Category: McDojos

There Will Be A Reckoning

4/2/2020

Author: Bret Gordon

What interesting times we're living in! Nothing brings out people's true nature like a crisis, and we are seeing the beginning of a revolution. The world as we knew it will be forever changed by COVID-19, but the subject of this article is a slightly narrower scale.

As a Budoka, it is fascinating to watch the shift in dynamic of the martial arts industry as it faces collapse and frankly, I'm not too upset over it. For centuries, martial arts have been handed down through families and clans as life-saving skills of war meant to protect the ones you love. It is in this spirit that I run my dojo. We are purposely small and intimate, allowing us the opportunity to develop bonds that transcend the four walls of our commercial space. I don't just accept everyone with a credit card, but rather only those who will benefit the school as much as we'll benefit them. These bonds allow us the foundation of trust and mutual respect to push the limits of our training and experience with one another, the benefits of which are exponential. All of this is in stark contrast to the cultural norm we see today...

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No More Monkeys Jumping On The Bed

3/25/2020

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Author: Bret Gordon

Every now and then, some prosimian with a keyboard tries to hide behind a fake name on the internet to call someone else a fraud. Irony of this aside, this particular lesser ape has actually succeeded in making a pseudo-name for himself. Now, I don't normally use such derogatory remarks in my articles but this individual has chosen to self-identify as "The Monkey" and in today's politically correct climate, the safest thing is to just address people how they want to be. Far be it from me to assume he's a man.

For years, "The Monkey" has used the internet to write a blog about those he considers to be martial arts "frauds and fakes." Going through the list of everyone featured, some definitely are dubious and some definitely aren't. I won't go into detail on each individual featured on his site, but instead will focus on my own personal experience with him.

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The Problem With Internal Martial Arts

8/28/2018

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Author: Bret Gordon

The deeper I go in my study of Aiki Jujutsu and internal power, the more styles of internal arts I've encountered. Lately, I seem to have gotten myself immersed in the Chinese internal arts community and have even taken up a cursory study of Baguazhang to help expand and refine my develop of aiki. The more I watch and engage with other internal practitioners, however, the more I notice a rather unsettling trend that's not unlike the rest of the martial arts community... The complete abandonment of practical martial application.

I've written countless articles thus far stressing the importance of maintaining practical and intensive training for self protection as a large part of your martial arts study, and the internal martial arts are not exempt from this. Let's not forget that the word "martial" implies a combative context and to ignore that section of the art (which in this context refers to a skill or discipline) is to do a great disservice to those who came before us and the legacy they left behind.

While it's true that most martial arts are descended from combat systems, the internal martial arts have historically held a place of significance in protecting those of high stature. In Japan, the Minamoto and Takeda clans were charged as Imperial guards. They trained in the art of Oshiki Uchi (also known as Gotenjutsu) to protect the Emperor and/or Shogun for over 700 years according to oral tradition, an art that later became Daito Ryu - the root of all Japanese aiki arts. In China, Dong Haichuan was charged with teaching his art of Baguazhang to the guards after winning patronage by the Imperial court. Even Okinawa has its own internal martial arts tradition, Motobu Udundi, that was used for the same purpose. The internal martial arts were chosen for this purpose because of their superiority in allowing the practitioner to counter conventional fighting techniques through the use of structure and respond with devastating results. So how did the elite fighting system of the historical Secret Service equivalent become the laughing stock of the martial arts today, and how do we fix it?

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What Is A Dojo?

8/29/2017

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Author: Bret Gordon

Especially in the American martial arts community, the word dojo has become synonymous with martial arts school. However, there is so much more to the meaning of a dojo than just a place to practice martial arts. In this article, we're going to explore the etymology of the word dojo, it's true meaning, and why it is not applicable for all martial arts schools.

