I just recently moved up my first rank in Hapkido. I leave class feeling like I've had my ass kicked. I train hard and try to learn the techniques and my instructor makes it clear that YOU WILL get injured in training. New movements make me sore, my wrist hurts from locks, and I'm tired. I don't want a belt advancement if I'm not learning the art. That is of no use to me.
Oh man...I remember 6-7 years ago there was a itf tawkwondo championship in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Guys from other countries were competing but I noticed some shy kids with black belts. I talked with one of them and he was 10 years of age..
Great video Sir! Especially the part regarding promotions. Being a martial artist for almost 20 years myself, I have seen too many people get promotions that, quite frankly, were not deserved. One in particular that stands out was a kid that was testing for a "black belt candidate" rank. Thing was, this kid could barely perform at a yellow belt level! Keep in mind, this kid wasn't disabled or challenged in any way. He was just lazy and put in precisely zero training time outside of the do jang. And when he was there, he just jacked around and played. In short, he was considered to be this cute little kid by most of the adults, especially the moms. He would just shuffle his feet, look down, then back up at you with a shy smile and say "Sorry!" when you admonished him for not training. And the adults would just melt. Unfortunately, my instructor would baby him, along with pretty much all of the other kids, and pass them every single time, regardless of their skill level. I realize kids will be kids, but this was ridiculous! Again, great job on the video!
Sadly the martial arts has become over saturated with "black belts" that really don't deserve their rank. My biggest worry is when these "black belts" actually have to defend themselves. Thanks for watching my videos. Train hard.
Sadly my first Dojo was a McDojo. They made you pay for everything you did or got. Way too many little kids were a Black Belt as well. Keep up the good work Norm your videos help so many people.
Brilliant video! Totally agree with the message, especially the grading and ranks being obtained by blood, sweat and tears. Students should not be awarded belts merely for participation. Genuine martial arts school (or karate in this case) will involve students in all areas of training in equal measure, i.e. basics (kihon), kata and kumite (sparring) and will expect satisfactory level of performance in all these areas. Those who don't fulfill the required standards should not be awarded higher ranks just for showing up at the training. As pointed in your video, the lineage part is also essential. Many of the McDojo's cannot produce any genuine certifications or prove their lineage. The most dangerous part of belonging to a McDojo would be if a student found himself or herself in a potentially dangerous situation when they had to defend themselves or protect the lives of their loved ones and the skills they acquired in a McDojo would prove useless in a real life scenario. In any case, you've gained a new subscriber. Keep up the good work👍
My fav one is that they have no competition legacy, tell you a story there was a kid I went to school with who's grandfather was a sensei he got his black belt really quickly(his school didn't compete) and used to bully people at school. Fast forward 10 years later he rolls up at the local Point Karate/K1/Kudo/MMA academy where I had been training and wonders why I lit him up sparring when he gets mouthy about the "good old days". What he had been taught previously in a controlled environment favouring him and real world are two different things. Also I can see Karate Combat killing off the mcdojo, because when the feeder system is established like BJJ where people tend to go to the clubs who have fighters in the UFC or in feeder promotions, the same will happen with Karate.
So glad I ended up at JKA and not anywhere else. No board breaking no guaranteed black belts, almost no black belts besides the instructors no promise it was going to be easy to get a black belt infact the exact opposite and just pure traditional Japanese shotokan karate and self defense moves practiced on each other.
My option is that if the kid is very good, then sure. Some organization go lower that than for Nidan. The IKD which I am a member of Nidan starts at 15 and up. younger if very exceptional. But they need to earn it not be given it. You can tell if the kid deserves the rank or not.
A mcdojo would be more if the kids obviously don't deserve it. Lots of places basically buy there rank. That is a McDojo. If every 17 year old there is a 2nd Dan than that could be questionable.
I just recently moved up my first rank in Hapkido. I leave class feeling like I've had my ass kicked. I train hard and try to learn the techniques and my instructor makes it clear that YOU WILL get injured in training. New movements make me sore, my wrist hurts from locks, and I'm tired. I don't want a belt advancement if I'm not learning the art. That is of no use to me.
@@theshotokanchronicles They focus heavily on de-escalation and back away techniques--also evasions and breakaways. When I said injured what I meant was I get sore wrists and joints from some of the locks we do and as we progress through more advanced techniques my body is like"hey what's this? You haven't done that before!" We don't try to hurt each other but let's be honest, it's self defense training--by design there has to be a degree of actual contact.
I just recently moved up my first rank in Hapkido. I leave class feeling like I've had my ass kicked. I train hard and try to learn the techniques and my instructor makes it clear that YOU WILL get injured in training. New movements make me sore, my wrist hurts from locks, and I'm tired. I don't want a belt advancement if I'm not learning the art. That is of no use to me.
i agree
If the people at the end of a session don't have a soaking wet karategi with sweat and are about to faint, then it MAY be a McDojo :)
True or they are not trying hard enough.
