Martial Arts Community Thread

Do you know your martial arts lineage? Explain in a post.

Yep	66.7%	[ 12 ]
Nup	22.2%	[ 4 ]
line-what?	11.1%	[ 2 ]
Total Votes:			[ 18 ]

[Carsayzlyum]

You guys might appreciate this...
I began college last semester. I now live 4 hrs away from home, and clearly cannot train where I used to. I still want to test from there, however, because I like to finish what I start and I respect their standards. They agreed to this as long as I kept training somewhere regularly. When I go home, they watch for a couple classes to see if I've prepared enough and then decide if I can test before I leave again. Sadly, although I go to a large University, there is no TKD program on campus. I emailed my instructors, and they gave me the name of someone they knew nearby, who in turn referred me to a branch school close to where I am. The first day I walk into class I see a "This is a Black Belt School" sign- a classic indicator of FAIL. I fight the urge to walk out, knowing that even if my new instructor was bad my Sabomnim respected their Grandmaster. It was terrible. There young students can have an adult do their form with them AT THE TEST up til age ten or something. In addition, they only learn half a form each test cycle. And these cycles are very close together. They do NO one steps and NO basic motion. They stretch, run one form and spar. Their sparring is pretty good, and since that is a weak point for me (I'm too readable) that has been good, but everything else makes me want to beat my head against the wall... why do schools like this exist?!?!?

[goingd]

Carsayzlyum

You guys might appreciate this...
I began college last semester. I now live 4 hrs away from home, and clearly cannot train where I used to. I still want to test from there, however, because I like to finish what I start and I respect their standards. They agreed to this as long as I kept training somewhere regularly. When I go home, they watch for a couple classes to see if I've prepared enough and then decide if I can test before I leave again. Sadly, although I go to a large University, there is no TKD program on campus. I emailed my instructors, and they gave me the name of someone they knew nearby, who in turn referred me to a branch school close to where I am. The first day I walk into class I see a "This is a Black Belt School" sign- a classic indicator of FAIL. I fight the urge to walk out, knowing that even if my new instructor was bad my Sabomnim respected their Grandmaster. It was terrible. There young students can have an adult do their form with them AT THE TEST up til age ten or something. In addition, they only learn half a form each test cycle. And these cycles are very close together. They do NO one steps and NO basic motion. They stretch, run one form and spar. Their sparring is pretty good, and since that is a weak point for me (I'm too readable) that has been good, but everything else makes me want to beat my head against the wall... why do schools like this exist?!?!?

Money. It's a rather profitable business if you know how to do it right, which is so very wrong. The best of luck...

[Carsayzlyum]

Basically. Needless to say I'm working a lot on my own. sweatdrop Just learn whats useful and ignore the bs.
It IS profitable, but still ignorant I feel, especially coming from old school instructors.

[goingd]

Carsayzlyum

Basically. Needless to say I'm working a lot on my own. sweatdrop Just learn whats useful and ignore the bs.
It IS profitable, but still ignorant I feel, especially coming from old school instructors.

Yyyep... The vast majority of the several schools in my area are mcdojangs. Even when you find an "old school" instructor, you usually find that they've lowered their standards to pay the bills.

[Stratamagnus]

My plan is to create a school that contracts martial artists to instruct. I think the flaw in alot of schools is the head instructor is also the owner. Lets face it, most martial artists are either terrible businessmen or end up being super greedy.

[goingd]

Stratamagnus

My plan is to create a school that contracts martial artists to instruct. I think the flaw in alot of schools is the head instructor is also the owner. Lets face it, most martial artists are either terrible businessmen or end up being super greedy.

That's a good point, but it can be a lot more expensive, and you may not have as much control over what's being taught as you might hope.

[Stratamagnus]

goingd

Stratamagnus

My plan is to create a school that contracts martial artists to instruct. I think the flaw in alot of schools is the head instructor is also the owner. Lets face it, most martial artists are either terrible businessmen or end up being super greedy.

That's a good point, but it can be a lot more expensive, and you may not have as much control over what's being taught as you might hope.

That is a good point, and I have been thinking about that. I guess my only way to really keep tabs on that is just a really strict interviewing process.

[goingd]

Stratamagnus

goingd

Stratamagnus

My plan is to create a school that contracts martial artists to instruct. I think the flaw in alot of schools is the head instructor is also the owner. Lets face it, most martial artists are either terrible businessmen or end up being super greedy.

That's a good point, but it can be a lot more expensive, and you may not have as much control over what's being taught as you might hope.

That is a good point, and I have been thinking about that. I guess my only way to really keep tabs on that is just a really strict interviewing process.

Martial arts schools are risky as hecks. If that's what you end up doing, plan everything out verrrry carefully.

[Stratamagnus]

*Nods* I'm majoring in Small Business Management.

My other idea is a diner that offers All You Can Eat Pancakes for 5 bucks.

[goingd]

Stratamagnus

*Nods* I'm majoring in Small Business Management.

My other idea is a diner that offers All You Can Eat Pancakes for 5 bucks.

Well Denny's is doing that for $4 right now, but maybe with inflation they'll raise their prices in time and you'll have the advantage. wink

[Stratamagnus]

Dammit! lol

I thought this was genius. I also learned that IHOP is offering unlimited pancakes for 4.99.

*kicks an empty can*

[goingd]

Maybe you can do a combo. First week of classes with unlimited pancakes for $5.

[Stratamagnus]

Haha, this is why I need to hire you. Maybe after your practice, you can gorge on unlimited pancakes.

So, as far as my training, this is what I am facing currently. I am rather broke but my Mom said she'd pay for them if I do stuff around the house since I'm a student and have downtime, which is a great deal as she knows I enjoy it.

The only issue is, I'm really beginning to second guess where I want to go. Where I was going, I felt like I was never learning anything new. We'd do like the same three things over and over again. I do understand MA is all about repition but 4 months of doing the same thing over and over was just a little much I felt. Plus, it's like a 109 a month for unlimited classes but I really only go two days a week and its an hour long class.

There's an Aikido dojo down the road that offers an 8 week course (with gi) for 160 bucks.

And I'm still interested in learning kempo, but the only kempo school is a little far and they changed their website and it looks like its all about kids now. I don't know.

Going, I need your sage-like wisdom.

btw, have you achieved the glow? o.o