McDojo

English

Etymology

From Mc- +‎ dojo. The "Mc" prefix, borrowed from fast-food chain McDonald's, symbolizes and patterns the process of mass-producing low-quality goods quickly.

Noun

McDojo (plural McDojos)

1. (derogatory) A dojo that focuses on spectacular techniques and awarding black belts rather than teaching authentic martial arts.
   • 2006, Phillip Starr, The Making of a Butterfly: Traditional Chinese Martial Arts as Taught by Master W. C. Chen, Blue Snake Books, →ISBN, page 230:

     This book made me long for the old ways of martial arts instruction before McDojos and health clubs dominated the land.

   • 2011, John Hennessy, The Essence of Martial Arts: Making Your Skills Work in Practice, iUniverse, →ISBN, page 121:

     Instructors are hoping that he won't go off and train with some other teacher of a McDojo where producing masses of black belts (but the quality and standard is poor) is the norm.

   • 2012, Israel Gonzales, Martial Arts, the Circle of Life, AuthorHouse, →ISBN, page 36:

     One red flag I will advise is if you see a bunch of kids running around wearing black belts you are probably in a McDojo.

See also

• diploma mill