Oh man...I remember 6-7 years ago there was a itf tawkwondo championship in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Guys from other countries were competing but I noticed some shy kids with black belts. I talked with one of them and he was 10 years of age..
Starting kids too young and grading them too early is not a good idea.
Great video Sir! Especially the part regarding promotions. Being a martial artist for almost 20 years myself, I have seen too many people get promotions that, quite frankly, were not deserved.
One in particular that stands out was a kid that was testing for a "black belt candidate" rank. Thing was, this kid could barely perform at a yellow belt level! Keep in mind, this kid wasn't disabled or challenged in any way. He was just lazy and put in precisely zero training time outside of the do jang. And when he was there, he just jacked around and played. In short, he was considered to be this cute little kid by most of the adults, especially the moms. He would just shuffle his feet, look down, then back up at you with a shy smile and say "Sorry!" when you admonished him for not training. And the adults would just melt.
Unfortunately, my instructor would baby him, along with pretty much all of the other kids, and pass them every single time, regardless of their skill level. I realize kids will be kids, but this was ridiculous!
Again, great job on the video!
Sadly the martial arts has become over saturated with "black belts" that really don't deserve their rank. My biggest worry is when these "black belts" actually have to defend themselves. Thanks for watching my videos. Train hard.
Sadly my first Dojo was a McDojo. They made you pay for everything you did or got. Way too many little kids were a Black Belt as well. Keep up the good work Norm your videos help so many people.
Thanks. I am glad you enjoy them.
Brilliant video! Totally agree with the message, especially the grading and ranks being obtained by blood, sweat and tears. Students should not be awarded belts merely for participation. Genuine martial arts school (or karate in this case) will involve students in all areas of training in equal measure, i.e. basics (kihon), kata and kumite (sparring) and will expect satisfactory level of performance in all these areas. Those who don't fulfill the required standards should not be awarded higher ranks just for showing up at the training. As pointed in your video, the lineage part is also essential. Many of the McDojo's cannot produce any genuine certifications or prove their lineage. The most dangerous part of belonging to a McDojo would be if a student found himself or herself in a potentially dangerous situation when they had to defend themselves or protect the lives of their loved ones and the skills they acquired in a McDojo would prove useless in a real life scenario. In any case, you've gained a new subscriber. Keep up the good work👍
Thanks for your comment.
My fav one is that they have no competition legacy, tell you a story there was a kid I went to school with who's grandfather was a sensei he got his black belt really quickly(his school didn't compete) and used to bully people at school. Fast forward 10 years later he rolls up at the local Point Karate/K1/Kudo/MMA academy where I had been training and wonders why I lit him up sparring when he gets mouthy about the "good old days". What he had been taught previously in a controlled environment favouring him and real world are two different things. Also I can see Karate Combat killing off the mcdojo, because when the feeder system is established like BJJ where people tend to go to the clubs who have fighters in the UFC or in feeder promotions, the same will happen with Karate.
I agree
Comparing McDojos to fast food is an insult to fast food.
Lol
So glad I ended up at JKA and not anywhere else. No board breaking no guaranteed black belts, almost no black belts besides the instructors no promise it was going to be easy to get a black belt infact the exact opposite and just pure traditional Japanese shotokan karate and self defense moves practiced on each other.
I enjoyed my time in the JKA. As an off shoot of the JKA, the IKD follow all the same traditions.
I was always told you might be at a McDojo if they teach Shotokan ;)
In my town there's a dojo that has 17y olds who are proclaimed as second degree black belts, would you say that's a mcdojo?
My option is that if the kid is very good, then sure. Some organization go lower that than for Nidan. The IKD which I am a member of Nidan starts at 15 and up. younger if very exceptional. But they need to earn it not be given it. You can tell if the kid deserves the rank or not.
A mcdojo would be more if the kids obviously don't deserve it. Lots of places basically buy there rank. That is a McDojo. If every 17 year old there is a 2nd Dan than that could be questionable.
They do awkward slow kicks under waist height ☝️ When sparring, they just stand there awkwardly 🤣 Very rich parents simping for a mcdonalds
😃👏👏👏👏👏👏
😁
I just recently moved up my first rank in Hapkido. I leave class feeling like I've had my ass kicked. I train hard and try to learn the techniques and my instructor makes it clear that YOU WILL get injured in training. New movements make me sore, my wrist hurts from locks, and I'm tired. I don't want a belt advancement if I'm not learning the art. That is of no use to me.
Yes, you need to learn the art but you shouldn't be injuring yourself or other. Thre is the idea of control that you need to understand.
@@theshotokanchronicles They focus heavily on de-escalation and back away techniques--also evasions and breakaways. When I said injured what I meant was I get sore wrists and joints from some of the locks we do and as we progress through more advanced techniques my body is like"hey what's this? You haven't done that before!" We don't try to hurt each other but let's be honest, it's self defense training--by design there has to be a degree of actual contact.
@@WarpandXeno88 I agree with you.