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FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

Question: How much does karate cost?

Answer: I understand we need to shop around... its a staple of our culture. But, in Japan, to walk in a dojo and first ask, "how much is it," is quite impolite. You see, real martial arts is not daycare or a gallon of milk. It is very serious and is certainly not something you "shop around." It is an art and one seeks an instructor, be it art, music, or martial arts, based on reputation. Asking the price of something without knowing anything about it is kind of backwards.

We have many programs to fit any budget. Regardless of the program,though, we are considerably less than the other studios. Someone "shopping around" must take into consideration the qualifications of the instructors, the program, the attitude of the instructors , and LASTLY the cost.

Question: How do I get started?

Answer: Send an email or call to set up a time to talk to the instructor. This is a very important time for you to get to know a little about the program. You will learn that you get to try it for a while for free and you do not need a uniform to get started. If you like it, you can pay your first month's tuition, get your uniform, and get started. Its that simple. There are no contracts, no application fees, and no membership fees. Membership is automatic. Only certified black belt members pay a nominal annual fee to our International Association.

Question: What is the difference between Karate and Tae Kwon Do?

Answer: Tae Kwon Do comes from Karate. Despite the "legends" created by the Korean marketing machine, the truth is that Tae Kwon Do was formulated in the late 50s around the Japanese Karate model and produced as an "ancient" art. The similarities in form structure are not coincidence. There have been countless articles written on the subject. There is also Kumdo (after Japanese Kendo), Yudo (after Japanese Judo), and Hapkido (after Japanese Jujutsu).

Question: What is the difference between Judo, Brazillian Jujutsu, and Classical Jujutsu?

Answer: They all have roots in classical Jujutsu. The founder of Judo was a Kito Ryu Jujutsu master (Classical Style) and took the less dangerous techniques out of the syllabus to create the sport of Judo. Mitsuo Maeda from the Judo headquarters in Japan moved to Brazil setting the stage for "Brazillian Jujitsu". Jujitsu that you see in sport has its roots in Classical methodologies but are merely a shadow of their former selves. Classical Jujutsu, arts founded before or after the Meiji Restoration in the late 1800's retain the classical principles, influences, and teaching methodologies in lieu of only being geared around competition.

Question: What is a black belt club? Do you offer it?

The "Purple Belt" program, "Black Belt" program, and "Masters Club" programs were spearheaded by the Educational Funding Company, a martial arts school billing and marketing company. They simply refer to an 8 month, three year, and extended three year billing contract. Despite the "advantages" of being a member, lets not forget who created the programs in the first place. They exist simply to make the studio more money. No, we do not offer it. It is an insult to our clients to even suggest it.

Question: What is a "Sensei?"

Sensei literally means "one who has gone before." It is a loose term meaning director of instruction at a dojo. Being a black belt does NOT make one Sensei, a formal license does. Rank is not the same as a teaching license although they usually go hand in hand above 5th Dan. This is why true instructors will have the term "Shidoin, Shihan, Renshi, Kyoshi, Hanshi" or other suffixes after their rank. As an example, you can have an engineering degree, but after receiving it you will pursue EIT (engineer in training), and PE, professional engineer. These are follow up certifications issued by a governing body denoting an advanced level of understanding. Here is a sample heirarchy:

1st Degree Black Belt

2nd Degree Black Belt- Eligible for "Shidoin" teaching license (Entry Level)

3rd Degree Black Belt- With license, may informally be referred to as "Sensei"

4th Degree Black Belt- Eligible for "Shihan Dai" teaching license (Master in Training) and Renshi

5th Degree Black Belt- Eligible for "Shihan" teaching license and "Renshi" title (like MBA or PE)

6th Degree Black Belt- Usually when Shihan is officially awarded, Master Instructor. Eligible for "Kyoshi"

7th Degree Black Belt- "Kyoshi" title (like PhD)

After 7th, ranks of 8th, 9th and 10th are awarded with additional titles of Tasshi and Hanshi.

