God forbid something might actually be "street effective."
There is nothing wrong with growing, expanding-or doing business seminars-provided there isn't a decline in quality. Even a martial arts franchise can do this if done properly. Problem: It isn't done properly and integrity is thrown in the waste can.
I consistently see people cracking on commercial schools and casting about the "McDojo" appelation loosely and without any sense of definition. This is incorrect and unfair. "Commercial" does not by default mean "crap."
I've had the charge leveled against me by a local instructor. He started casting allegations we were teaching arts we weren't authorized to teach-yet every one of our instructors is certified in the arts we teach.
He at one time said, "If I had half a mind to, I'd open up a school and shut the Scotts down." He was told by someone in the know that if he had "half a mind" to do such a thing, he'd be operating with exactly the right equipment. Why? Because we market well? Yes. We're also good teachers and have top notch programs.
Years later this guy taught a university course on running a commercial martial arts school--to date he's never done this, having only run small clubs at community centers. He was either fired or denied contract renewal at two of those programs and we took them over. His karma ran over him.
My point? Jealousy motivated this man. My wife and I and our instructors lived the dream. He's still dreaming it.
If you can do better than those schools you malign...if you can run a commercial school and not make it a McDojo--then do so. If you're already doing that, great. If not, get cracking. I'd love nothing better than to see another good school to contest those McDojos that are out there (and I freely acknowledge they exist).
If you think that merely opening up such a school is automatically an insult to the arts--I'd suggest you haven't a clue as to what you're talking about. A number of fine students and instructors here on MT and elsewhere who have either trained in--or operate--top notch martial arts schools. They go to business seminars; they host, teach, and attend martial arts seminars; they expand their programs; they make their arts street effective; and they make a lving at it.
But if they do "no touch knockouts," I submit they're not street effective nor a McDojo. They're a cult. And they're selling you a bill of goods.
My offer still stands if anybody wants to knock me out with one of these "no touch" techniques. I'm all a-shiver with anticipation.
Regards,
Steve