Red flags have been raised what do I do

Discussion in 'Tae Kwon Do' started by tkd_princess78, Feb 4, 2004.

  1. tkd_princess78

    tkd_princess78 New Member

    Ok i need help.. I hope all of you can help in some way. I should be testing for Black belt in June. I have put in years of sweat and time away from my family to train. I have noticed some things going on in my Do jahng that has me seeing red flags. When I first joined the master was very strict on his testing if you messes up you failed.. You also had to repeat the belt another two months. Now I see him passing students that should not be passing, and if by chance he does not pass them he lets you retest what you messed up on for a fee. A few of the students are upset by the way he is doing this now. I feel like I wanna try a new school but I'm loyal to my school I know he is a great teacher. I dont wanna fall in the hands of a Mc... you know what I mean. If I go to a new school Im afraid of having to start all over agian because I know every school is diff. Im not worried about the forms I would just have to find a school that WTF, but all the other stuff I know diff. from school to school. What should I do.
     
  2. LilBunnyRabbit

    LilBunnyRabbit Old One

    The things that you know shouldn't differ that much between schools, although you probably wouldn't be grading for a while if there were any differences. The fact that you're worrying about your current school is telling though, I'd say look around, and when you do explain to the instructor that you're thinking of switching schools, and ask what would happen about your grade. Most will probably be happy to have you keep it.
     
  3. neryo_tkd

    neryo_tkd Valued Member

    u said that u didn't want to start training at a McDojo, but if ur instructor keeps running things that way, ur school is on a good way to become one.

    i really don't know what to tell u. it's a $hitty thing. u spend years and years at one school, and now that this important moment is coming, ur black belt testing, things started changing.

    i know u r upset, but maybe u should stick in there for a while longer and see how things will turn out. in the meantime, if u really want it, u can ask around to see if there are other WTF schools in the area and maybe watch a training session or two to see how things are done in other schools.

    don't lose heart. the most important thing is that u learn what u r supposed to learn. keep training hard, get ready for the black belt testing.

    i don't know ur instructor, and i don't know how well u know him, but wld it be possible to talk to him? maybe start a conversation and without judging him or becoming upset just ask him what's the reason for such a change. maybe u cld tell him that u really really enjoyed the way the school was run before, something in that direction.

    keep us posted! good luck!
     
  4. Thomas

    Thomas Combat Hapkido/Taekwondo

    Really tough situation

    If I were in that situation, I would probably stay with the school until my black belt test. I would try to see if there was any way of getting the school back on track, including talking to the master about it. At the very least, I personally would want to test for my black belt, if I felt I was ready, and then if the school no longer was the one for me I would move on, taking my rank with me.

    Even though it may seem like I am advocating just "doing it for the rank", I really think that if you have trained hard and in good faith and are ready for 1st dan, you shoulkd test before moving on to another school.
     
  5. KickChick

    KickChick Valued Member

    I'd have to agree with neryo_tkd on this :)

    Major red flag:
     
  6. marco

    marco Valued Member

    Yep, the guys seem to be in agreement. you've been this far with the club and you say that the training is up to scratch. The problem is with commercialism, TKD is a victim of its own success. If the master doesn't start passing people then they'll just go elsewhere for the privilege.

    I know that might **** you off, but believe me when you've been running your own business....not necessarily MA, and a slump hits then you'll try anything to get it back on track. It may be something like this so its worth showing some loyalty.
     
  7. kickcatcher

    kickcatcher Banned Banned

    My advice is to stay until black belt and then go nomadic, cross training in diverse styles that will challenge/undermine/develop and put into context what you’ve learnt. That is what all senior belts ought to do IMO.

    But get the blackbelt all the same. Why!??! What a shocking statement! We all know that a blackbelt means sod all, especially if you don’t respect the testing system you earned it under. But there is a cliché at play. It’s better to have one, any one, than to have not. Sad but true.
     
  8. TigerAnsTKDLove

    TigerAnsTKDLove Ex-TKD'er 2005.

    wow i belong to this school and i disagree master an failed like 5-6 kids the last test he even failed a white belt for not knowing mental education. master an is not a mc dojo and it upsets me. master an is very strict with me i know... this was one very hard post for me to read especially that i am very true to this school and have a great relationship with master an.

    also i dont know wut your saying... HE DOESN'T CHARGE FOR A RE-TEST! i know a few kids dont wanna mention that have failed and got a second chance for free and if they fail... they stay in that belt another 2 months. so that info is wrong.
     