Dojo is made up of two characters, 道場. The first character, Do, translates as "The Way" and holds a spiritual connotation. "The Way" specifically refers to the path to enlightenment. The second character, Jo, means "place." So a dojo is literally a "place to practice the Way." It is a hall to study the path to enlightenment, a place of spiritual cultivation and an institution of higher learning. The word dojo is not confined to martial arts training, and can be extended to any of the -do forms of Japanese arts, such as shodo (calligraphy). In fact, it is even used in Zen Buddhism to describe the meditation halls where they practice zazen.

In actuality, what most people consider to be a dojo is really a keikojo 稽古場. Keiko literally means "practice," and refers to physical training. Keikojo is the most appropriate term for a martial arts school that does not engage in any spiritual development, that is purely focused on physical training without the trappings or rituals of a traditional art (what some may call a "gym" or "club").

So now that we've defined what the terms dojo and keikojo are, let's go a little more in depth.

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What Happened To Brotherhood?

8/9/2017

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Author: Bret Gordon

I really should just get off social media, because nearly every time I see something posted by the martial arts "community" I start to twitch. One of the latest posts was a question asking school owners, "What separates you from your competition? What sets you apart in the market?" To even ask such a question shows the complete and total disregard for the values we all claim to teach: Respect, Integrity, Humility.

Here's the thing. No other martial arts school is my competition. I primarily teach teens and adults, so fitness classes are my competition. Extended work hours are my competition. Mountains of homework and college prep are my competition. If you teach kids, then little league is your competition. Soccer, football, dance, gymnastics, even video games. That is your competition.

Here's a great example. For those who don't know, I currently rent space from a Taekwondo school to teach my classes. I don't have anything to do with their program, but I do try to support them (considering if they close, I'm out of a space). Yesterday they attended a "Meet the Teacher" event at the local elementary school, as did three other local schools. While you can definitely sense the tension in the room between the school owners, everyone got their fair share of leads and sign ups. It's a school with 1,400 students currently enrolled. There's enough for everyone, without the need to belittle or bash the other schools.

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Martial Arts, Inc.

7/23/2017

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Author: Bret Gordon

Do you ever get the feeling that you don't belong? Lately, this has become not just a passing thought but an all-encompassing, gut wrenching emotion that has driven this article. What I'm about to talk about will ring true for some, but I'm sure will offend most. And let me apologize now, because this will be long.

Everyone talks about the martial arts community. They throw around marketing words like brotherhood, family and integrity. They say they teach martial arts in order to make a difference in someone's life. To inspire them. To give them confidence. To teach them real world skills. They say all of their students are like family, that no one is just a number on the mat. However, after being involved with other school owners for the last decade, I can only say one thing. They're all lying.

I belong to several martial arts groups on social media, some of which are only for instructors and school owners. The ones that are open to everyone of all experience levels are frustrating for someone looking to have a deep discussion about Budo, yet understandable. But no matter how understandable it is, there's only so many "Which style is better?" posts that I can take before I start removing myself from those groups. However, in a group that is solely comprised of instructors, you would think there would be some great discussions. Yet the more I observe, the more it becomes apparent that these groups are run by mega-school owners talking about the next marketing scheme or hustle to attempt to satisfy their ever-growing greed while looking down on anyone who doesn't have enrollment in the triple digits. After careful observation and numerous interactions, I can only come to one conclusion. The martial arts community as we know it is dead, and what we're left with is the martial arts industry.

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McDojo Rant: Just Stop Already!

1/15/2017

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Author: Bret Gordon

You can hardly log onto social media without seeing at least one post from a disgruntled martial artist complaining about the climate of martial arts anymore. Some blatantly call out their neighbors for being a "McDojo," while others post a passive-aggressive question asking what others think. All of the other martial artists on their Friends List subsequently rush to comment in agreement, for fear that if they don't they will be seen as one of the offensive. What's worse is that these people complaining have yet to offer any type of solution to the "problem," instead just posting fake-humility driven posts that make it seem like the arts are long gone. Just stop! Enough is enough.

With the amount of people posting and responding, I've come to one of two conclusions. Either there aren't nearly as many McDojos out there as people think, or so many people are in denial that they are in fact one. Personally, I think it's a little of both. But let me tell you something that will be hard to swallow. You are a McDojo! I'm a McDojo! Everyone is a McDojo! Why do I say this? Well, we first need to understand what a McDojo is.