Now... this process has to be completed in EVERY discipline one says they teach. So, a Karate or TaeKwon Do Instructor who also teaches swords and weaponry and jujutsu MUST have separate licensure in order to be correct. Otherwise, they are more than likely teaching what they picked up at seminars and YouTube. Its OK if you want to have fun...but its not real...

Instructor Licenses are a dime a dozen. You can get them at weekend seminars and industry "shows". Watch out for certifications from "Professional Martial Arts Associations" , "Karate Teacher's Associations" and organizations that the head of the studio created (self-promoted). There are several reputable US based organizations, but, certification in Japanese martial arts should have some affiliation with Japan.

Question: How is the consumer supposed to know all of this?

Answer: You're not. The American Martial Arts marketing machine cleverly hides, (actually they try to present ancient traditions as "obsolete), all of the tradition behind more modern certifications such as "Professional Martial Artist." Most promoters of such business models have never studied a traditional art nor received any sort of authentic teacher certification. Why? Because it is too hard and requires one to actually learn an ancient tradition instead of being encouraged to make up one's own curriculum and implement programs inspired by YouTube, ESPN, MMA, and the Ninja Turtles.

Question: So, technically, what is the difference between the traditional and contemporary training?

Answer: Think of it like this: In most schools, "advanced techniques" are based on how much higher, how much faster, how much stronger, and how much more complex techniques can be. This is because there is no depth to the techniques... all that is known about martial arts is basic forms, kicks, punches, and blocks. Then, to make them more advanced, they are made "harder to do." The depth of traditional training relies on things like timing and position. Hundreds of years of historical trial and error is what separates concepts that work from techniques that "look good."

Question: I already have a rank in a different style. Can I wear that belt in your school?

Answer: It depends. If I have an MBA does that mean I can go perform open heart surgery? Of course not. You might say that martial arts are not so different. I am telling you there are. Cross-grading is done, but it is done on a case by case basis. Our rank is based on a curriculum. Either you know it or you don't. Your rank reflects that. After doing Japanese swordsmanship for 15 years, I went to Japan. I had to start over. It was the best thing I ever did.

Question: How old must one be to get a black belt? How long does it take?

Answer: Children do not have the maturity level to be a black belt. Again, "Junior black belts" is a marketing scheme...there really is no such thing. In our dojo, all black belts have to know the same material. Probationary black belts are issued at a minimum age of 13 and a minimum training time of 4-5 years. The black belt actually means nothing in the grand scheme of things. It simply means you know the basics. The Japanese term for a 1st degree black belt is "Shodan," and simply means "first level." Its the Western world that has placed the allure of the BLACK BELT on an over-inflated level of accomplishment.

Final Words

Some may take offense at some of the things written, but that doesn't make what I am saying any less true. I do try to make everyone feel comfortable in the dojo. I have many students who have transferred from other styles and not only represent their previous teachers well, but now represent our tradition very well. Regardless of previous skills, a student has to start from the beginning when starting something new in order to appreciate the art. This does not mean previous skills must be forgotten, quite the contrary. But, until there is proficiency in our methodology, prior experience has to be put on the back burner.

Shin Dojo is a traditional Japanese style dojo in the Western world. Don't get me wrong, I am American, tried and true. But, as an American, I have taken up the study of an art that comes from a completely different culture that has nuances I will never truly comprehend. While the thought of becoming physically adept at the art is appealing to many of my fellow citizens, there is a point where your true learning will cease if you don't embrace the culture. So many times, I hear that instructors will stop certain traditions or eliminate certain techniques or concepts because they are interpreted as antiquated or "unpractical." This is where most martial artists stop learning. They think they are continuing to advance because they are learning new techniques and forms, but it is all still based on the understanding of a mind fully removed from the culture, thus, the true intentions of the art are missed.

I try to provide the best tradional style training to my students in a style that is slightly Western in the beginning but becomes traditionally Japanese as the student grows in the art. This includes learning the culture, history, and language associated with our arts.