There are 11th dan, 12th dan, 13th dan or even higher grades.Дў3. Instructors are required to have the dojoвЂ™s decals on their car.ДЎ9.В There is a sign that says вЂњGuaranteed Black BeltвЂќ.Дў0. Your sensei studied marketing longer than Karate.ДЎ7. There are many claims of being an вЂњaward winning dojoвЂќ, with little or no solid evidence to back this up.ДЎ6.

Instructors wear special вЂinstructor beltsвЂ™ rather than regular belts reflecting their true ranking.ДЎ5. If you are taught bunkai, they never work вЂ“ except when your sensei does them.ДЎ4. You are never taught bunkai (applications) to moves.ДЎ3. Instead, a strong conformist mentality is encouraged, since this inflexible mindset is what makes it easy for a sensei to rule the dojo.ДЎ2. Individual development and personal expression is virtually non-existant. Your sensei wonвЂ™t spar/fight with you because he вЂњdoesnвЂ™t want to hurt youвЂќ.ДЎ1. (And yes, that course is super expensive.)ДЎ0. There is a вЂњspecial courseвЂќ thatвЂ™ll get you black belt in 6 months or less.Д©. Your sensei is a вЂњgrandmasterвЂќ with 7th dan or above, yet is 30 years or younger.ДЁ. Prospective students are required to become a member/subscribe before even trying a lesson.Д§. Advancement to the next rank is an expense (and a hefty one at that), instead of an honorful achievement.Д¦. You are awarded black belt in 1-2 years.ДҐ. You wear a thousand badges/patches on your gi.Д¤. The dojo advertises as вЂњNon-Contact KarateвЂќ.ДЈ. Perhaps he could help?ДЄnd he even asks his facebook fans for help.Дў. You know, that Jesse dude over at, who, besides being irrationally good-looking, seems to enjoy answering e-mails about Karate issues from readers.

Suddenly, itвЂ™s like a weight drops off of your shoulders! You start seeing stuff in a new light, and day by day you realize that perhaps your sensei isnвЂ™t the вЂњgodlikeвЂќ master of universe you once thought he was.ДЄnd then one dayвЂ¦ a horrifying thought pops up in your head:

And yeah, youвЂ™re still teaching classes sometimes.

You donвЂ™t really know what it is, but something is definitely wrong.ДЄs a matter of fact, going to the dojo seems harder and harder. You have been training in your dojo for many years now, but a weird feeling is slowly creeping up on you, giving you that uncomfortable sensation in the pit of your stomach.

Stick of truth photo dojo