How Do I Tell a McDojo from a Dojo?

McDojo is defined as, “McDojo is a pejorative term (in the same vein as “McMansion” and "McChurch") referring to martial arts academies (generally located in the Western world) which, rather than being honestly committed to teaching students, are instead concerned primarily with amassing a profit.”

There are apparently indications one can look to that may say, “Ops, a McDojo - buyer beware.” Lets list a few:

1. Multi-colored uniforms with a path covering most of the uniform.

2. Awarded black belt in short time, i.e. often one year or even less.

3. Belts are expenses primarily while requirements are moving targets.

4. Membership and equipment/clothing sources required to be a student/member.

5. Fee use of titles such as master, grand master and urber-grand-master.

6. Teacher with lots of trophies, many black belts from many systems and barely reaching is thirties.

7. Lots of secrets you have to be a member for a period before they are revealed and you have to sign a blood oath to keep.

8. Special course requirements to achieve a black belt in half the required time and that is kept secret as well.

9. Preaches that they teach the ultimate defense system.

10. The teacher can’t spar/kumite with students due to his deadly ability that might mean death.

11. The before, during and after math of self-defense is non-existent and the teacher says, “huh,” when asked about those subjects.

12. You are not taught bunkai.

13. Claims of notoriety without proof.

14. Signs that say, “Guaranteed <fill in the blank>.”

15. Claims of superiority to other systems.

16. Black belts under age. 

17. Dojo says they are, “combatives, fighting systems, 100% effective, secret, deadly, ultimate anything and so on.

18. You can attain a black belt vis on-line dojo training.

19. Dojo merchandise is mandatory as source of equipment, etc.

20. More kata in quantity over the quality of kata training and practice, i.e. the higher the number goes hand in hand with black belt rankings.

21. Contracts, etc. required and minimal time requirements, i.e. three year non-refundable contracts with minimum of three years attendance as dictated by the dojo.

22. Militaristic atmosphere and strange etiquette requirements.

23. Performing kata, etc. to music.

24. Dojo printed on back of uniform; dojo URL printed on back of uniform; dojo phone number, email address and text address printed on back of uniform.

25. Paying up front, non-refundable fees.

26. The teacher sounds like a salesman and promotes sales throughout instruction, etc.

27. Promotion of other types of fitness in the dojo, i.e. cardio kickboxing, etc.

28. References to street effectiveness by teachers who have never been in a fight in their lives.

29. Your teacher cannot explain things and defers you to “just doing the basics.” 

30. Time in grade requirements.

31. Nobody ever, ever fails a testing for rank, level or grade.

32. The majority of the student body are children under the age of 10.

33. The entry had a receptionist and displays about the various program contracts available along with a cash machine and the receptionist is not a martial artists or attends this dojo and so on. 

34. The teacher claims required to “register” his or her hands as deadly weapons.

35. Other martial arts systems are denigrated during lessons as inferior to your ultimate deadly system.

36. Assistant or Associate teachers are in the kyu grade levels.

37. Teachers are dating students.

38. There are forbidden techniques.

39. The chief teacher/instructor never actually teaches.

40. You are required to purchase books and video’s, etc. as a test prerequisite for next rank, level or grade.

41. You are taught how to succumb to “projection of Chi/Ki power.” 

42. You are rarely exposed to legal ramifications, economic repercussions or health issues when training self-defense.

43. You are rarely, if ever, exposed to force training.

44. You are rarely, if ever, exposed to the laws regarding self-defense.

45. You are rarely, if ever, exposed to levels of force in self-defense.

46. You are rarely, if ever, exposed to alternative to becoming physically involved in self-defense.

47. You are rarely, if ever, exposed to training on how self-defense works and the process of law regarding investigation, arrest, prosecution and sentencing to imprisonment, etc. 

48. You are rarely, if ever, exposed to the subject of adrenal stresses let alone provided any kind of stress reality training to deal with it all.

49. You are rarely, if ever, exposed to instruction or references on “What is violence.”

50. You are rarely, if ever, exposed to instruction or references on threats/pre-attack indicators and so on.

51. You are rarely, if ever, exposed to instruction on social and asocial violence.

52. You are rarely, if ever, exposed to instruction on social violence in real life.

53. You are rarely, if ever, exposed to instruction on the Monkey and Weapons in the Self-defense world.

54. You are rarely, if ever, exposed to instruction and references on what is self-defense, JAM, Five stages and when you are within and outside the legal definitions of self-defense.