    Last edited: Feb 5, 2004
  9. HitNRun

    HitNRun New Member

    Well Misty,

    You started out by stating that you are testing for your BB in June, which is very near. Since I was in your position not too long ago and since several of my TKD friends are also testing for BB in June and they have been sharing with me their thoughts as of late, I have a few thoughts that may be helpful.

    First of all, if you are anything like me, you just sort of fell into starting this journey into TKD. You probably never thought that you would ever find yourself in the position of actually being a black belt in a martial art. So this is surprise #1.

    Next, you have been taking lessone for years and although you may not always see it, you have been getting more and more proficient as time goes along. The only time you actually see how much you have learned is when you are working with the white belts.

    Now, going through your head is all kinds of emotion and anxiety. You want the day to come when you get to prove yourself, but you also want to be as prepared as possible and you don't want to fail. If all of what I'm saying is making sense then quite possibly your instructor is being as strict as he always has been, It's just that you are looking at this from the standpoint of a person who is for all intents and purposes a black belt. I personally became ultra critical 4 months before my test and my soon to be BB friends are ultra critical now. So maybe you are also in that boat.

    Perfection for a yellow belt is not the same as perfection for a red belt. Your standards have gone up much higher. You know what the proper technique looks like now and if someone makes even a small mistake on their form, you catch it.

    TKD is all about getting out of it what you put into it. Your instructor will push a motivated student harder than one that does average work. When I tested for BB, there was a man who was testing for 3rd Dan. While this man is much younger than I am and he was testing for a higher rank, I feel that my instructor put me through more of a trial then the 3rd Dan. My attitude is better and I have a greater martial spirit. Not to say that the guy doesn't deserve his rank or that he is not up to the rank, but my instructor did not know where my breaking point is, and I think he was wanting to see if he could get me to throw in the towel, which I refused to do. Furthermore, when my TKD friends test in June, I don't expect that they will have to endure what I had to do, and It's not because they aren't BB material.

    Make your personal standards very high. Give your instructor 120%, worry about what Misty knows and can do, and not what some 25 year old blue belt (or whatever) gets away with. You are going to be a black belt in about 4 months. The "25 year old blue belt alpha male" may or may not ever make it that far, most quit.

    Tom
     
    Last edited: Feb 5, 2004
  10. tkd_princess78

    tkd_princess78 New Member

    Thank you so much hitnrun. I think I do have alot higher standards I do catch the little mistakes that are made I still make a few myself and I beat my self up about them. Yes he is very strick on me but I noticed hes not has with others. You are right about me just falling in to TKD. My mother made me start taking it in Sept 2001 after she had found out I was sexually asulted. I never pictured myself where I am now. I now know no man will ever hurt me again with out on hell of a fight. TigerAnTKDlove I know we go to the same school I never what to make you think Im talking bad about our school I just have a few concerns things I have noticed after being there for so long. there are three groups in that school ...
    1. His favorites (Josh Jorden Keiu Derick just to name a few)
    2. the slackers (wont name any here)
    3. the hard workers (like you and I)
    The favorites worked hard to get where they are now..

    Testing have you had a judge come in since you have started testing? We used to have them all the time lots of kids were failing.. now it seems Master An does all the judging him self at test no master from other school come. You will start to see things later as you move along your still new to the school.

    I will just look the other way get my hard earn Black Belt and go from there maybe even learn a new MA.. I just dont know so i am sorry if I offended you.
     
  11. Thomas

    Thomas Combat Hapkido/Taekwondo

    HitNRun:

    What a great post... lots of insights and reflections to look at. Well worth reading... thanks!
     
  12. TigerAn1

    TigerAn1 A Southern Praying Mantis

    Same school here- and I have an addendum to this. Yesterday, I dropped my kids off and went into the lobby of the school. There in plain view the Master has posted (not verbatim), Attention Parents- please try to seek out anyone interested in joining the school. Ask your friends and neighbors, blah, blah, blah..

    2 Big Macs- 2 dollars? Does this kind of soliciting for business seem right, or McDojangish?
     
  13. KickChick

    KickChick Valued Member

    well..... no not really

    It seems that this is the time of year when enrollment is low.

