How do you recognize if you are in a McDojo?

You know you are in a mcdojo if:

1)there is no sparring, as they clain the art is "too deadly to use"

2) There's a fee for belt testing.

3) A contract.

4)The instructor mastered 3-5 different martial arts, and he's 25 years old, or even younger.

5) Kids with black belts.

6) Advanced students who lack technique.

7)Some sort of "quick advancement" program, for a fee.

8)Many different (excessive) colored belt ranks.

9) A black belt club (guaranteed to have one in a fixed time)

10) They offer "cardio kickboxing" and claim you learn martial arts from it rather than overall fitness.

11) Children classes that pretty much are a daycare center with a martial art twist.

12) They force you to buy equipment from the school, or a particular brand.

13) The master or instructors' claims or ranks cannot be traced or confirmed. e.g. "winner of 400 no-holds-barred matches"

good luck!

Usually the definition about a McDojo is a school or instructor that is more interested in money than teaching their martial art. Even if some things are expensive, you can't immediately come to the conclusion that it's a McDojo.

The main thing to focus on are your instructors. Do they slack off a lot? Do they take you really seriously? Do they treat every student equally and try to help them all?

If you can't decide if your school is a McDojo or not, I recommend you try to check out a few more schools around the area and compare it to your school. Good luck.

ask the head of the school what rank he is. usually in McDojos, the head of the school will be a lower level black belt.

If the head is 5th degree or higher, he's got at least 15 years experience under his belt. that's good.

Another thing you'll find in McDojos is that often times the head will have a black belt in say, 3 different styles of martial arts, but won't have that high degree.

Many styles does not equal mastery, only a basic grasp of 3 different styles. Dedication to one style or two shows mastery.

If you don't have a chance to talk to the head, look and see if any of the other teachers are 5th degree or higher.

A classic sign of a McDojo is people who've only been practicing martial arts for say, 3 years at black belt. It should take about five in many styles. Even longer for little kids. If there is a lot of people under 13 with a black belt, avoid the school.

McDojo: Not sure about the American version.

My interpretation is based on a nasty eki-thump movement that came into Australia in the 1980's . Remember I'm from the old school, so forgive me if I offend.

There are contracts.

Classes are very expensive.

You are given timelines and costs to receive each belt.

Ranks progress too quickly.

The school is not associated with an established traditional school.

The qualifications of the instructors have no pedigree behind them.

The emphasis is on egos and posturing.

There is a cult element to it and lots of politics.

Traditional technique is abandoned in favor fo eki-thump trends.

There is a tornament base.

The heirarchy often shifts with people coming and going because other than the moneygrabber at the top, everyone is dispensable. The whole setup is very unstable.

Do you have similar in the USA ?

Claims to teach the "true" style of whatever system they are selling be it chinese okinawan or japanese.Worse yet their style.

Claims to teach "secret unrevealed to the public" techniques.

Advertising is laden with terms like master grand master supreme master great grand master.Fear no man defeat any man etc etc etc

Head of the dojo never teaches anyone below black belt which is comprised of people he has brainwashed into believing in his "all knowing wonderfulness"

All the students of any rank have wonderful theories about fighting but none of them could fight thier way out of a wet paper bag.

Being a mcdojo doesn't neccesarily mean hi costs or belonging to a chain of dojo.There are people out there that not even mcdojo's would let teach.

Hredman 1 is right for what she said, but beware one thing. Anyone can buy a black belt and put on stripes, claiming to be at a master's rank or something. Look at other schools in your area, just watch some classes, to compare to what is happening in your school.

In my experience you can tell if they Sell black belts in a program or a club guaranteeing you a BB withing X amount of time rather than learning and progressing at your own speed.

Tests are usually pretty easy. They often have contracts to sign and want to be paid a year in advance.

One good way to know is check the teachers references, do they know who there teacher is and their teachers teacher back to the founding father of the art?

Do they have Children Black belts?

These are things I look for.

Usually there is a contract to sign.

Often there is a "Black Belt club"

Often there are extra belt ranks and fees to go with them.

Students are promoted even when they do not pass test.

You will see little kids in upper ranks lacking good skills.

All equipment must be purchased through the school.

One of the signs may be the "Black Belt Program in XXXYrs"

Come On! Everyone learns at a different rate. How can you guarantee a black bet in XX yrs?

You're paying 70+$/month in membership fees.