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.?

**Corey** · 08-31-2005, 14:44

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......

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

Originally Posted by drew_seppuku

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.

**kmtsd** · 08-31-2005, 17:33

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

Originally Posted by Gunyo Kogusoku

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

Originally Posted by Charles Mahan

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.

**splice** · 09-06-2005, 07:54

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

Originally Posted by total-immortal

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?

**splice** · 09-06-2005, 14:00

Originally Posted by Charles Mahan

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).

**Cameron** · 09-06-2005, 15:16

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...

**Musubi Dojo** · 09-09-2005, 18:45

Originally Posted by DragonMind

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...

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*