55. How pretty you perform is rated higher than effectiveness.

56. Your dojo and teacher don’t have any experience in the effectiveness of the system outside of the sales promotions provided.

57. Quantity is valued and utilized for promotion over quantity, effectiveness and application in a reality based system.

58. The teacher is always right, even when they cannot explain why it is they are right - it is just done that way suffices.

59. Questioning is forbidden especially questioning the teacher/master.

60. You are not allowed to watch/observe training, practice and whatever, it is secret.

61. Your teacher instructs you how to defend empty handed against weapons of all types.

62. You block heavy implements such as bats with your forearm, etc. as self-defense.

63. You fear your instructor and senior students.

64. Your memory is tested in lieu of your ability in self-defense, fighting and combatives.

65. Your applying of the system in real life fails dismally and then appears ineffective and not even relevant to that situation or even self-defense.

The greatest danger with McDojo’s are those that profess to teach self-defense when in reality they sell the sound bites that make you feel secure in order to get the most money. It tends to be about the money flow over the reality of violence and conflicts. Even those that profess being traditional and a “way” tend to spout out the platitudes and sound bites that make the system appear mystic and enlightened but when asked to explain and elucidate they defer to other sound bites and defections in redirection away from answers. 

McDojo’s are watered-down and impractical in the sense they are assumed to be fighting, combative and defensive systems. Profit is the game while the true essence of martial systems is used to promote and sell while remaining mysterious and unapproachable to the uninitiated then regarded as secrets that time in the system is required to reach that level where secrets are revealed. It is more about the accumulation of symbols, certificates and belts over the substance that is the core, the principles and the essence that makes the system, the system. 

McDojo’s are about instant gratification and achieving something without having to actually work hard, diligently and to seek out the more mundane and boring efforts it takes to become proficient. 

Bibliography:

KaratebyJesse. “Warning: 93 Signs Your Dojo is a McDojo.” http://www.karatebyjesse.com/93-signs-of-a-mcdojo/

MacYoung, Marc. “In the Name of Self-Defense: What It Costs. When It’s Worth It.” Marc MacYoung. 2014.

Bottles

In the Isshinryu system their is a story where Tatsuo-san makes a statement that all bottles are good. This is supposedly about how all systems of karate are good. It also speaks to the fact, "techniques are often done differently between practitioners and in general karate as a martial art has many different and correct ways to apply techniques and even many ways that are good to teach, learn and practice the same system, technique and way."

All bottles are good is a metaphor for many things to include that all systems or styles are also good and no one way is superior to another, just different.

I Ching and Isshinryu and Tatsuo-san

Recently I read a comment or post on a part of the I Ching as it related to the Isshinryu system and founder, Shimabuku Tatsuo Sensei. What I liked about the quote, i.e. the one that comes from the Wilhelm version of the I Ching, is the comment, in general, about change. It stated, “A distinction is made between thee kinds of change: non-change, cyclic change and sequential change.” This is what intrigued me and the additional comments from Wilhelm’s interpretation says:

“Non-change is the background, as it were, against which change is made possible. For in regard to any change their must be a fixed point to which change can be referred; otherwise their can be no definite order and everything is dissolved into chaotic movement.”

Let me give my thoughts, yes, it is about learning from the past. The past does not change, it is the past. But, to remain steadfast in the past is to become stagnant. In order for change to benefit it must understand and learn from those non-changing past learnings and then reach forward toward a more relevant future and that is change. The non-changing past as can readily be perceived is about what transpired in that past, i.e. in other words as I stated, “we learn from the past and refusal to learn from that past means we are doomed to repeat that past.” 

Now, that means something as well. Repeating the past over change for the future means we repeat that past over and over and over again without truly learning anything but what is past. That seems to be what is meant, by my perceptions, as a lack of order and dissolution of the present into a chaotic movement that is a battle between what is past with what must occur in the present thus setting the present into a new past that will further take us into the future. If we had not taken this path we would still be in caves, hunting for our food and making crude drawings on the cave wall.

How can I come to this conclusion, the next quote gives us more guidance, i.e. “This point of reference must be established and this always requires a choice and a decision. It makes possible a system of co-ordinates into which everything else can be fitted.”

