed to them on a silver platter without having to diligently train for years and years. It is a rare thing to find anyone with discipline and dedication in this day and age, which is why there will always be a place for McDojos.

Answer 2

Because economically, quantity makes more money then quality. Not everyone wants to put the time and effort to really learn a style right and would rather pay more to quickly get shiny belts.

With that said, UFC is still not the same thing as an actual fight and still has rules which favor certain types of fighting, and just learning groundwork isn't the only critical thing to learn in martial arts. Being able to punch, kick and block and counter your opponents moves is still important even if the fight later devolves into a wrestling match.

I understand what you saying about McDojos, but they aren't McDojos because they teach katas or even do point sparring. They are McDojos because what they teach is sloppy and reward students disproportionately to their actual accomplishments. They also often charge fees for getting belts, taking tests or have other hidden costs when they should be upfront with the cost of classes.

Answer 3

I understand what you saying about McDojos, but they aren't McDojos because they teach katas or even do point sparring. They are McDojos because what they teach is sloppy and reward students disproportionately to their actual accomplishments. They also often charge fees for getting belts, taking tests or have other hidden costs when they should be upfront with the cost of classes.

Answer 4

I know what you mean about some of the things you see in McDojos, but do remember one thing about the UFC and other mixed martial arts fighting events. There are some rules. Sometimes these rules let fighters do things they can't do in the street. Sometimes when some of these fighters shoot in to take someone down, I think of how the other fighter could bring down a elbow on the other guy's spine. Or when I watch a fight stop because a guy gets a shot to the groin. Or sometimes watching two guys grapple, and seeing a guy's eyes exposed to be gouged, but it's all against the rules. And a good thing, because we don't want to see guys leaving the ring or octagon maimed, but it just means that the fights aren't a complete test for what works on the street. But ultimately, your right. You don't see many UFC fights where the guy drops into a deep horse stance, forward stance, or putting his hands into elbow position. But a lot of people like doing kata, just for exercise and "art". Not me, though.

Answer 5

Point sparring teaches control. In today's litigous society, who wants a legal battle after winning a streetfight?
The key is to also teach how to 'fight' on the street as well. (Besides, you won't have any partners left in your class without some type of 'point' sparring...)

Forms teach technique. Without technique, you become just like the thugs your fighting, which means you're wasting your money training in the Martial Arts.

So, these aspects are vital to the training of every student. Personally, I think the UFC has done nothing for the martial arts community - but has tarnished our reputation; made us all out to be 'fighters' and not martial artists. The UFC is all martial, no art.

Answer 6

According to the martial arts trade magazines just over 70% of studios are children. You take that along with the fact that most are taking it for recreation, or its cool and many schools make it fun and like a game to keep children motivated along with watering down their standards and promoting them to keep them motivated allows these places to survive. The parents at the same time are usually tied into a long term contract. If most children had to really work at and learn the skills to the proper level in these places or not be promoted they would quit but the parents would still be paying for it. This coupled with the fact that all the other kids in the same school are so mediocre compunds the problem. Their child is surrounded in this huge, fun making, social thing by other mediocre students. While there is improvement in most children's behavior, self-confidence, and self esteem, their martial arts skills are usually lacking and the parents have little or no other frame of refererence.

There are still schools out there that are not like this and whose students learn and develop their skills to a very high level. When people see my students they say things like, "my child could never learn that or learn to do that" or "you must work with your children a lot more than we do". That does not come by them attending class just twice a week or me promoting them regardless of their skill and ability or just working with them on kata and point sparring. It comes through hard work by both the student and instructor and the instructor taking the time, making the extra effort when needed, and holding students to the standards he has established. Along with this many instructors lack the experience and teaching skills to motivate and coach their students to that level and are just simply in it for the money and that is how those schools and instructors stay in business.

Answer 7

1)the people who go obviously dont know any better
2)a lot of mcdojos dont spar, fight, or compete in tournaments meaning theres no way to prove that the are learning useless techniques
3)lock people in long contracts
4)provides the desire of alot of people to get a black belt. some people seem to just care about being a black belt and not the actual training
5)gives people the false sense of security. the naive people think they are getting their money worth so they'll keep going
6)not everyone in martial arts approve/watch mma(ufc)
7)some dojos practice "deadly" moves that is illegal in mma therefore they dont do mma. this is often debated in the martial arts community on how effective these techniques are

Answer 8

Truth is few if any know the score when it comes to this.You can't expect someones Mom to be up on all there is to know about choosing a good Martial Art school.
She knows the one she drives by on the way to work or the one down the street from the dry cleaner.
Some of these schools may be very good,others may be all about money.

Answer 9

I dont think that if someone learns point sparring and forms, that they are learning something completely useless... and are the best way for what exactly?... Many people who do Martial Arts are very capable of defending themselves, without actually having to fight each other hard in class (by this I mean hitting your sparring partner hard).... I have visited many schools, with many different ideas... and only one of them would I consider a McDojo... People train for different reasons... and you can condition your body to better defend yourself, without actually fighting in the UFC... many people take Martial Arts for the exercise, both mentally and physically... would a person that trains for point sparring, be able to win in a cage against another fighter who has trained to fight... of course not... would they be able to make it out of a dark alley against a common street thug... most likely if they are unarmed.... in todays society... people fight more for sport than nessecity, so different people choose different sports... unfortunately this has watered down many styles in the persuit of the al mighty dollar... but when you consider that forms are what Martial Artist used to do in their free time (away from actual combat training), it seems better to do forms than to sit on your couch and watch football... I believe the term Mcdojo, is probably overused by people who visit a school, and without understanding their training practices (or the patience to learn) give them this label.... although I visited a school, where everyone had weak, sloppy technique, and after one day of sparring with the students, then the instructor... I would give them this lable myself... good luck man

Answer 10

"There's a sucker born every minute"- Phineas Taylor Barnum

Sadly so many in martial arts just see the blackbelt as a prize. They don't really care much about the quality of their training because they figure so long as they hollar from the roof tops "I'm a Black Belt!" nobody is gonna start **** with you and they hope to hell they don't have somebody test them out on it.