SawamuraWannabe

I apologize in advance for this excrutiatingly long and monotonous post.

Ever since I was a little kid, I have always had a very intense interest in the martial arts. Unfortunately, I was never allowed to take them. Even when I moved out and finally had the freedom to do as I wished, I still could not pursue this great interest of mine because I couldn't afford it.

But I suppose some good came of this poor hand I was dealt in life, as I eventually learned that Martial Arts were not all they were made out to be. Now before you all start flaming me, understand what I'm saying.

I'm not saying all martial arts are bad, but I think that in North America at least, they way they are taught is very poor. For example, I would imagine that in Asia, you could receive very high-quality instruction in a great number of styles and become a highly effective fighter. But thanks to the obscene ignorance and lack of respect towards martial arts in North America, if you try to learn to fight in a typical Tae Kwon Do or Karate dojo, you are likely to become a worse and more unskilled fighter than you could ever imagine.

Case in point, I once saw a Black Belt in Karate reduced to tears after one punch. I also once knew a guy who beat the shit out of two drunken guys, but broke his leg in the process. If I weren't so accustomed to such stupidity, I would be appalled that even a single dojo exists that can promote you to black belt without teaching you a goddamn thing. Or that there are instructors out there that teach you to break your fucking leg when you kick someone.

And I don't mean to generalize all North American Dojo as poor, fradulent, and inept, but it's my opinion and the opinion of many fighters that as unfortunate as it is, it's the case for about 95% of all Dojo here. But as bleak as my situation is in regard to studying the martial arts, I am holding on to the hope that I will someday find and be able to afford quality MA instruction. But while I have done a lot of research, I am by no means whatsoever an expert. I am still very much a novice to all of this.

I don't know a whole lot about how to distinguish a McDojo from a real one. I know enough to avoid any school that does any tournament-related competition, requires you to sign any contracts, or charges high belt fees/promotes you just to get money and not to teach. I would also like to avoid Dojo that have any belt ranking at all as a fighter should be judged by his skill, and not by the colour of socks he wears. It's absurd to think otherwise. But I won't entirely rule out belt-ranking because it's so common. Is there anything else I should know?

I don't know if anyone here is familiar with the area I live in, but in case anyone here is, and knowing will help them help me, I live in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. I don't know when I'll even be able to afford instruction, but I'm hoping to know where to go by the time I can. I am considering

http://www.russiansystema.com

And Krav Maga classes at Leo Wong's Tae Kwon Do Institute. I tend not to trust TKD schools, let alone Leo Wong's so called "Institute" (I suppose I'm being harsh, but I just don't trust the place.) but maybe the KM instructor is trustworthy and just rents the space or something.

As for Systema, it sounds really good, in fact, if it's everything it claims to be, this is exactly what I'm looking for. I'd even say it was made just for me. But that's also one of it's problems. Something that's too good to be true usually is. Also, I find the history suspicious. I mean, it sounds good like I said, but it's also just as possible that it's all a load of BS some fat Russian guys made up to scam ignorant people like me. Also, if what I read about Sambo is true, which is that it was originally created during WWII because Russian soldiers were having such a hard time with the Japanese, why couldn't they just use Systema? If it's been "declassified" since the '80s, why have I never heard of it until yesterday?

Also, I saw some demonstration videos and wasn't all that impressed. Although they'd need to be unimpressive for the average person to understand and be able to observe what's going on, but still... (http://www.systema-chicago.com)

Krav Maga is also right up my alley, but some schools/instructors are too McDojo-like for my liking. And of course, I'm open to just about anything as long as it teaches me to fight effectively. So yeah, long story short, I want real fighting/self-defense instruction, not fradulent, sporty instruction. Any help you can provide me with will be appreciated. Thank you.

SawamuraWannabe

Thank you for the input. However, my beef with martial arts is not crappy arts or anything, it's crappy instructors. I think just about any art can be very good if taught properly. Of course, I have my own preferences and favourite styles, based on my limited knowledge of a number of styles and based on what I feel would best suit my physical and mental makeup.

But everyone is different and has different goals, preferences, and needs. I don't think it's an issue of "My style is better than yours.", I believe the most effective style of fighting is achieved by learning as much as you can and always keeping an open mind. I would like to be able to train in various disciplines, but doing this is very hard for me as I am so worried about unwittingly signing up in a McDojo, and wasting my time and money to learn nothing.

I believe that for the most part, there is no such thing as a poor style. There are poor schools, there are poor practices and beliefs, etc;
Like I said, I have my preferences, but I'm open to just about anything as long as it teaches to fight well.