    Let's face it ... for some school owners this is their only source of income. Running a safe, clean and up to date martial art school takes money, never mind paying the rent & utilities ... (.... here in my area it is close to a thousand a month or more!)

    I would rather that I am asked to seek out more students rather than to have my tuition raised.
     
  14. Kinjiro Tsukasa

    Kinjiro Tsukasa I'm hungry; got troll? Supporter

    Or even worse yet, to have the school close.
     
  15. shifu tiger

    shifu tiger enter my circle of death

    princess,
    to bad u didn't have a shou shu school out there. those kind of tactics don't happen in our schools. that sort of thing causes desention and mistrust. u should maybe consider changing systems. just a thought for u. good luck and continue to work hard.

    salute
     
  16. Thomas

    Thomas Combat Hapkido/Taekwondo

    I hate to respectfully disagree with the above statement but it not necessarily the "system"... rather an individual happening. I would hazard a guess and say that there probably are some Shou Shu schools that have problems as well. Maybe not yours, but maybe others.

    Back on the topic of posting or asking students to recruit new memebers... I see nothing wrong with this. As others pointed out, to keep a school going (even surviving) takes money and enrollment. Asking students to look for people is, in my humble opinion, better than just waiting for anyone to come in. As a University club, we do ask people to bring their buddies in... as it turns out that usually like-minded and like-interested people hang out together... therefore we sometimes get some great new people coming in because their friends like it.
     
  17. TigerAnsTKDLove

    TigerAnsTKDLove Ex-TKD'er 2005.

    ok one thing i know is about derek i am great friends with both derek and jordan... derek yes i know is a fave. it is noticeable but derek was one of his very first students hes been with master an since he opened up mia told me. and derek is just all around fantastic hes great. jordan on the other hand is not a fave jordan is good but he isnt a favorite at least i don't see that. josh and keiu.... keiu is wonderful a black belt in both hkd and tkd i see her yes as a fave but josh no... josh is a black belt in both hkd and tkd but i know he is not a fave. if your thinking about the tiger an's movie that we made and josh is in it alot i can see where your coming from but personally i know josh isnt a favorite and i know josh enough that he wouldnt wanna be a favorite. derek i can really agree with you on but derek is wonderful hes great and hes an awesome pal of mine.
     
  18. tkd_princess78

    tkd_princess78 New Member

    Yes derek I great one of the best students we have. I have been good friends with Josh and keiu Im glad I was there to see them get married. I was just using name so you could see alittle diff. but I know you wont for awhile. Im glad you are a loyal student we need more.

    Back to the subject. talk to your father if you have questions about my post no one else I really dont need Master An or his wife on my back thinking im bad talkin about the school when im not. Im just concered and i wanted to see if others have has this concern.
     
  19. HitNRun

    HitNRun New Member

    TigerAn1,

    Think about your school owners actions regarding recruting new students another way.

    Suppose you took $1,500,000.00 of your money and purchased a struggling small company that made very high quality wigets. Your new factory has the capability of producing the finest wigets available and you could crank out fifty thousand of them per day and employ 50 people full time and pay them a nice wage.

    Your biggest concern at this point is not can you make the wigets, but rather can you find a buyer for your wigets. If you cannot find a buyer, your top of the line wiget company is not going to last very long. Your wiget company need a marketing stragety and a decient sales force. There are plenty of wiget compnies out there and high quality doesn't mean much if no one knows that you exist. A business that doesn't grow, shrivles up and dies. Maybe you don't like the marketing stragety and thats ok, but they need some sort of marketing stragety and this one costs much less than an ad in the yellow pages and or a spot on cable TV.

    It is said that 1 in 100 students make it to Black Belt. If your school has ten BBs, then 990 students quit since the 10 BBs started. Martial Arts is not for everyone...most people want the skills but do not put in the time and effort. Another way of looking at it.

    BTW, TigerAn1, I want you to know that I have the highest respect for you, being that you are an adult beginner in HKD. I wish you well!

    Tom
     
    Last edited: Feb 6, 2004
  20. TigerAn1

    TigerAn1 A Southern Praying Mantis

    Thanx HitNRun. I'll remind myself of that every night I sit in my rocking chair lounger soaking my sore ankles.. ;)

    After reading the replies, it seems like maybe it's not a bad idea after all to request parents to seek out new students. Besides, look at how lawyers go about getting new clients. ;)
     

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