Do you feel this is a problem?

[Kempojujutsu]

My schools is located inside of a health club. Which is across the street from the local ATA school. The past couple of days, they have had several students come over and watch while they wait for their class to start. Would I be wrong in telling them they can't watch, or am I making a mountain out of a mole hill. The students coming over are around the age of 10-12 and white belts. I don't mind if they are not spying on me. But I do have a problem if they were told to come spy. Thought about going over there and watching them.
Bob :asian:

[Nightingale]

let em watch...

they'll see what they're missing out on.

[redfive]

They may like what they see, and join your class.I would not worry about it, but welcome it. I think over the last 2000 years its all been done. There are no secret techniques or mistical bull s*** to hid. So If you have faith in your system and faith in your teaching abilities, I'd let them watch. As long as it does not effect or distract your students. Some people do not like to be watched while training and are insecure about it. Kids tend to be easly distracted by other kids, or anything that happens to go by a window. So as long as it does not effect your class, I think its all right. But if they are taking notes and drawing diagrams and reporting back to there teacher, then I would go talk to him or her and see whats up. But its sounds like harmless curiousity at this point.
Your friend in the arts, Redfive

[Kempojujutsu]

Thanks for the input.
Bob:asian:

[GouRonin]

Kill a few of them, wound a few more so they can go back and warn the others.

That should take care of the problem.
:D

[KennethKu]

Originally posted by Kempojujutsu

...... The students coming over are around the age of 10-12 and white belts. I don't mind if they are not spying on me. But I do have a problem if they were told to come spy. Thought about going over there and watching them.
Bob :asian:


You are worried over 10-12 yrs spying on you? Are you serious?

They are just a bunch of curious kids! Invite them with open arms!

[RyuShiKan]

Kempojujtsu,

Every once in a while I get people that watch.

Basically in Japan proper dojo etiquette dictates that you ask in advance to watch and just don't "pop in". Even if you don't ask in advance you should still ask to watch when you enter................otherwise it is kind of like they are "checking you out" and is really disrespectful.
When I am teaching at the Budokan it is a closed door session so people are not allowed to just poke their head in and gawk while we train.
I let people watch but actually make them work out too. What I teach can't always been understood from across the room.......it should be felt. How does the saying go....."feeling is believing"....
Why don't you ask them to jump right in and try a class for free. They might join up. After all it's your dojo, your class, your the teacher...........take control of the situation.

[ace]

May be put a limit on how many at a time

If they are being direspectful then yes
ask them to go
but they maybe your next students
or intraduse U to your next students
thru word of mouth.
:asian:
Primo

[Kempojujutsu]

Maybe I will ask them to join in. God knows the crap ATA is teaching them will only get them hurt.
Bob:asian:

[Nightingale]

not unless they're 18 or you have parental consent. otherwise, you can be held liable.

[RyuShiKan]

Originally posted by Kempojujutsu

Maybe I will ask them to join in. God knows the crap ATA is teaching them will only get them hurt.
Bob:asian:

I am sorry I don't know what ATA is.

[Matt Stone]

American Taekwondo Association (I think).

One of the most infamous politically oriented TKD belt mill associations ever. I have known several TKD blackbelts from the ATA who were "demoted" for various reasons including, but not limited to, refusing to open schools, failing to maintain tournament win records, etc.

Really bad bunch in general, but I have also known some really talented MAists within their ranks.

[Marginal]

I took some shutokan karate years ago. The classes were held in an elementary school's cafeteria. One side had windows open to a main hallway. Wasn't a huge deal since it was after the school's hours, but it did draw gawkers occaisionally. The sensei's solution was to ask them loudly if they'd care to join the class in the workout.

I never saw anyone say yes. (They just hightailed it outta there once she fixed her attention on them.)

