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BJJ GYM RED FLAGS !!!
1 year(s) ago • 10988 views • 170 replies
PGBlue beltVerified
1 year(s) ago
I have wondered at times if my coach is too quick to judge people. He's full of stories about how some person "came in, and did x, so I submitted him y times in z minutes, and I never saw him again." (y is typically greater than z in all these stories). That's being said, there is practically nobody that trains with us who has a toxic attitude of any kind. It's hard to tell if that's luck, a reflection of the community we live in, or a result of the swift judgement of the head instructor on people who are perceived to be outside the desired gym culture.
SPBlue beltVerified
1 year(s) ago
Wanted to ask an Ai-agent
Then I remember that William was sharing data and percentages.
I would like to highlight a fragment of a sentence that you proposed to us: Exposed 200 martial artist...
Out of curiosity
What is the percentage of those 200 martial artists that is active on Belt checker?
Then I remember that William was sharing data and percentages.
I would like to highlight a fragment of a sentence that you proposed to us: Exposed 200 martial artist...
Out of curiosity
What is the percentage of those 200 martial artists that is active on Belt checker?
WMBlack belt 5th degreeVerified
1 year(s) ago
Wanted to ask an Ai-agent Then I remember that William was sharing data and percentages. I would like to highlight a fragment of a sentence that you proposed to us: Exposed 200 martial artist... Out of curiosity What is the percentage of those 200 martial artists that is active on Belt checker?
Beltchecker was not established yet, when I did that project.
Also, I would be careful to verify anything an AI told you, for accuracy.
They can tend to have delusions, and suffer from garbage in, garbage out.
Also, I would be careful to verify anything an AI told you, for accuracy.
They can tend to have delusions, and suffer from garbage in, garbage out.
Edited 1 year(s) ago
JUBlack beltVerified
1 year(s) ago
One big red flag for me, and I had to catch myself doing it too, is talking shit about other gyms or other instructors for personal reasons unrelated to safety or conduct concerns.
WMBlack belt 5th degreeVerified
1 year(s) ago
It is a red flag when a school owner or instructor, demands or expects free or heavily discounted services from the students.
And, when school employees, who are also students, are paid less than minimum wage, as an expectation.
It's one thing if every one, including the instructor, helps clean and disinfect the school.
And, if someone wants to volunteer to teach a class, and having some part of the curriculum be learning how to teach a class, that can be and often is reasonable.
It's quite another thing, if the school or organization demands or expect students to be servants to the instructor, and the instructor takes advantage of them that way - that is cultish as Hell, and a major red flag about the school, and/or the organization, and a predatory character defect in the instructor.
And, when school employees, who are also students, are paid less than minimum wage, as an expectation.
It's one thing if every one, including the instructor, helps clean and disinfect the school.
And, if someone wants to volunteer to teach a class, and having some part of the curriculum be learning how to teach a class, that can be and often is reasonable.
It's quite another thing, if the school or organization demands or expect students to be servants to the instructor, and the instructor takes advantage of them that way - that is cultish as Hell, and a major red flag about the school, and/or the organization, and a predatory character defect in the instructor.
CBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
1 year(s) ago
One big red flag for me, and I had to catch myself doing it too, is talking shit about other gyms or other instructors for personal reasons unrelated to safety or conduct concerns.
This. IF it's unrelated to safety. But when it is, I think it's our duty as human beings to bring up the issues. Things such as harbouring criminals, taking advantage of students/customers and other scummy behaviour needs to be outed.
I consider myself lucky having left (for completely fair reasons at the time) a gym which I used to call home, but later turned out has some nonsense going on. A few bad apples really ruin a good gym with good people, at least for those in the know.
I consider myself lucky having left (for completely fair reasons at the time) a gym which I used to call home, but later turned out has some nonsense going on. A few bad apples really ruin a good gym with good people, at least for those in the know.
WMBlack belt 5th degreeVerified
1 year(s) ago
This meme below is largely correct, and something I have been saying for decades.
Martial arts gyms, like yoga studios, often have unscrupulous, and/or foolish owners / coaches / leaders,
that hold themselves out as therapists, or life coaches, and sometimes even medical / health gurus.
Especially when the martial arts coach or yoga instructor is not properly licensed as a Mental Health Therapist, or licensed medical professional, this is very shady, a major indicator of a cult environment, and a MAJOR red flag.