The past is merely a point of reference in a long since gone time under the rule of that times culture and belief system. It is what is established each moment in time becoming the past to which we must use as a fixed, non-changing, reference that provides us with knowledge along with experiences that help us make a choice and decision about things in the present moment. It is what makes a new system that fits through the knowledge and wisdom of the old system. Change. 

Thus makes sense of his late comment toward non-change, i.e. 

“The ultimate frame of reference for all that changes is the non-changing. Which means, that the reference point is a non-changing point of reference.”

“The ultimate frame of reference for all that changes is the non-changing, which means, that the reference point is a non-changing point of reference.”

Wilhelm then speaks of the cyclic change, i.e. “It is the rotation of phenomena, each succeeding the other until the starting point is reached again. Examples are furnished by the course of the day and year, and by the phenomena that occurs in the organic world during these cycles.”

The starting point is mankind’s curiosity and instinctual need to change, to move forward, to become more that what our ancestors were, it is about potential reached. This statement describes a cycle that is represented by the symbol of the yin-yang, the offspring of the great tai chi. It is about a start and ending, i.e. that is about not returning to the non-changing but to cycle back in reference to achieve a new and improved non-change. This is how we reach the starting point again, we reach back to the non-changing to build a new present that becomes the past, non-changing. It is not meant to keep human kind steadfast and stuck in the past or the non-change but to inspire change toward a new non-change by the actions, thoughts and creations of those living in the present. As indicated by the reference of day and year and the phenomena that governs the Universe. The sun, moon and heavens are of a non-change by their cycles and rhythms but are constantly moving in a spiral fashion toward the next phase of existence and that is the cyclic change. The new positions of the universe are guided by the non-change of the past and cycle through to a new position in that universe. If we remain steadfast in the non-change then the universe ceases to exist, we die.

Wilhelm goes on to state, “Cyclic change, then, is recurrent change in the organic world, whereas sequent change means the progressive (non-recurrent change) of phenomena produced by causality, which means, that cyclic change is a rotation of phenomena that is recurrent, whilst sequent change is progressive (non-recurrent change) of phenomena that is produced by causality.”

The key word here is “causality.” Sequential change is what I have been alluding to in this entire post. Sequential is about the natural progression of the past as non-changing into the present that is cyclic producing the new and future through a sequential process much like the path the sun, moon, earth take spiraling through the known universe. Causality is about the effects of the heavenly bodies on one another to produce those smaller cyclic and changing but non-changing natural events of life, i.e. the seasons, the day and night and the natural rhythms of nature that are constantly changing due to the non-changing effects that precede those in a sequential manner creating new seasons full of the changes that are small and large depending on the current times as influenced by the past that is non-changing. 

Rotation is change but it is rotating the non-changing past through causality toward a new discovery that in an instant becomes a part of the cyclic change that becomes past non-changing by sequential changes resulting in progress, change. 

This is why the I Ching is what it is, i.e. “The firm and the yielding displace each other within the eight trigrams. Thus the firm is transformed, melts as it were, and becomes the yielding; the yielding changes, coalesces, as it were and becomes the firm. In this way the eight trigrams change from one another in turn, and the regular alternation of phenomena within the year takes it course, which means, that the lines within the trigrams may change from one to another to create a different trigram.”

Taking this back to the Isshinryu system referencing non-change we can agree that to achieve cyclic change we must remember the non-change of the past as taught and transmitted by Tatsuo-san BUT we cannot forget to allow that his teachings must, shall and should create a new through a sequential change brought on by the cyclic change of the constantly moving moments resulting in the causality of sequential change creating a new non-changing cyclic sequence of progress. It means that the Tatsuo-san non-changing past becomes a significant yet smaller part of the whole that evolves into something new, unique and relevant to the present moment. 

Something to think about, consider and relate to Tatsuo-san’s intent and context as transmitted by the ken-po goku-i and his non-changing constantly changing teachings of the non-changing past.

Addendum dtd September 23rd, 2014 at 13:45 hours

Here is another excellent example of the “change model” depicted here, i.e. “Ethnically, the Okinawans are believed to be a mixture of three racial groups: Mongolian, Ainu, and Malayan. Their life styles are clearly adopted from surrounding countries, but have been molded over the years to create their own distinctive culture.” - Okinawan Primeval History, Isshinryu Isshinkai eBook, “Isshinkai Manual.”