[Damian Mavis]

Bob, I have run my school out of health clubs in the past, onlookers are common and harmless. Many times it has been a martial artists watching and theres nothing wrong with that, but if they are disrespectful or disruptive ya ask them to leave. I had one jackass stand on the side and loudly talk to one of my students (who was in street clothes so the guy didnt know it was one of my students) about how he could kick the ass of some of my toughest students. I asked him to join and put him with my most senior belt making him hold the pad for my student.... he left after just a few kicks saying he had to go to the bathroom and never returned. It kind of helped that I gave him my flimsiest kick shield and told him to stand with his feet together....

I've heard some interesting things about ATA.

Mr. Rousselot, I know you don't really like me but if I came over to Japan would I be able to take a class or 2 at your Dojo while I'm there? I'm going on a trip to various countries Starting December 25th for a couple of months. If not I'll understand.


Damian Mavis
Honour TKD

[7starmantis]

I don't think it cinstitutes a problem unless, like everyone else has said, they are being disruptive, or disrespectful. My school has a large open window in our main room, from time to time we get people who stop to watch a bit. Usually we motion for them to come in, or ignore them. But most will watch for a bit, thne come in and ask questions about the school, so it turns out in our favor quite often.


7sm

[Bod]

One of the local Wing-Chun sifus would come and have a chinwag with my sifu (in Cantonese).

If he started looking too hard at the training my sifu would tell him to get lost.

I asked him if this was because the WC guy was spying.

He said 'What makes you think he doesn't know the stuff I am teaching you? I kick him out because he comes to eye up the girls.'

[Damian Mavis]

HA!

Damian Mavis
Honour TKD

[KennethKu]

lol Did that bring back your memory?

[kenposcum]

If they are there to hassle your students or try to dissuade other health club members from joining, then by all means, get them out of there. If they are curious, hey, ask 'em to join you.
Funny story...I was teaching a lesson a few months ago, working the 1-2. (left jab, right cross). This putz comes in off the street and tells me, right in front of my students and God and everybody, that I needed to "take the weight out of my shoulders," that I was "too tense." As this most assuredly is not the case, I told him simply, "Run," and advanced. He said, "What?" and I repeated, "Run." Self-preservation kicked in, and he ran. He forgot his shoes, which I threw into the parking lot.
Thus always to dojo crashers. What kind a two-bit McDojo do they take us for, eh?

[Damian Mavis]

That last story brings a tear to my eye...it was beautiful.

Damian Mavis
Honour TKD

[KennethKu]

LOL, Mr. Mavis. And people say romance is dead.......... :D

[Abbax8]

Two years ago I was teaching a kids class, judo. We were doing kesa gatame and escapes. An adult, about my size , was watching. He asked to watch after I looked at him, I said sure. Soon he was asking questions, I invited him onto the mat and showed him Kesa Gatame. He said he had wrestled some, and was having fun. I told to him to get me in Kesa and hold on tight. He did. I said don't let me out. He said your not going anywhere. I rolled him and he said"What happend", "how do I join"

Like everyone said, as long as they don't disrupt class, let them watch, be friendly to them and maybe you'll pick up some students.

Peace
Dennis

[Qasim]

Originally posted by Kempojujutsu

Maybe I will ask them to join in. God knows the crap ATA is teaching them will only get them hurt.
Bob:asian:

What's ATA?

[Qasim]

Originally posted by Yiliquan1

American Taekwondo Association (I think).

One of the most infamous politically oriented TKD belt mill associations ever. I have known several TKD blackbelts from the ATA who were "demoted" for various reasons including, but not limited to, refusing to open schools, failing to maintain tournament win records, etc.

Really bad bunch in general, but I have also known some really talented MAists within their ranks.

Oh, American Take One's Dough Association. Now I understand.

[Damian Mavis]

Easy, I'll take your comment as a silly joke but referring to Tae Kwon Do as take one's dough infers that we are all greedy McDojangs. Don't pile me in with ATA or whatever bad schools are out there.