Martial arts gyms, like yoga studios, often have unscrupulous, and/or foolish owners / coaches / leaders,
that hold themselves out as therapists, or life coaches, and sometimes even medical / health gurus.
Especially when the martial arts coach or yoga instructor is not properly licensed as a Mental Health Therapist, or licensed medical professional, this is very shady, a major indicator of a cult environment, and a MAJOR red flag.
Edited 1 year(s) ago
RDBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
1 year(s) ago
This meme below is largely correct, and something I have been saying for decades. Martial arts gyms, like yoga studios, often have unscrupulous, and/or foolish owners / coaches / leaders, that hold themselves out as therapists, or life coaches, and sometimes even medical / health gurus. Especially when the martial arts coach or yoga instructor is not properly licensed as a Mental Health Therapist, or licensed medical professional, this is very shady, a major indicator of a cult environment, and a MAJOR red flag.
I say it all the time.
I am not your guru and can't help
you with your personal problems but I can teach you jiu jitsu and how to condition your leather boots. Thats all I got
I am not your guru and can't help
you with your personal problems but I can teach you jiu jitsu and how to condition your leather boots. Thats all I got
CBBrown beltVerified
1 year(s) ago
This meme below is largely correct, and something I have been saying for decades. Martial arts gyms, like yoga studios, often have unscrupulous, and/or foolish owners / coaches / leaders, that hold themselves out as therapists, or life coaches, and sometimes even medical / health gurus. Especially when the martial arts coach or yoga instructor is not properly licensed as a Mental Health Therapist, or licensed medical professional, this is very shady, a major indicator of a cult environment, and a MAJOR red flag.
I coach at my gym. Anytime someone calls me professor or coach or any other honorific, I always say, "Never call me that. My name is Chris, call me Chris." I make a point to go through the same process as everyone else.
Coaches aren't special. We shouldn't be treated as such either. I'm the same thing as a rock climbing instructor and I should be treated as such.
Coaches aren't special. We shouldn't be treated as such either. I'm the same thing as a rock climbing instructor and I should be treated as such.
JUBlack beltVerified
1 year(s) ago
I know it's my training, but I struggle not to call people by honorifics that they've earned. It's my rigid, structured, traditional values from growing up in an old school karate dojo. But out of respect I do what I'm asked. My coach's coach recently asked me to not call him professor, but to call him by his name. It felt weird, but I really felt like it was him showing me respect in return.
Edited 1 year(s) ago
DUBlack beltVerified
1 year(s) ago
I am a coach / teacher but I identify as not a coach / teacher. Mostly just to keep everyone in a constant state of confusion.
Edited 1 year(s) ago
SPBlue beltVerified
1 year(s) ago
I believe that the danger hides within the idolization of a person.
No matter if you call them by their name or if you call them professor/sensei/coach or something else.
No matter if you call them by their name or if you call them professor/sensei/coach or something else.
JABlack beltVerified
1 year(s) ago
I am a coach / teacher but I identify as not a coach / teacher. Mostly just to keep everyone in a constant state of confusion.
so you identify as the guy in the front of the class :) This seems accurate for me as well. I introduce myself as John and if folks wanna call me Coach that's cool, and if not, cool.
I teach and help because that is my calling, and I enjoy and become a better person from it, but unless it's throwing someone, punching them, or wristlocking them, I'm not your man ;)
I teach and help because that is my calling, and I enjoy and become a better person from it, but unless it's throwing someone, punching them, or wristlocking them, I'm not your man ;)
CBBrown beltVerified
1 year(s) ago
I teach and help because that is my calling,
I teach so I have training partners I can work on things with. 😅
TRPurple beltVerifiedScotland
1 year(s) ago
1. Mandatory GIs/Rashguards
2. Bad Mat Hygiene (Sloppy Cleaning)
3. Toxic Coaches
2. Bad Mat Hygiene (Sloppy Cleaning)
3. Toxic Coaches
PDBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
1 year(s) ago
It's funny how many people look to you as some sort of Guru..
I try as hard as I can to kill that but it never actually dies...
I tell them
Wait you want life advise from ME... I beat people up better than you do but have you
actually listened to the shit I say.. I am crazy and have the paperwork to prove it
I try as hard as I can to kill that but it never actually dies...
