A look at my journey so far in GKR Karate

[@rickywood4448]

In the UK you should never ever expose this organisation if you want your kids to learn, we had a white belt teach my son, my son is a white belt, if they have a black belt with a white stripe they are not pure black belt they are blue belts, I can go on and on but GKR is a money making scheme, just look on youtube, also google GKR Karate its crazy how far they go to get people to join you will see what its all about, big houses and fast cars, please look them up. We have found a good legit dojo for our son which is 1 style (Shotokan) unlike the hard sell GKR put on us and even lying about the style (which I wanted Shotokan for our son but with GKR (the style you get is what instructor you get (cant call them sense's) Like I said how can you have a person teaching a young white belt a white belt technique's it don't make sense, this shitty pyramid scheme of money making needs to end.

[@tekitek]

I go to gkr and it is incredible

[@EmilyHarvey]

Same you can look at my videos of some katas

[@elgordo9031]

@@rickywood4448 Come on brother, I understand that you do not like GKR but everyone can make their own decision. I believe there are better martial arts out there but the GKR syllabus provides a basic understanding of karate for Westerners. Please watch your language and do not criticise others for joining GKR. I agree with your criticism of the pyramid scheme in GKR but for me, it was easy to access (local school basketball stadium), I could participate in classes with my daughter and it started my love of karate. Hope your journey in Shotokan is better.

[@rickywood4448]

@@elgordo9031 Yeah I don't need to swear granted (sorry) but it makes me mad when the 1's at the top phone their students up to teach the class as they are going out for a big slap up meal, and the student knows roughly what my son knows but is better at the technique as they are older, and also how can GKR be its own style when you get Wadō-ryū, Gōjū-ryū, Shotokan, even TKD, etc people teaching GKR, so it's not Go Kan Ryu (GKR) its whatever the instructor has trained in but they still call it (GKR style of Karate) it don't make sense, if you want a different style every other week then it's fine you might be lucky and get the same sensei, but it's a gamble, you want the best for yourself and for your kids, our son's Sensei said many years ago he used to work for GKR but teaching Shotokan (which is weird) but anyway he could not live with himself so left and started his own school and has an amazing dojo, about to open his second dojo with his son maybe teaching in the second dojo but thats up in the air at the moment, I'm not even saying you should go the Shotokan way as every person has their own personal best style of Karate, but the stories I've been told about GKR grates me, but each to their own I guess, just want the best for people and for everything not to be money driven.

[@newspectre]

i understand your gripe with the style, the business and the instructor programme i do, but there is a lot more to the instructor belt than you know. yes there are some that have not obtained a shodan-ho or higher belt but the reason for the black and white belt is they take students with a good moral compass and karate ethics and place them a branch class ranging from white belts to green and teach to those students so we basically teach the basics until they get it locked in to muscle memory prepare them for advanced class. where personally is where the real karate begins and which is usually found in a completely different dojo than the one nearest your house and is ran by shodan or higher instructors. we do not teach blue belt and above's advanced techniques or kata's if we have no knowledge of advance techniques. hence why we send them to advanced class i am 1st kyu more that capable of teaching higher grades but am not allowed to teach in an advanced class. as for the the "money scheme" they make money because its a business and a big one at that. if they didn't charge students a training fee where do you think they would train in a park? do you consider a gym a money scheme or a business. a gym promises the dream of being fit and looking amazing but how often do the people working there help you out, they just take your money and offer you nothing in return except here's our equipment you figure it out and if you want someone to teach you or train you u have to hire a PT which does not come with your gym membership. where we are there for you to help you achieve your goals in karate. we as instructors are not paid by GKR we train under black belts only and then teach people what we have learned we do that out of the goodness of our hearts to make sure you and your family have somewhere safe to come have fun and exercise with each other or make new friends on our own dime and dont ask anything additional from you apart from protective gear but that is for your own safety. i have a rule if your child wants to mess around and not want to learn im not going to force them to, its not my place to discipline your child if you feel upset your child doesn't want to learn anything and your wasting money bringing them to class, talk to your child about that i will focus on the children that want to be there and learn and not be disruptive. if you are looking for a traditional style your going to have to head to japan because every martial art is watered down to suit the western demographic, do you think in japan the instructors of traditional karate give encouragement when the students get something right? no they don't. also there no need to lash out at people who are enjoying the atmosphere of sport karate and a kind community that has a different opinion. i hope this finds you with a better understanding of what sacrifices we instructors make to offer a service for you and the community. Sincerely Sensei Phil Region 29 Brisbane, Australia

[@rickywood4448]

@@newspectre This is exactly how my son's sensei used to say, we have had long discussion's about it, obviously another 1 on the pay role, its a money making scheme no more no less and having students teaching is a joke, you should be having your instructor only, why would you have someone who is only been doing it for say 4 months teach anyone (to get them ready for more experienced instructor's) your obviously going to defend GKR, but we both know what goes on behind the scenes, and how can you call it Go Kan Ryu if a Shotokan, or Wado Ryu or Taekwondo instructor is your sensei, you will defend this I know but so what, unless you are blind or your oblivious I don't know. but waiting outside the job centres to get the unemployed to work for GKR by offering them a job (commission only) by knocking on peoples doors to try to sign the whole family up, its a joke which a lot get no sales and end up getting free GKR lessons for the hard earned time, like I said its a pyramid scheme just look on KZbin and you will see confessions from ex GKR people that couldn't live with there selves either, maybe its different in your country wherever you are from but in England UK that's all I read. KZbin is a powerful tool just watch it all for yourselves instead of me going on about it..

[@pn7836]

Green belts getting their instructor licence??