Picking a school

TSDguy · Post by **TSDguy** » Fri Feb 15, 2002 7:30 am

This is just too funny.
http://ejmas.com/jcs/jcsframe.htm

Go to "How to Choose a Martial Art School".

Allen M. · Post by **Allen M.** » Fri Feb 15, 2002 8:57 am

Well, TSG, Looks like karate schools are out for me because maybe only one out of one hundred passes his test.

I read a few other articles. It never ceases to amaze me how the Japanese attempt to take credit for everything good, but if it is anything the slightest negative, they strike it from their history books. Makes one want to take any and all Japanese history written by a Japanese with a grain of salt and a tablespoon full of non-belief.

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Allen Moulton from Uechi-ryu Etcetera

TSDguy · Post by **TSDguy** » Fri Feb 15, 2002 3:50 pm

I have to agree regarding the history on that site (and in general).

My favorite part of the test was the in the dojo behavior. "Instructor appears to be more than 100 pounds overweight" (sheesh, how true is that?!), "grammar school kids running around with blackbelts on", and "teens exhibiting unusually immature and agressive behavior". It's all way too true.

[This message has been edited by TSDguy (edited February 15, 2002).]

LenTesta · Post by **LenTesta** » Fri Feb 15, 2002 6:11 pm

Being the owner of a karate school for two years now, (BUKA Celebrates second anniversary on February 28) I often wonder how prospects who call and are interviwed choose a dojo.

Thanks to TSDguy...Now I know.

How does BUKA compare to this chart?

Free Gi...Yes
if signing up for the 2 week Intro or the 12 month Term.

First Month Free...Yes
if signining up for the 12 month term (winter special offered on Website only)

The Only...WHAT???...No

SWAT, Seal or Special Forces...UM...NO

Recognized as....A Karate School...Yes anything else...NO

World Champion...No

Contract....Yes...12 month term, But you get a free uniform

SOKE....No

Private Lessons....No..However the adult classes are so small sometimes I only have one student in the class, Where would you rather be...in a class of 8 or a class or 30.

Ancient....I am not that old...OH The style...No

Payment Plan....Yes- Prepayment discount for 12 month term

Grandmaster...I am not that Old

Aerobic, Cardio Kickboxing....No

30-day Money back Guarantee ... No...They must have learned something, or I am in the wrong business.

Personal Growth...I would Hope so (see previous paragraph)

Black Belt Club...No...everyone is there to get a black belt, I assume.

Practical...I think I am, Oh the Style...Yes

Credit Check...No

Empowerment...I dont use this word, I teach by example though...Yes

Different Color Belts at every level...No and NO TEST FEES

Ultimate...No

Bruce Lee, Chucj Norris and Other celebrity endorsers...No

Rapid or Guaranteed Promotions....No..If you are more concerned about buying your belt instead of earning it we suggest you study someplace else!!!

Samurai Sword...Does a Katana hanging on the wall count...I never take it down though

Down Payment...all monthly payments are in advance..so I guess-YES

DOES THE BUKA PASS???
I'll let you decide!

On to the second criteria

Mannequins inside the training area that are wearing uniforms and black belts. Items sold in an attached store do not count. NO, I don't even stock merchandise, I have no room for it!!!

Pseudo-Chinese lettering combined with lots of trophies in the window. NO I have one trophy on my filing cabinet in my office, and the blinds are always closed.

Posters of Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, and/or other film stars plastered on the school walls. Items sold in an attached store do not count. NO, I have pictures of Shushiwa, Kanbun, Kanei, Tomoyose, GEM, Van Canna, Bob Bethoney.

How about the last criteria...

Elementary school students wearing black belts. NO and they never will in my dojo.

Teenage students wearing black belts who demonstrate immature or unusually aggressive behavior...No, Only 16 year olds can obtain a black belt at BUKA and we havent been open long enough to promote one yet.

Instructors who appear more than 100 pounds overweight. No, I am 15 pounds overweight, my winter extra blanket, I will lose it before the spring.

I think the BUKA Passes, What do you think?

OK on to the last check list..

This may be the most important check. To do a background check on a school and its instructors:

Ask the person giving the pitch for written information describing the style and its teachers. All dojo should have this material already pre-printed for the prospect to read after he/she has had a free class, or while his/her child is taking his/her free class....OH THAT WASNT MENTIONED IN THE ABOVE CHECKLISTS...I wonder why?

Upon receiving the written information, go to the Internet and run key words and names through online search engines such as Google (http://google.com). Read what comes up.
Yes please do, I woinder what will come up...probably everything including Bonsai!