IPON

Unfortunately the McDojo syndrome, while predominately in the uS, is not exclusive to the US.


Well two things to consider.

1 having a BB or any level of skill does not make you impervious to pain. Many MAists are not throwing punches to the face and do not know how to take a punch. But I agree thee are many Wuss BBs

2. Without knowing all the deatils the guy beat the shit out of 2 guys (who were drunk) I don't think the broken leg should be looked at as a failing of a system (but again I don't know the deatils how the leg was broken). PPL fracture and break the femur it happens this person may not have done anything wrong.

3 "I would be appalled that even a single dojo exists that can promote you to black belt without teaching you a goddamn thing."

And yet there are educational systems in this country that do exactly the same thing. but I do agree with your point. I do not feel evryone should study MA. Because for it to be truely effective tehre is a certain level of training hat must be maintained which people are not willing to do. Parents upset because their precious child has been "studying" so hard for 1.5 yrs and dramed of having his BB before his 10th bithday


You may want to go to MA stores if there are some local they can give unbias or relatively unbias information about some schools. Always ask lineage. I think it is important many becuase thattells me how much you care about your art and how serious that person is. I have been to schools and the instrcutors could not answer this simple question alot of BS becuase he thought I walked off the street and knew nothing. Which is the other part, it sounds like you have done research when you go to schools aact as if you are naive as a newborn this way you will be able to spot the BS. Most "real" schools the instructor have a day job because the school is the love and teh job pays the bills. So expect no frills schools and limited hours 1-2 clases per days. Now if a school has classes all day it does not make it a McDojo all of these are just indicators to help you make your decision.


I have never studied System but have only heard good things about teh sytem fromreading and some post on the board. I would say do over intellectualize. MA is a journey which you have to take yourself through. Go to the school and see if it is a good fit for you and look at your other options. Part of the trianing is reality of your mental training. In a fight belts are meaningless as a white belt in Tang Soo Do, for the exception of on red belt I could only sparr with the BBs as a white belt. The important thing is how serous are you taking the training and your personal development and how honest are you about the liitation of you style and your abilities


just my 2 cents

__________________
A person who is said to be proficient in the arts is like a fool. Because of his foolishness in concerning himself with just one thing, he thinks of nothing else and thus becomes proficient. - Hagarkure

SawamuraWannabe

HandtoHand, granted, there probably are some poor styles, but I think most have a good deal of worth. But, that's just my opinion.

Ipon, thanks for your comments. To clarify a few things: First, the BB I know. Yes, I know that in most places you don't get the shit beat out of you everyday to build up your toughness, but someone who studied Karate for as long as this person should have enough skill to be able to dodge, block and counter attacks. Yes, I can understand a punch hurting, it's obvious that it would, and he seemed to be a person with a low tolerance for pain, but jeez. He took the punch head on, he didn't react in ANY way, and it actually lifted him off his feet, and he landed on his back crying like a little girl. Like he did a half-somersault or something. It was disgusting.

This is what happened with the guy who broke his leg: (Honestly not sure if he broke his actual leg, but he definitely broke or sprained something.) I was in my house with some people I knew, it was summer and I left my front door open. (Screen door was closed but unlocked.) So one person goes into the kitchen and screams. I go to see what's happening. Second person follows me. It turns out two drunk guys had just robbed and 80 year old man of a 2-4, and ran into my house for safety. The woman says she'll call the police. The guys leave. (I even knew one of the robbers. Haha.) The other guy, having been in trouble with the law and wanting to redeem himself, gives chase. He catches them at an intersection by my house, grabs on to one guy, throws him to the ground, kicks him a few times. Trips the other guy, kicks him a few times. He keeps them there until the police come, and he comes back hobbling on one leg. He either broke or sprained something, he was walking in crutches for weeks after.

There is only one martial arts supply store around here, and the guy recommended this place. According to him, it's really good, but I don't like the belt testing fees, and with that schedule, I probably won't be able to take too many classes.

IPON

Well there is no style were people 1000% competent, but I agree with you. Infact, I would have laughed


I checked the website but the fees didn't look that unreasonable to me. Plus this guy is putting everything on the table on teh website where most would not. I think it would be worthwhile to at least viosit the dojo and see what you think.

__________________
A person who is said to be proficient in the arts is like a fool. Because of his foolishness in concerning himself with just one thing, he thinks of nothing else and thus becomes proficient. - Hagarkure

sherwinc

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

__________________
"When your hand meets my hand, your hand is already my hand"

Question: What are the principal characteristics of a good fighter?

Answer: A good fighter has a lot of tricks, but doesn't play games

Lesson: More Techniques learned are better than Few