Open House - May 19, 2019

A Baldwin Shotokan dojo closed two weekends ago.  They finished Saturday morning classes, closed the doors, packed up, and left.  They had no scheduled classes on Sunday or Monday, by which time an email went out to all students and Facebook announced that the dojo was permanently closed effective immediately.  Their dojo website and 800 phone number were already disabled.

Arrangements were made for their students to continue training at a Shotokan dojo almost four miles away, with their tuition covered from mid-May to the end of June.  They also made a point of saying that this dojo was the only one recommended for their students to attend.  A few students said they would not attend this new dojo, and reached out to us, ¾ mile away from their former school, to continue training here.  They know of our Sensei Abrams, who was the kobudo instructor at their now-defunct school.  Mr. Abrams sat on promotion tests there, and supported many of their students at tournaments.  Some of their students reached out to other former members and they also contacted our dojo. 

The weekend after their dojo closed, we hosted an open house.  Around 15 people showed up and took class with us.  At that time I reminded them that the dojo almost four miles away was recommended, and their fees were covered for six weeks.  Several said that, for varying reasons, they had no intention of going there.  I said they were welcome to train here as my guest to the end of May.  They would pay tuition as of June.  This gave them a chance to see if we are a good fit for them, and if not, go four miles where their fees are covered for another month.  Our tuition is significantly lower than what they were paying, so a few months with us will save more than their pre-paid June fees at the recommended dojo.  From open house to today, ten of their members trained with us on a regular basis.

Someone asked why all this didn’t upset me.  When the former sensei recommended that particular dojo AND NO OTHER, it was a slap in our face - especially since the former sensei studied/trained at our dojo, we were both members of Miyazaki OB-Kai, and we dined together several times.  He knows that we do not take little children and the other dojo does, and likely took this into consideration for his little tykes.  He probably made a deal with the new dojo for his students.  These were sound business decisions.  As it happens, the female Black Belt who taught their little children’s classes came to our open house.  She is interested in joining us and working little children’s classes for us.

If I should be upset about anything, it would be that the school opened in Baldwin in 2012.  Baldwin was our town from 1986 to 2006, only moving ¾ mile away to Freeport when our landlord, American Legion, sold the building.  I wasn’t upset because we rent a small room in a Temple, no street traffic or signage, too small to mount any major ad campaign.  The sensei could say he was unaware that he opened so close to us, same style, same Miyazaki lineage.  I remain positive.  I know what we have to offer.  His students will hopefully recognize it and decide to join with us.  If not, I wish them well at the new dojo.  My one hope is that all the students continue training, improving, and bettering themselves.

Semantics

Two communications within the past week had me thinking how important semantics can be:

I belong to an online group that discusses functional Karate training. Members will share ideas and show videos. Often, the same handful of people will strongly comment how the idea or technique is terrible… it’ll never work… etc. The site moderator challenged these few people to show a better way, not just criticize what was presented. One commented that criticism can be helpful. That’s when I gave my two cents worth - “Splitting hairs: ‘critique’ can be helpful; ‘criticism’ usually is not.”

CRITIQUE is a detailed analysis of something, showing insight pro and con.

CRITICISM is expression of disapproval for someone or something based on perceived faults or mistakes.

It often comes down to semantics. It’s not only how you say something, it’s how the other person perceives what you say.

A student candidly expressed frustration to me. He felt that I constantly corrected everything he did. Here’s where semantics comes into play. ‘Correction’ is necessary, but can be demoralizing. I assured him that most of what he does is very good, and that a few moves can be improved. ‘Correction’ can have negative connotation, while ‘improvement’ sounds more positive. He seemed to feel a little better that he’s being shown how to improve his techniques instead of being browbeaten with a ton of corrections.

In the ‘old days’, Sensei gave you corrections, push-ups, or worse, struck you to show how your technique was ineffective.  Your reaction, feelings, or response could only be, ‘Hai Sensei’. No, I’m not saying today’s kids are too sensitive, softer than we were, or anything like that. I’m recognizing that we’re in the 21^st century, it’s a different world, and our teaching methods must reflect these modern times. Long ago ‘some antics’ went on in the dojo, today ‘semantics’ can help make the same point.