Small vs. Large

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Small attendance vs. the large attendance that seems to drive the dojo teaching models. Much like our school systems that have large student members per classroom the dojo tend to have larger practitioners to the instructor, teacher or Sensei, i.e., often ten to twenty or so per. This is not optimal to teach, learn and apply martial art skills especially for self-protection. 

In the school systems they end up having no choice except for the schools that work on tuitions and fees that literally support the proper teaching to learning ratio’s. Because so many of us who now teach martial arts and karate have only the experiences of our own school systems that rely not on quality but teaching large quantities we tend to believe and assume having larger student bodies to instructor is normal. In one sense, it is but it is NOT optimal to teaching, learning and understanding subject matter especially when it requires the physical manifestation of the subject. 

In general, professionals who have done the research say the max ration of teacher to student is one teacher for every four students. This is pushing it but is still doable. 

So, in that mind-set I have made the following recommendations as to teaching a martial art in the dojo. 

1 Sensei/Senpai to every 4 practitioners = mini-group.

Mini-groups:

• MG-1 for basics and beginners.
• MG-2 for kata one and two.
• MG-3 for kata three and four.
• MG-4 for kata five and six.
• MG-5 for kata seven and eight. 
• MG-6 for drills.
• MG-7 for kumite.
• MG-8 for self-protection/defense.

In this model it would be best that the Dai-sensei observe, guide and correct the other eight sensei/senpai in their efforts to handle each of the mini-groups. The rotation of each group as they achieve certain levels of proficiency is necessary and each mini-group sensei/senpai is also rotated in and out of each group over time. 

Note: Sensei must be of san-dan level or higher.

Note: Senpai must be of sho-dan and ni-dan level. 

Dai-sensei is the dojo sensei who is responsible for the teaching and proficiency of all the sensei/senpai who run each small mini-group. 

This would mean that the dojo would handle adequately 32 students; 8 sensei/senpai; 1 dai-sensei or dojo sensei for a total of, “41 members in the dojo.” If that begins to grow larger then adjustments must be made to ensure ratio’s are maintained - always. 

If you just opened your first dojo and it is just you, dai-sensei/dojo sensei, then you must restrict membership to just four practitioners who you want to guide through all the mini-groups until they reach sho-dan/san-dan levels the expand the dojo to embrace more practitioners to achieve proper ratio of sensei to practitioner. 

Here is an add-on, when and if one reaches full strength of 41 then begins to expand then one of those sensei/senpai must reach a level of proficiency and expertise to match closely that of the dojo (dai) sensei to branch it off into two complete MG-1 to 8 of 41 total making the dojo capable of handling up to 82 total members. 

Where most dojo go amiss is the desire to reach certain levels for status and ego reasons that weaken the system by increasing ratio’s beyond optimal levels. Much like the accumulation of rank, grade or levels of black belt many assume that their status is strengthened by making the membership much larger than can be adequately handles thus resulting in so many static teaching and “testing” models that actually weaken the dojo, the sensei and the style or system over time leaving watered-down weak systems that literally lose the very core of what made them martial arts and karate systems to begin with. 

For those who are fledgling martial arts and karate seekers of instruction this should be one of your criteria in finding a good, solid and proficient dojo, sensei and senpai model. Granted, that may not actually meet this standard but the closer you can get the better. Remember, many will respond to this need by saying something like, “If you want that, you will need to sign up for the personal training model.” Of course, that costs a lot more don’t you know. 

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