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You're A Liar!

12/8/2016

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Author: Bret Gordon

I think I'm finally at my breaking point. The quality of martial arts instruction is severely plummeting, with no signs of slowing down. Every day, new schools pop up that make me question if even they know what martial arts training is. The majority of these new schools, at least here in Florida, teach a generic hybrid form of sport karate where regardless of your previous training, you can walk into a school and be hired as an instructor as long as you learn their curriculum. So someone who holds a black belt in Goju Ryu can walk into a Taekwondo school and start teaching as a paid instructor as long as they learn the new forms. Seriously?! How is this even a thing? While all martial arts at their core share very common aspects, there are different styles and systems for a reason. They all have their own philosophies, applications, variations and querks.

So what is it about this industry that makes people think any idiot with a building and wearing a black piece of cloth is qualified to teach martial arts? Many say the problem has to do with lack of regulation, that in Asian countries you must be licensed through a government organization to teach martial arts. Honestly I think that's a horrible idea, but on the flip side we should be policing ourselves. Back in the old days, and my generation caught the tail end of it (I certainly got my fair share of it), there was a wonderful tradition of dojo busting that kept out the frauds and less-than-quality schools. Win or lose, it was about respect and as long as you could hold your own, you could stay and teach. Now everyone's quick to the call the police or draw a gun when you even mention you own a school nearby. But the real problem has nothing to do with that. The real problem is lack of education, and the wussification (with a capital "P") of America.

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Modern-Day Samurai: To Serve Or Not To Serve

5/6/2016

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Author: Bret Gordon

Call to mind the image of the Samurai. I'm sure it's something along the lines of a Zen master drinking tea in the garden, offering up deep philosophical advice to his most trusted pupils after teaching them the deadliest secrets to sword fighting, right? It's not your fault, that is what we've all been coerced into believing and have ingrained in our subconscious. And who wouldn't want to emulate that? Unfortunately, nothing could be farther from reality.

In the Japanese martial arts community, there is always an underlying desire to have some connection to the Samurai of feudal Japan. I am guilty of this as well, so don't get me wrong, but how much is too much? In the age we live in, koryu bujutsu (Japanese arts that pre-date 1868) are very accessible and there are even some that have passed down their iemoto to Westerners! So with what was once restricted within a specific clan now being available to anyone worldwide, why would we not try to become modern-day Samurai?

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Does Profit Equal Prestige?

3/15/2016

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Author: Bret Gordon

Having spent the last 20 years in martial arts and training in everything from large 5,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facilities to backyards and garages, I've noticed that no matter the training space, all of the truly prestigious schools have similar traits (notice I said prestigious, not "big and fancy"). Yet there's a growing trend in the martial arts community that troubles me. When people visit new areas and look for the best restaurants, they're often drawn to the "Mom and Pop holes in the wall" as opposed to the larger chain restaurants. They claim the food is better because the people genuinely care about their customers and their product (food) over profits. So why is the mentality different when searching for a martial arts school?

Martial arts has become a multi-million dollar industry, and organizations of "professional martial artists" such as NAPMA and MAIA are leading the way. Seminars are being held all over the country, but not for the advancement of training or information. The focus of these seminars is how to run a better business. A recent seminar even went so far as to show you how to develop a "cult-like following." Now, before I continue, I must say that there is absolutely nothing wrong with an instructor being fairly compensated for their time and expertise. However, when the entire focus of your school is aesthetic appearance, there is a problem.

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USAMA BLOG

There Will Be A Reckoning

No More Monkeys Jumping On The Bed

The Problem With Internal Martial Arts

What Is A Dojo?

What Happened To Brotherhood?

Martial Arts, Inc.

McDojo Rant: Just Stop Already!

You're A Liar!

Modern-Day Samurai: To Serve Or Not To Serve

Does Profit Equal Prestige?

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