How to recognize a good karate dojo?

great answer by shadowboxing

you judge a good teacher by his students and you can use this link as a guide to spotting mcdojo's. there is no one sure way to find a mcdojo or a good school. it may take some time

http://mcdojo-faq.tripod.com/

There are five things that make a Karate dojo a good one: (1.) instructor (2.) charging rates (3.) claims (4.) environment (5.) teachings.

Instructor - If the instructors are well-built and can be seen doing exercises before the class and during the class, that's already points for a good school. If the instructors just walk around, text during classes, pot-bellied, and don't do much exercises, then you have to be more aware.

Charging Rates - If they charge you simply: like "pay and train" and "buy your own gear", then it's a basic factor in being a good and straightforward dojo, but if they charge you multiple times, and they try to convince/force you to buy their own fighting equipment or reject your self-bought fighting gear, then you have to start thinking twice.

Claims - Good dojos have humble teachers (even if they wear black belts) who just teach straightforwardly and effectively the techniques in class. If they loudly claim about knocking lots of people out or being into legendary fights or winning multiple championships, then I guess you have to see things clearer.

Environment - If the environment is full of kids and young people with black belts, you have to start doubting the dojo. In addition, there are some dojos that have the young people that aren't even black belts teach some people in the dojo. The masters sometimes don't even teach, and just walk around.

Teachings - If they teach you no-touch knockouts, death touch strikes, the overall superiority of their martial arts, and exaggerated impairing techniques, you have to start on researching authentic and real techniques by your own, and start thinking twice about this dojo.

But then even if a dojo is a Mcdojo, if you're a disciplined and dedicated student who seeks and researches martial arts in a deeper aspect, you can improve effectively even under a fraudulent teaching environment.

Shadowboxer had a great answer. Just wanted to add a couple things. You'll want to find a place where you fit and enjoy it. If you don't enjoy it, it will be hard to find the motivation to do it. Another thing is you want to find a place that spars regularly. If you aren't sparring you won't have the practice to use what you've learned in more realistic situations where the person isn't going to just go along with the technique. Hope this helps a little.

There is no such thing as a good karate dojo because karate sucks.