What is a McDojo?

A McDojo is the commonly used term for a martial arts school that is more interested in making money by churning out "black belts" than the proper instruction of the martial arts.

There is much discussion and argument about what exactly defines a McDojo. Some focus on the business practices, others focus on the lack of realistic self defence training. Here is our take on the subject.

You could be faced with a McDojo if:

• The school has excessive belts and/or gives you the possibility of reaching black belt in less than 3 years. Grading should be based on skill, not ability to pay grading fees.
• Child black belts. Obtaining a black belt requires maturity as well as ability. While our children can obtain a children's black belt over the age of 12, they need to fulfil additional requirements to receive their adult black belt at 16.
• Lack of sparring. You need to practice putting what you learn into action with a moving opponent. This can start lightly but should build up to more realistic sparring as your experience grows (see san shou section).
• Instructor claims to be a high ranking master and is under 50.
• The school insists on long contracts to lock you in.

As a general rule, if you feel like a customer rather than a martial arts student, you may not be getting the real deal. The truth is, the only way you should be able to receive a black belt is through hard work and both mental and physical fortitude. When you see your first black belt grading, you'll understand!