Now, if non-change means we adhere to the old model religiously and without question and without change then there would be no karate, no Okinawan, no Okinawan culture and no Okinawan belief system to learn from and to admire. It is apparent that the I Ching or at least the beleif system preached in Isshinryu that says change is good because without this taking the old, non-change, way they cycling it though other such non-change ways to achieve a more or less sequential change that occurred over years to create and achieve a totally new and unique cultural belief system that gave us karate and the kind and gentle peoples of Okinawa.

The Mind of Two Minds

When we first begin to delve into the terminologies of the martial arts we assume a certain directness associated with the physical. As we progress, assuming all things being equal or balanced, we begin to see a more spiritual or psychological connection. Take a look at the term, “Isshin.” It is often deciphered as “one heart.” In some character/ideogram translations it means, “One mind; wholeheartedness; one’s whole heart; oneself; one’s own interests; throughout the body, complete change; reform restoration; remodeling; renewal; first instance; first trial, etc. Then you look closer at the ideograms or kanji to narrow it down further to, “one mind; wholeheartedness; one’s whole heart.” 

If you delve even deeper to those great oceanic depths of philosophy and psychology you soon arrive at a meaning that drives both the mind and the heart in practice, training and application be it in combat, fighting, contests or duels or just “the way.” When one thinks of the “heart” they usually take a more “emotional approach.” When one things of the “mind” they usually take a “rational approach.” Here is where the fun and relevant stuff begins.

In reality, how we thrive and strive in life is about creating a wholehearted balance between the emotional and the rational. This is mind-state stuff and important to how one actually applies themselves in life and in a more micro-world, the world of martial arts (as would any similar discipline taken up by folks). 

It has been shown in “Emotional Intelligence” studies that we have two minds. It is two different kinds of intelligence, i.e. one measured we are all familiar with as I.Q. while the other is “emotional.” Consider how often violence is more about an emotional issue while the more pragmatic and peaceful parts of life are considered the “rational” way of the mind. We find difficulties when the two are out of balance. 

The two minds we have are “rational and emotional,” where any imbalance or disconnect, depending on which, results in conflict so it seems logical that we must achieve a balance that keeps both regulated for the good of the individual, their families and society in general. 

In our brains we have a complementary of the limbic system and a combination or interconnectedness of the neocortex, amygdala and our prefrontal lobes. These are what can, should and are the partners of living life within the brain, connecting the proverbial heart and mind into “one.” The results when balanced are both emotional and intellectual intelligence thus ability. The ability is where martial arts begins to “get the picture.” 

When you find the intelligent balance (emotional intelligence and rational intelligence) of the two you benefit from a harmonized head and heart - what I would and could define as “wholehearted” and “one heart.” 

To emphasize this a bit more from the Isshinryu perspective the first character for Isshin is defined as “one.” The second character is defined as, “heart; mind; spirit.” Notice in the use of these terms and characters there is a inter-connectedness in that which I provide between the “one heart and one mind.” If true and follows the beliefs of this systems creator we can understand why he chose the label, Isshinryu. It was to help the practitioners learn about both the heart and mind and then using other studies, i.e. like the kenpo gokui koan like silk certificates, bringing them both into unity and  balance. 

Here in lies the truth and belief behind such a system, bringing the human mind together into one wholehearted unit of life, the rational and the emotional. Both proven in studies to bring about a stable, intelligent and balance person benefitting him or herself, family and society. If you follow the “way” you might find this illuminating. 

“The Mind of Two Minds that are One.” - cejames

Bibliography:

MacYoung, Marc. "In the Name of Self-Defense: What It Costs. When It’s Worth It." Marc MacYoung. 2014.

Goleman, Daniel. "Emotional Intelligence: 10th Anniversary Edition [Kindle Edition]." Bantam. January 11, 2012.

Reference of Ken-po Goku-i: Within the “gokui” we are given a duality in the direct reading, i.e. Heaven and Earth; Sun and Moon; Hard or Soft; Weight and Balance; Seeing and Hearing, and so on. One can find, as I have, many references and inferences toward a balance of yin-n-yang whereby the yin as soft can be attributed to the heart and yang as hard can be attributed to the mind or brain. The entire martial art system can, if you are looking for it, inferences toward a balance of both sides. This can also speak to the balance indicated necessary for proper, correct and real practice, as traditional or classical ways, of martial arts. It may be that this very belief through cultural influences resulted in a movement, when dictated by society, its cultural changes and belief systems, from a “jutsu” model to the “do (doah)” one.