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Are “Mixed Martial Arts Schools” Ruining
Martial Arts?

Real Mixed Martial Arts Schools versus McDojos

Since the recent explosion of MMA, I’ve seen more and more “Mixed Martial Arts Schools” popping up everywhere. Some are traditional martial arts schools who are trying to capitalize on the popularity of MMA, others are schools that don’t really have a specialty and try to be all things to all people. I certainly don’t blame anybody for attempting to implement clever marketing strategies to help make a living. It’s when people start “selling out” and do questionable things like giving away belts or use false or misleading claims that it becomes a problem.

A true story

I was recently at the academy going over some things with an employee when in walks two young men in their late 20s early 30s. I found out as we began talking that neither one had ever trained in any martial art or combat sport previously. However, one guy (the more talkative of the two) wanted to see if he could set up some sparring for his friend with one of our guys.

He was convinced his friend had what it took to fight in the UFC and wanted to see if he was ready by sparring one of our guys. Again, neither of these two had ever trained. I told him what I could do is set up a private lesson to spar (just grapple), where I could evaluate his friend’s jiu-jitsu . I gave them my card and they were both very excited and said they would call immediately. Needless to say, that they never dialed my number.

These are not necessarily the prospects we’re targeting, but it comes with the territory of running a well known mixed martial arts school. We do our best to instill certain values in our students, whether they want to be the next MMA champion or just be a better person who is equipped to solve problems in their daily life more effectively.

What to look for when evaluating mixed martial arts schools

  • Integrity- Mixed Martial Arts schools that have integrity understand that people are always watching them whether they realize it or not. They don’t “slack off” or do the wrong thing when no one is looking.
  • Respect-Respect should be given to the students, the instructors, and the art itself. If you don’t sense there is a certain level of respect, run, don’t walk the other way.
  • Happy students-One of the best ways to research a product or service is to find someone else who has experience working with that particular company. If you can find an individual similar to yourself with the same goals as you when they started, ask them about it and see what kind of vibe you get. You can even ask the company directly for references. If they don’t want to give you any, it’s not a good sign.
  • Work ethic-Anything worthwhile is going to take time and effort. If someone tells you that you can earn a black belt in 1-3 years, they are probably more concerned with the “almighty dollar,” than with teaching the proper work ethic which builds character. I’d be especially weary if they ask you to pay for your belt.
  • Loyalty-It seems that loyalty to instructors is becoming increasingly less common. Students who remain loyal to their school and to their instructor have a more rewarding experience than those who don’t.

Action steps for visiting mixed martial arts schools

Here are three things you can do immediately to put these ideas into action.

First, find some academies where you sense a certain level of integrity and respect. It’s worth taking your time looking into mixed martial arts schools.

Second, talk to the students at the academy. Find out what they like most about the academy and why they train there. This will help you when making your decision.

Third, Pick one of the mixed martial arts schools and join up. Start attending classes and become a loyal student.

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