Most Dojos Are Being Watered Down

Again, one of my random rambles.

Most dojos today are becoming soft. Practitioners are unfit. They cannot do twenty-five push ups or sit ups. Now, I'm not saying the dojos should solely focus on fitness and neglect Kata, Kumite, Kobudo, Disclpline, Respect, or anything else. That's just as important as fitness. Without being fit, the three K's are not going to look very good. Without discipline, the students will not do anything except run around and talk. Respect is important in the sense that the seniors will be able to run the class without the juniors calling them out for everything. I should do a post about how the Juniors and Seniors are bad at this respect and compassion thing. Back to being on topic. When I say push-ups, I mean standard straight body push ups. No modified push ups. Or push ups done with spaghetti backs or mountain butts. And sit-ups are also standard with no modifications. I'll admit something here. I can't do twenty five standard push ups without a rest in between every 5-10 push ups. I can't do a single pull up. I can't run a mile in ten minutes or less. I'm not very fit.

Then, comes formality and respect. Some students are so comfortable around their Senseis and Senpais, to the point where they are in a relationship or best friends inside and outside of the dojo. Outside the dojo, it doesn't matter. But when you enter the dojo door, your life outside shouldn't be part of the dojo. The dojo is to learn and to train. Not to have a house party.

Then, comes discipline. Seriously. There are way too many kids that every single practice are running around in the dojo and they are not being stopped. Higher ranks (brown belts and the lower ranking black belts) cannot stop them. They refuse to listen. The Senseis themselves have to constantly yell at the trouble children to keep quiet and stop from fidgeting. It makes me feel so sad. Adults have no power over children.

This makes me feel so sad that I constanly have to repeat myself about the failings in my own dojo where I practice, that I have no idea what to do. Someone please help me.