McDojo Intervention

**kpmurphy** · Posted On: 10/24/2005 10:51pm

Is there some sort of intervention for friends in a McDojo? A buddy of mine decided to take up martial arts around the same time I did. The difference is I had been thinking about doing it for years and spent a lot of time on this site just lurking and learning from the posts and the articles you guys put up. I have found what I think is a great school. I have only been there for two weeks but I feel I have what I was looking for.

I don’t think my friend did the research. He started in late august and when I talked to him the other day he has already done “knife defenses” and he is going to be testing for his next belt after just nine weeks or so, one or two lessons a week. I haven’t been to his school but it sounds like a McDojo to me.

Have you guys had friends in McDojos? How did you broach the subject with them? I don’t have the credibility to criticize his training. I should probably just point him to this site. Anyone ever had a similiar situation?

**katana** · Posted On: 10/24/2005 10:53pm

Originally Posted by kpmurphy

Is there some sort of intervention for friends in a McDojo? A buddy of mine decided to take up martial arts around the same time I did. The difference is I had been thinking about doing it for years and spent a lot of time on this site just lurking and learning from the posts and the articles you guys put up. I have found what I think is a great school. I have only been there for two weeks but I feel I have what I was looking for.

I don’t think my friend did the research. He started in late august and when I talked to him the other day he has already done “knife defenses” and he is going to be testing for his next belt after just nine weeks or so, one or two lessons a week. I haven’t been to his school but it sounds like a McDojo to me.

Have you guys had friends in McDojos? How did you broach the subject with them? I don’t have the credibility to criticize his training. I should probably just point him to this site. Anyone ever had a similiar situation?

Challenge him to a friendly sparring match. Kick his ass. If he doesn't get the hint then there's not much you can do about it.

**Bang!** · Posted On: 10/24/2005 11:03pm

What school does he go to?

**chaosexmachina** · Posted On: 10/25/2005 3:28am

Check the school out.

**kpmurphy** · Posted On: 10/25/2005 2:40pm

Check the school out.

I'll get more info on the school. Thanks.

**damucha** · Posted On: 10/25/2005 5:11pm

Whose assumption is it that his school is McD?

**kpmurphy** · Posted On: 10/25/2005 6:47pm

Whose assumption is it that his school is McD?

Only mine from what he has told me. Granted my experience is next to nothing but quick promotion and questionable knife defenses seem to be a bad sign.

**Leonidas** · Posted On: 10/25/2005 11:37pm

Originally Posted by kpmurphy

Is there some sort of intervention for friends in a McDojo? A buddy of mine decided to take up martial arts around the same time I did. The difference is I had been thinking about doing it for years and spent a lot of time on this site just lurking and learning from the posts and the articles you guys put up. I have found what I think is a great school. I have only been there for two weeks but I feel I have what I was looking for.

I don’t think my friend did the research. He started in late august and when I talked to him the other day he has already done “knife defenses” and he is going to be testing for his next belt after just nine weeks or so, one or two lessons a week. I haven’t been to his school but it sounds like a McDojo to me.

Have you guys had friends in McDojos? How did you broach the subject with them? I don’t have the credibility to criticize his training. I should probably just point him to this site. Anyone ever had a similiar situation?

Check it out first. If they have a policy of a free lesson, take it and see what you think. From what it sounds, however, it does seem a little prissy. If you check out the place and the training is weaksauce/'mcdojoish', invite him over to your school for a taste of the 'real deal' as it were. With any luck, he'll see your school's superiority and join up. In the end, however, just because it doesnt fit what you deem apprpriate, doesnt mean its neccesarily a McDojo. Like I said, check it ourt first.

As for broaching the subject, don't take it too seriously if they're not particularly serious about their training. I make sure to give all my WC freinds (who do it at school, which is a bit suss...) **** about the fact kung-fu was made by girls, just to stir up freindly rivalry :P (spare me your pedantries; I havent done extensive reasearch into it, Its just something i say) Just go with it, ya know? If the topic of credibility comes up, refer to the above point of bagging his school :P

**Shinobi187** · Posted On: 10/25/2005 11:42pm

I'm in the process of leaving an ATA TKD Mcdojo. I wished someone had planned an intervention for me, woulda saved me about two thousand bucks and two months of wasted time.