Where can I find a true dojo? Not a mcdojo

Question

Okay I wanna find a true dojo for Martial arts (Any style) that will teach me to fight really good. How can I tell the difference between a mcdojo and a true dojo?

and do any of you know of a good martial arts school in miami, fl? in the south west

Answer 1

I would say:

Look for non-profit organizations associated with and/or certified by  long standing, recognized INTERNATIONAL martial arts associations.

Look for something like:

"ABC Judo is a family oriented non-profit judo club. Very active in local, state, national and international competition."

right at the top of their home page (if you are looking at websites.)

Always sit in on a class and WATCH what they are doing before you make any commitments.

Answer 2

This is going to sound corny and hokey, but it's the truth.  The best place to find a true dojo is within YOU.  You are going to have to put in the effort to fight really good.  You need to go cross train and investigate, find those who will give and you yourself give to others.

a) McDojos can be bad because they are giving away rank without real effort.  Yes, you'll get rank, but you'll probably get your butt whupped should you ever have to fight a real person.

b) TrueDojos can also be bad because some of those teachers are stingy about the rank.  You may think it is cool to be slaving away for 10 years just to get a 1st degree black belt, but, ask yourself how you'll feel after the 7th or 8th year, when you realize that 1st degree is supposed to be a beginning, not an end.  

Rank is not a big deal to you right now, but when it is time for you to start teaching, you will see how big of a deal it is.  If a gym has to choose between giving you, Mr. True 1st Degree black belt and Mr. 6th Degree McDojo, a place and space to teach, they are going to go with the 6th degree unless they have some deep understanding of martial arts.   You better hope the people who outrank you are too busy to teach the place you have an eye on.  Not only that, mcdojos exist because people do not want to wait forever to get a reward.  Now that may not be right, but, that is certainly the way it is.  

If I had it to do over, especially with the advent of the internet and easier ways to get info, I'd get a high rank black belt at a mcdojo, then go to some real places to train after I got the mcdojo rank.  

And to be honest, I don't even blame mcdojos for being mcdojos.  Because if it were up to some people, you'd NEVER get your black belt.  There are guys fighting in the UFC who don't have their black belts.  That may sound cool to you, that may sound like some sort of humble hero warrior deal, but to me, that sounds like a fighter who is being whored-out by his kung-fu kicking pimp.  How can you be a pro fighter and not given a 1st degree black belt just on the strength of being a decent pro fighter?  I'm talking 1st degree her, not 5th, 6th or 7th.  1st degree, not grand master.   Think about that.  

Or worse:  there may be a 5th degree black belt who expects you to fight as well as he or she does before they will award you your 1st degree.  How fair is that?  If you think that harkens back to some warrior ethic and spirit, you forget that nowadays people use guns, aka, the great equalizer.   This is like expecting someone who just got a degree in computer sciene to write code like someone who has the same degree and 10 years of experience as a programmer.

The only real dojo you have anyway is the one you create for yourself as a student of the martial arts.

Answer 3

http://www.shorin-ryu-karate.com/

This dojo is a branch of the Shinjinbukan.

You said you wanted a "TRUE" dojo, right?

This is it.

They are a non-profit organization located in Cooper City.

If I lived near a branch of this Organization, I would relinquish all my rank and years and become a member. In a few years, I'm all in there.

I forgot to mention - they interview all applicants and do not accept everyone.

Answer 4

this place looks legit

http://www.mma-miami.com/Biography.html