Starting a school

[MikeK]

Where will your dojo be when the #$$@ hits the fan? How would you like to have your local 18 year old TKD 10th dan empowered to certify your teachers????

What do you mean by certify? If it's certification that they meet some kind of state requirements for how they run their school then I don't see what the big deal is.

[Bill Glasheen]

If it's certification that they meet some kind of state requirements for how they run their school then I don't see what the big deal is.

It becomes a big deal if said certification entities dictate what techniques and activities you can and cannot do. By doing so, one quite possibly ends up with a "vanilla" karate made very much in the mold of sport TKD.

We ran across this when facing insurance agencies, Mike. They would require that people use certain types of equipment when doing partner exercises. The equipment required made absolutely no sense when you consider what techniques Uechi people use and how they fight.

Partner work will always be a liability issue, and people will need to modify their practice. But there are many ways to skin the cat. It would have been best if Uechi USA had their collective act together decades ago and set the standards when they were the pioneers.

There's one thing you have to say about the Koreans - they know business.

- Bill

[f.Channell]

Sobering words from Sensei Mattson.

Prior to Karate becoming popular Judo was already being practiced widely.

There now exists two Judo organizations certifying rank in the U.S.

An application can always be sent for rank from the Kodokan as well.

They also have a ranking system for Dojo, not sure what it entails.

A central U.S. or North American ranking/certifying system would make sense and give political clout.

But talk about an uphill struggle.

F.

F.

[MikeK]

We ran across this when facing insurance agencies, Mike. They would require that people use certain types of equipment when doing partner exercises. The equipment required made absolutely no sense when you consider what techniques Uechi people use and how they fight.

And that's the pinch isn't it? An insurance company doesn't care if something is Uechi or not and preserving the art, they just want to keep from paying out which is how they preserve their companies.

Also by using the word "fight" you kind of throw up a red flag to the insurance companies. My opinion is karate is no longer being sold as a "fighting" art these days because of all the external pressures put on it.

It would have been best if Uechi USA had their collective act together decades ago and set the standards when they were the pioneers.

And why would a Shorin based or Kung fu person want to be put under the standards of Uechi USA? Once again we run into the problem of who is setting the standards. We also have the other big problem of what the heck are the standards anyway.

Personally I think the old time (50 - 90's) US dojos are going the way of the dinosaurs. How we trained even just 5 years ago would have the soccer moms and the insurance companies having fits. I think in the near future it will break down into sport karate (point and contact) and demonstration karate (kata, breaking, "tricks" and flamboyant pre-arranged dance, I mean fighting). Heck, I think we're mostly there now anyway. As far as teaching karate as self defense, from the number of add-on self defense classes being offered at dojos these days I'd say the writing is on the wall for that one too.

For those of us who like the old style I think it'll be off to the backyards and garages.

Please Note: These are just my opinions based on what I see happening and not a put down of any style of traditional karate.

The days of anyone teaching our children is fast coming to an end and unfortunately those who are not recognized by i.e. Sports Canada may find themselves unable to be insured, or use public venues. Unfortunate... But like taxes it`s coming.

The quickest fix for the pervert karate instructor problem is to make it a state law that any child under the age of 18 must have their parent or legal guardian present during class. I've watched parents drop their kids off at a friends school and drive off to shop. If little Bobby is being fondled by O'Sensei you have to ask, where the hell was mom or dad?

[Bill Glasheen]

I think you're too pessimistic, Mike.

One thing that the UFC (MMA) activities have done is to let many well-informed consumers see through the crap of McDojos. You can regulate all you want, but if there's nothing to regulate then it's irrelevant.

Boxing and wrestling have been around for ages. They are both martial arts - something I constantly remind my son who now wrestles. Wrestling for one will be around for a very long time. Considering what goes on in football today - and the extent to which it is played at every age - I say martial arts are going to get some leeway. But like the NRA, they'll have to get their collective act together to prevent governmental regulation.

The NRA is a good example of a martial society which has been very successful in lobbying for rights as well as setting standards. They've actually turned the tide of governmental regulation in the other direction. It would be good for martial artists to pay close attetion to how they operate.

A little bit of government regulation for kids activities is a good thing. Background checks of all who work with kids is a good thing. As a matter of fact (Vicki) I say even if it isn't required, advertising that such checks have been done would be a selling point.

But there won't be too much in the way of regulation. Parents need a place to send their kids after school. They'll get pretty pissed if their activities are shut down due to government butting in where it doesn't belong.

One final note... VOTE LIBERTARIAN!

- Bill

[MikeK]

I think you're too pessimistic, Mike.

You're probably right about that.

Boxing and wrestling have been around for ages. They are both martial arts - something I constantly remind my son who now wrestles.

Glad you brought that up. How have they both changed from how they were both done 100 years ago? 50 years ago? What techniques have been dropped from each and what rules added? Are they still martial arts or now combat sport?

One thing that the UFC (MMA) activities have done is to let many well-informed consumers see through the crap of McDojos. You can regulate all you want, but if there's nothing to regulate then it's irrelevant.

And how do MMA train in the gym? Are insurance companies making them wear protection when they do partner exercises? What can we learn from the combat sports crowd?

A little bit of government regulation for kids activities is a good thing. Background checks of all who work with kids is a good thing. As a matter of fact (Vicki) I say even if it isn't required, advertising that such checks have been done would be a selling point.

Good advice Bill.

[f.Channell]

I have kids come into class way more messed up from football and baseball than I can even believe. And plenty of adult students with old football injuries as well.

Does it make sense to have a kid pitching without a face shield or chest protector? Does a line drive to the face hurt more than a punch? Around my area that protection isn't used, although some are adopting it. Until the pros use the equipment, the kids won't.

Bill putting his son in wrestling is a great move. Excellent workout and some fighting skill also learned. Put him in BJJ or Judo some day and those skills will carry through to those arts as well.

F.

[RACastanet]

The NRA is a good example of a martial society which has been very successful in lobbying for rights as well as setting standards. They've actually turned the tide of governmental regulation in the other direction. It would be good for martial artists to pay close attetion to how they operate.

In many states NRA certified instructors are the defacto trainers for CHPs and CWPs. The NRA maintains a high standard for instructors and closely monitors the product. Getting certified as an instructor by the NRA requires many hours of instruction by an even higher level instructor!

I am just beginnig to get work on certification to teach their 'Refuse to be a Victim' class and they indicate they want to monitor a session that I do before certifying me to teach it again.

Rich

[Jake Steinmann]

And how do MMA train in the gym? Are insurance companies making them wear protection when they do partner exercises? What can we learn from the combat sports crowd?

While I have no idea what sort of insurance policies our school has, or what they require of us, I can tell you that we do wear some protection for partner drills (usually 16oz gloves, mouthpiece, and shin guards for Muay Thai. Smaller gloves for MMA.). As far as I know, that isn't mandated by any company, it's just the way we train.

Some of the more advanced guys will drill with less, or even no, gear, but it's usually the folks with enough experience and control to not smash each other while doing so.

[MikeK]

Vicki,
Here's the link to the school of a gentleman named Brian Kennedy who is part of Thinh's group. Brian used to teach at the Y and then about 4 or 5 years ago made the jump to full-time karate instructor. He's local and pretty succesful (just upgraded to a larger floor space) so you may want to check out his school and his rates to see what the local market is bearing. BTW Bobby and Al know some of the people in his group.

http://www.silkisondan.com/


BTW One more from Rob Redmonds site.
http://www.24fightingchickens.com/2006/10/11/service/