If you have questions, require the person giving the pitch to answer them to your satisfaction. Also consider asking the same questions at online bulletin boards such as E-budo (http://www.e-budo.com). A search engine that will help you find online bulletin boards is http://www.webcom.com/impulse/list.html#Search.
SEEMS LIKE AN ADVERTISEMENT TO ME

Finally, if a required to sign a contract longer than 30 days, make inquiries about the school and the instructor at the Better Business Bureau and Attorney General’s office prior to signing.
This is a great Idea...Please check us out so that you will know that we are a great dojo. If someone goes through all this trouble to inquire aboout a dojo, I know that they will stick around long enough to get a BLACK BELT.

We will surely be around to give the lessons.

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Len

raulf7 · Post by **raulf7** » Fri Feb 15, 2002 8:06 pm

In our country the majority of the good schools, ask you to just start paying a very reasonable monthly fee. Thats it.

The gi is required before your first grading in which you buy it.

Its really not that commercialized here thank God

Allen M. · Post by **Allen M.** » Sat Feb 16, 2002 6:50 am

I LOL because I've seen it all.

A big turn-off is when near the end of the interview, the candidate’s question is "How much?" and the interviewer replies "How much do you make?" I used to reply with something like "Please don't embarrass me, it's near minimum wage.", draw the interview to conclusion as quickly as possible and never return.

I often used as a main criteria in the selection of a place to practice by the look on the faces of the students. The sensei may be able to hide his face, but not the face of his students.
<hr>
Congrats Lenny. Are you going to throw a bouncing birthday party across the parking lot for us and give six months free lessons to the TCers who started at Van's class there in the beginning and are still attending?

[Be careful how you respond because you will be rated, based partially upon this answer.]

Amen.

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Allen Moulton from Uechi-ryu Etcetera

kickgirl · Post by **kickgirl** » Tue Feb 19, 2002 6:34 pm

hehehe that check list is a hoot. I wonder what they have to say about martial arts that don't have "belts"

Cecil · Post by **Cecil** » Wed Feb 20, 2002 5:04 am

Whoa man,

I certainly could have used this list years ago.

Cecil · Post by **Cecil** » Wed Feb 20, 2002 3:21 pm

A couple more things to add:

If they say they believe in "Keeping It Real". Keeping it real comes from Hip Hop slang. It does not mean "realistic combat applications", it actually means keeping things on a base, street level. Example: hard core, gangsta rappers believe that they are "keeping it real".

If they believe that beating a student with a belt helps that person become a better fighter.

Shaolin · Post by **Shaolin** » Fri Feb 22, 2002 3:29 am

Well he did say 5 *in a row* - I assume meaning in each row of five listed there and both schools I have attended easily passed it that way.

I do think that if any prospective student EVER hears the word CONTRACT he should immediately run to the nearest door.

Jim

Shaolin · Post by **Shaolin** » Fri Feb 22, 2002 3:33 am

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by kickgirl:
hehehe that check list is a hoot. I wonder what they have to say about martial arts that don't have "belts"<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Interesting, what are you studying? Do you not have belts? From your name I would've guessed TKD or Shotokan. Most Japanese systems I know of have belts though so I am curious. My school (Wing Chun) was very traditional though and never used belts either.

Jim

[This message has been edited by Shaolin (edited February 21, 2002).]

Bill Glasheen · Post by **Bill Glasheen** » Fri Feb 22, 2002 11:21 pm

Jim

Kickgirl appears to have been a kick-and-run Muay Thai student. Ahhh, such a young mind she has...

TSDguy

To start with, I resect folks who are professional instructors, particularly the ones who have martial arts as their sole source of income. It's a tough way to make a living. The really successful ones are both good karateka and good businesspeople, and don't need all the schlock.

That being said...

I am so glad I've been a nonprofit instructor, and have been able to turn the lights and the 4 walls over to someone else to worry about. It's a different world when that mess is out of the way. But if I had to do it professionally, I think I'd rely on the same skills that 90% of the rest of the business world uses.

- Bill

dominiuno · Post by **dominiuno** » Sat Feb 23, 2002 11:57 pm

Len sensei,

"Samurai Sword...Does a Katana hanging on the wall count...I never take it down though"

Why not?

turbotort2000 · Post by **turbotort2000** » Mon Mar 11, 2002 4:55 pm

That link was too funny. What makes it so funny is that I have heard all of those things said at martial art schools at one time or another.