Damian Mavis
Honour TKD

[Qasim]

Originally posted by Damian Mavis

Easy, I'll take your comment as a silly joke but referring to Tae Kwon Do as take one's dough infers that we are all greedy McDojangs. Don't pile me in with ATA or whatever bad schools are out there.

Damian Mavis
Honour TKD

Read my ENTIRE message (including the quote) again, slowly without emotion.

:wavey:

[ace]

Qasim how Are Ya.
:redeme:
Primo

[Damian Mavis]

Well, considering I'm stupid and can't read straight AND I'm an enraged freak who can't see past the blood boiling in my eyes.... why don't you tell me how referring to TKD as Take one's dough isn't referring to all TKD even if making fun of ATA? You didn't change the name of a singular organisation to make fun of it you changed the name of the ART itself thus making fun of ALL TKD.

Anyway I wasn't mad, I did think it was funny too, I was just lightly saying "hey man! That's the name of my art you're making fun of!" heh

Damian Mavis
Honour TKD

[Rich Parsons]

Originally posted by Kempojujutsu

My schools is located inside of a health club. Which is across the street from the local ATA school. The past couple of days, they have had several students come over and watch while they wait for their class to start. Would I be wrong in telling them they can't watch, or am I making a mountain out of a mole hill. The students coming over are around the age of 10-12 and white belts. I don't mind if they are not spying on me. But I do have a problem if they were told to come spy. Thought about going over there and watching them.
Bob :asian:

As stated by many others, if they are polite and respectful then there is no problem.

Now, me as an adult if I am out for lunch or after work in a location I usually do not work in. I will try to look up a club and watch. Why? I like Martial Arts. Also if I know someone local and they ask me about who is in the area, I can say "Hey, I stopped by once and these guys were cool to me and what I saw looked good." If the person is watching, and you feel bothered or wierd, talk to them and ask why they are there? They could want to join but do not want to risk offending or asking wrong.

Just my two cetns worth.

Best Retgards

Rich

[Brother John]

Honestly, what could it hurt?
Is a 10-12 year old informed or experienced enough to derive a 'report' from a spying session?
Even still... give them something to see. Every 10-12 year old is currious.... give them a show. Maybe your enrollment will increase by a few ex-ATA members. Never know.
If nothing else, I am a big believer that we should set a good example and show them what maturity is. Invite them in, get to know their names. IF they are simply waiting to get into their school, give them a place to sit. Most kids of this age are not interested in inter-art/school sqables.. they are martial artists who like to watch/view martial arts. Let them feel welcome.

IF it still bothers you, talk politely to their instructor about it. ASK him/her to deal with it.

Just a thought...
Your Brother
John

((When I was young I went into another school several times just to watch. The instructor made me feel important as a martial artist and encouraged me to follow my dreams in the school I was already in... not his. Years later... I studied with HIM.))


BUILD your martial arts community...
beyond your dojo doors.

[Kempojujutsu]

Was planning to invite my young guest to class. They seem to not show up. There was a homecoming parade tonight, that went right by us. I do want to thank everyone for your input. I almost didn't want to ask this question. I am sure glad I did. Thank you again my Martial art brothers and sisters.
Bob:asian:

[Nightingale]

hehe...just make sure his mom or dad signs a waiver.

[Kempojujutsu]

I havn't been online for almost a week. My adult class has picked up some new students(6), in one week. 4 out of the 6 are TKD people, one has studied Okinawan karate, and the other has never studied but he runs around with the TKD guys. The TKD guys 3 out of the 4 are from across the street, the other guy moved from Chicago. He went across the street and told me he didn't like what they were doing. Alot of jumping around and doing sport karate. The other guys who defected from across the street also got tired of the sport karate and wanted a more realistic martial art. You should of seen their eyes that first class, as big as bowling balls. A couple of the TKD guys had high ranks, one was a red/black belt. The other was a brown belt. It seems each day they come they bring somebody else to do class or to join. If this keeps up I may run the ATA TKD school out of business.(There maybe a Martial Art GOD) :rofl:
Bob:asian: