View Full Version : How to start a dojo?
drew_seppuku
08-31-2005, 14:09
In this day and time I know starting a Dojo cant easily be made like it use to, with people sueing you for hurting an ankle or some petty injury like that, so I need to know what all needs to be done, and here's some Background info.
I (along with 4 others)studied Kashima Shinto Ryu under Sojou Takanasha for 2 years, i got...i dunno, adaquate, then his teacher above him died and well, our instructor commited Seppuku. So we now have no teacher, and have been this way for 6 months almost, we desperately need to practice and stuff, but..it seems so hard with no place to go (btw, where in Middle TN) so we want to start a dojo and let the best student be the teacher. what has to be done (mostly legal actions) to keep it legaly safe, secure, ect.?
Please tell me you are a troll?
You're 17 years old and have 2 years of training and you think you are ready to open a school? Good luck with that...... :rolleyes:
To answer your question, I think there is insurance that MA schools can get, but it would be a lot easier to have them sign a waiver.
Just find a school with a qualified instructor and train, having your own school is the last thing you need right now.
scruffysmileyface
08-31-2005, 16:47
OMG...Are you serious?
Forget the idea of starting your own dojo without a qualified teacher. As Corey says, you need to get yourself into an existing dojo (one whose teacher is not a Samurai and will therefore not commit seppuku).
hizaguchi
08-31-2005, 17:25
then his teacher above him died and well, our instructor commited Seppuku.
I hope he used a frisbee.
Anyhow, there's probably another school around you somewhere. I'd find one. Where in middle Tennessee are you? I know Nashville is overflowing with martial arts classes.
Gunyo Kogusoku
08-31-2005, 17:31
A sparkling example of what a troll is.
2 years of training is still just beginning. You guys need a new instructor with experience. Starting a dojo is a long stretch. My recomendation is to practice with each other the info you already know(so you won't forget) until you can find a new school. Don't play around experimenting...there is too much confusion and you may do things wrong. You need a teacher.
hizaguchi
08-31-2005, 17:41
A sparkling example of what a troll is.
Just in case he's not though...
I notice you studied kenjutsu? If you are anywhere near Portland, TN, Dale Kirby teaches Wado Ryu Karate and Satori Ryu Iaido down there. http://www.kirbyskarateacademy.com/Pages/Location.htm Might be worth checking into if you're interested in continuing some type of sword training. I believe he also ranks in Muso Shindo Ryu Jodo, which has the practical advantage of making you better at pool. :)
Charles Mahan
08-31-2005, 22:18
A quick search on google turned up the following entry for takanasha
Rurouni Kenshin: Redemption Forums - View Profile
... Birthday, April 2, 1988. RPG Name, Takanasha. Biography, I work at a dojo teaching
kenjutsu. If you live in Tennessee you can come by. Interests, anime and swords ...
www.rkredemption.com/forums/ member.php?action=getinfo&userid=294 - 11k - Supplemental Result - Cached - Similar pages
That's a link to a profile which has apparently been changed since google last hit the page. Think it's a coincidence that someone else in Tennessee was using that name as a RPG name?
Musubi Dojo
09-01-2005, 09:16
A quick search on google turned up the following entry for takanasha
That's a link to a profile which has apparently been changed since google last hit the page. Think it's a coincidence that someone else in Tennessee was using that name as a RPG name?
Another master of "Dragonball Z" perhaps.
Charles Mahan
09-01-2005, 09:31
Perhaps. There was another google result which linked the name with Dragon Ball Z, but I don't know the series well enough to recognize the name.
Charles, you seemed to have preceded me a bit. I got to the same page :)
I really find it interesting though -- A 17 year old in Tennessee who does (and teaches!) kenjutsu and uses the name "Takanasha" in RPGs. A 17 year old in Tennessee who studied kenjutsu under a teacher named Takanasha Sojou, who committed seppuku after his teachers death... Very interesting.
I like that name, Takanasha Sojou. The first part, "Takanasha", is not present in my Japanese name dictionary. That happens when people try to make up Japanese names and don't know about Japanese names. The second part is a name, but not romanized correctly. All the names I can find like it are either "Soujou" or "Soujo", not "Sojou".
But more revealing I think is the behavior of the supposed teacher. When his teacher died, as all teachers must, did he think about continuing the art and training his students, who had only begun (after all, 2 years is very, very short)? No, he committed seppuku. Very strange. If a teacher dedicates his life to teaching an art, he does everything to pass it on. To leave his students with only the most basic of teachings.. Certainly he didn't mean for them to teach.
You have no claim to continue the style or dojo. Find another art, or another teacher in the art you practice. That's all that's left, but life is tough all around. I don't know about the troll part myself, I'm tempted to assign this to youth and ignorance. At least, I hope so.
total-immortal
09-06-2005, 12:36
"Seppuku took you from me, I wish you luch master, wherever you are."
Just that sounds RP enough (and its LUCK), he probubly plays on a net RP dojo or something. I used to see them all the time on msn chats when they were still free...
Charles Mahan
09-06-2005, 13:18
Just that sounds RP enough (and its LUCK), he probubly plays on a net RP dojo or something. I used to see them all the time on msn chats when they were still free...
Perhaps it was supposed to be LUNCH?
Perhaps it was supposed to be LUNCH?
I think so... See, our hero was struggling during his mushashugyo, with no food and 2 days past his last meal. He came upon a wizened old Japanese man on the side of the road, eating his bento (in Tennessee, no less). Quickly, without being seen, he hid in the bushes behind the master and slowly inched up behind the old man. When the old man looked down the road at a passing horse, he took his chance and quickly grabbed for a rice ball, but was startled by the master grabbing his hand between his chopsticks. A comical fight ensued, with our hero grabbing and trying to eat the rice ball as the stranger stopped him with chopsticks and rice bowls. The fight was so funny that a passing chinaman would later re-enact it in front of a hollywood director, and the comedy kung-fu of Jackie Chan was born. But finally, the hero pinched the old master's nose, and as the master went wide-eyed with surprise, the hero grabbed the rice ball and quickly ate it. They had a laugh, the master revealed that he was the sole survivor of a samurai clan with a secret art, and thus the teaching begun. But every time they had lunch, it reminded them of that fateful meeting.
And so, every day, the hero wishes his master lunch, wherever he is.
(sorry, I don't usually do this, but I was just struck with inspiration... Don't mean to be mean, just a bit of harmless fun I hope).
Does anyone find it odd that the splendid example of a trolll that started the thread completely backed out on the thread? He hasnt posted since the topic.
Charles Mahan
09-06-2005, 15:18
That is unusual in a troll. They usually come on and cause a stink.
DragonMind
09-09-2005, 16:12
No, see this is what happened. The old master dies. The teacher (who was the master's student) must kill himself. Therefore, all the students of the teacher must kill themselves as well. Didn't you hear about the mass suicides in Tenn? Or was that Neverland... :laugh:
Musubi Dojo
09-09-2005, 18:45
No, see this is what happened. The old master dies. The teacher (who was the master's student) must kill himself. Therefore, all the students of the teacher must kill themselves as well. Didn't you hear about the mass suicides in Tenn? Or was that Neverland... :laugh:
Ohhhhhhhhh, Kool-Aid parties........it all makes sense now.
total-immortal
09-10-2005, 20:41
I think so... See, our hero was struggling during his mushashugyo, with no food and 2 days past his last meal. He came upon a wizened old Japanese man on the side of the road, eating his bento (in Tennessee, no less). Quickly, without being seen, he hid in the bushes behind the master and slowly inched up behind the old man. When the old man looked down the road at a passing horse, he took his chance and quickly grabbed for a rice ball, but was startled by the master grabbing his hand between his chopsticks. A comical fight ensued, with our hero grabbing and trying to eat the rice ball as the stranger stopped him with chopsticks and rice bowls. The fight was so funny that a passing chinaman would later re-enact it in front of a hollywood director, and the comedy kung-fu of Jackie Chan was born. But finally, the hero pinched the old master's nose, and as the master went wide-eyed with surprise, the hero grabbed the rice ball and quickly ate it. They had a laugh, the master revealed that he was the sole survivor of a samurai clan with a secret art, and thus the teaching begun. But every time they had lunch, it reminded them of that fateful meeting.
That could spawn a series of 25 videos :). *claps*
gr455h0pp3r
09-11-2005, 01:01
Thats a classic signature seppukku boy has :laugh: :laugh: . Or should i say classich ?
drew_seppuku
09-17-2005, 14:15
A quick search on google turned up the following entry for takanasha
That's a link to a profile which has apparently been changed since google last hit the page. Think it's a coincidence that someone else in Tennessee was using that name as a RPG name?
ok, to charles Mahan and to "splice"
rk redemption forum was a rurouni kenshin fan forum, and yes, i loved that show, it was that eason why i took lessons in the first place, i was a freshman and well, thought that the swordsman character of the paticular show was an awesome pacifist swordsman, i though he was badass and thats why i took the classes.
As for the R.P.G. character, i used master takanasha's name. I wanted to be just like him, he was very nice, and well, skillfull.
i was an impressionable guy, and was consumed in an anime, thus leading to my love for martial arts and zen philosophy.
to the other guy who said that seppuku was not commited unless the teacher's teacher was a samurai. that is not always the case. In cookeville tennesse about a month ago, Scott (or Steven) Willaimson was arrested for driveing cocaine fron chicago to tennessee, one of his students, a close friend of mine, ****ing killed himself with a tanto.
some of you people here need to learn manners and courtesy, stop jumping to conclusion to please your pitty minded ego's and make yourselves feel like your the right one in a debate.
Learn manners please.
drew_seppuku
09-17-2005, 14:19
ohh, and secondly. When i was wanting to help open a dojo, i mean legaly and financially. not as the main instructor. His son is better than any of the students. I just wanted to do my part for us. (and maybe suck up so i could have got a chance to teach someone, anyone, like kids maybe, in a child kendo class or something)
ok, to charles Mahan and to "splice"
to the other guy who said that seppuku was not commited unless the teacher's teacher was a samurai. that is not always the case. In cookeville tennesse about a month ago, Scott (or Steven) Willaimson was arrested for driveing cocaine fron chicago to tennessee, one of his students, a close friend of mine, ****ing killed himself with a tanto.
(cough) b.s. (cough)
Oh and by the way... what kind of sensei would traffic cocaine?
Learn manners please.
Learn not to troll, please
(Or at least not make trollish seeming posts)
drew_seppuku
09-17-2005, 17:13
(cough) b.s. (cough)
Oh and by the way... what kind of sensei would traffic cocaine?
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050824/NEWS02/508240429
go there...it has all the info you need, look for "Steve Brent Willaimson"
bs my foot, yeah..ok
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050824/NEWS02/508240429
go there...it has all the info you need, look for "Steve Brent Willaimson"
bs my foot, yeah..ok
Hmm... all this article really proves is that a cop trafficked coke. Can you prove that the cop is your friend's instructor and that you are not just adding things to a news article?
hizaguchi
09-17-2005, 22:23
Andrew, distance yourself from this group of people. Seriously. If these morons really did kill themselves, and there is still a group of idiots wanting to keep their school open, you really shouldn't be in the same room as them with swords. Run far, run fast. Because if you're not a troll, you're dealing with a cult.
And you should keep your real life and your anime apart. 17 is pretty old to be playing with swords because you think some cartoon character is a "badass".
Andrew, distance yourself from this group of people. Seriously. If these morons really did kill themselves, and there is still a group of idiots wanting to keep their school open, you really shouldn't be in the same room as them with swords. Run far, run fast. Because if you're not a troll, you're dealing with a cult.
Good point. I totally agree. Andrew, I'm sorry if I came off as rude or arrogant, but the stroy you're telling seems a little unreal. That is to say, it seems a little farfetched that people just commit seppuku all of a sudden. This is not feudal times in Japan, and the samurai no longer exist.
I really don't know what to say. It seems you have a morbid fascination with seppuku. You register a nick with that in the name, your teacher committed seppuku, and now your friend. I have to say that all this sounds ridiculous. If it doesn't to you, I suggest you run away fast and find some other group. Ritual suicide like that isn't seen anymore. I wonder who stood as kaishaku... Anyway.
If stuff like what you said happenned for real, there would be no teachers to pass on the arts. Just in the last few years, a number of high ranking sensei close to my group passed away. No one committed seppuku as a result. These were all painful events to everyone who knew these fine men, but we go on, passing their teachings to those who want to learn.
I might have been more respectful if the story you told was not so incredible as to beggar belief, and riddled with strange holes (a Japanese teacher with a name that sounds Japanese but isn't, a teenage anime fan with a nickname matching said name, now a claim that you wouldn't teach and would have to suck up to do so, but a profile on the anime board that says " I work at a dojo teaching kenjutsu"). Sorry, I just can't believe it. Feel free to keep on with it, though; I'm certainly not going to stop you.
Charles Mahan
09-19-2005, 11:47
Perhaps there is a basic misunderstanding here. Seppuku is not the same as suicide. Suicide is still, unfortunately, not all that uncommon in Japan. Same as anywhere else. There's a big difference however. There is a whole ritual surrounding seppuku, and it is performed for very specific reasons, not just because you can't stand to go on living and you're looking for a way to escape your circumstances. Seppuku really requires two people. The second performing the roll of Kaishaku.
Seppuku simply is not done anymore. The last recorded instance was decades ago and involved a very famous Japanese author, whose name eludes me at the moment. Look it up.
I thought there was a judoka who did it not so long ago...?
Charles Mahan
09-19-2005, 11:56
That would be news to me.
I remember reading about Mishima, but I'll look the Judoka up... brb...
Naah. Can't find it. Maybe (like Drew_Seppuku's teacher) he didn't exist... :D
No seriously, I read somewhere about a judoka who was defeated in the finals of some tourney and did the deed as he was beaten by a non-Japanese.
Could this be one of those lovely urban legends?
Charles Mahan
09-19-2005, 13:12
Mishima is the guy I was thinking of. No earthly on the judoka.
carl mcclafferty
09-23-2005, 06:51
Charles
Mishima Yoshio was the poet. The Kaishaku (Mishima's student) botched the job and ended up having to saw his head off. Not an easy thing to do if you don't practice first. I saw some old pictures of it. They show the "right wingers" who came to watch laughing at the Kaishaku as he struggled to do the job.
The reason for the Kaishaku is to keep a person from dishonoring himself. No sane person is completing that double to the stomach. Not even back in the days of lore! It isn't natural, hence no sane person cut his stomach with a tanto because his sensei was a crook! A big BS meter rating for this post!!!! It would be better if no one responded to anymore trolling from this young man. :bow:
Carl McClafferty
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