I tell them
Wait you want life advise from ME... I beat people up better than you do but have you
actually listened to the shit I say.. I am crazy and have the paperwork to prove it
NWBlack beltVerified
1 year(s) ago
I don’t advertise free life coaching advice but over the years I’ve been asked by people at my gym for what would constitute “life advice”. I have never hesitated to give it to them because if they were my friend in real life, which they are, and they confided to me their troubles or concerns, I would certainly be happy to share my perspective. To be fair I am twice as old as this person I’m thinking about so yeah I probably do have a bunch of life advice that I can give. I’ve been married almost 40 years so I’m not gonna shy away from it, but I’m also not telling people to shoot themselves full of ivermectin or not to listen to science. I think I give good advice.
ARBlack beltVerified
1 year(s) ago
I’m also not telling people to shoot themselves full of ivermectin or not to listen to science. I think I give good advice
But what about Trump and Rogan? They said it's the cure. lol
BVBlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
1 year(s) ago
I think you have to be very careful giving advise on life problems. Even if you dont feel poor an authority (outside of jiu jitsu). There are people out there that put the Black belt on a pedestal.
I will listen to someone who has issues outside of jiu jitsu. And i make sure to ask them what they want me to do. If they want me to give them a life coaching advise I make sure to point them towards a trained professional like a therapist or a gd.
I will listen to someone who has issues outside of jiu jitsu. And i make sure to ask them what they want me to do. If they want me to give them a life coaching advise I make sure to point them towards a trained professional like a therapist or a gd.
PZBlack beltVerified
1 year(s) ago
I’ve been married almost 40 years so I’m not gonna shy away from it.
I also believe that as a martial artist everyone of us is qualified to give marital advice.
WMBlack belt 5th degreeVerified
1 year(s) ago
I don’t advertise free life coaching advice but over the years I’ve been asked by people at my gym for what would constitute “life advice”. I have never hesitated to give it to them because if they were my friend in real life, which they are, and they confided to me their troubles or concerns, I would certainly be happy to share my perspective. To be fair I am twice as old as this person I’m thinking about so yeah I probably do have a bunch of life advice that I can give. I’ve been married almost 40 years so I’m not gonna shy away from it, but I’m also not telling people to shoot themselves full of ivermectin or not to listen to science. I think I give good advice.
Ivermectin, outside of politics, prior to the Pandemic, was widely hailed as a wonder drug.
For humans, and animals, as an anti-parasitic, by the mainstream medical community.
All of the people who tried to position Ivermectin as just horse medicine during and following the Pandemic, and not a widely used drug for human treatment prior to the Pandemic, were and are not being scientific, nor scientifically accurate at all.
What I just said was true prior to the Pandemic, and did not become untrue, because of the Pandemic and Post Pandemic odd tribalism that resulted.
I would not mind petty political jokes, except cases like Ivermectin, and HCQ, where very legitimate drugs, with a solid history of human use, that ignorant people may believe are not safe for general human use, because of the political but not scientifically accurate in their over generalization jokes.
Next thing you know, people in the U.S. taking HCQ usefully for auto-immune couldn't get their scripts for a few months because of a politically motivated hoax regarding general safety of the drug, etc.
In any case back to BJJ Gym Red Flags, which would include people making unscientific comments that Ivermectin or HCQ were unsafe/safe/efficacious/not efficacious, without proper medical context, nor proper scientific disclaimers.
For humans, and animals, as an anti-parasitic, by the mainstream medical community.
All of the people who tried to position Ivermectin as just horse medicine during and following the Pandemic, and not a widely used drug for human treatment prior to the Pandemic, were and are not being scientific, nor scientifically accurate at all.
What I just said was true prior to the Pandemic, and did not become untrue, because of the Pandemic and Post Pandemic odd tribalism that resulted.
I would not mind petty political jokes, except cases like Ivermectin, and HCQ, where very legitimate drugs, with a solid history of human use, that ignorant people may believe are not safe for general human use, because of the political but not scientifically accurate in their over generalization jokes.
Next thing you know, people in the U.S. taking HCQ usefully for auto-immune couldn't get their scripts for a few months because of a politically motivated hoax regarding general safety of the drug, etc.
In any case back to BJJ Gym Red Flags, which would include people making unscientific comments that Ivermectin or HCQ were unsafe/safe/efficacious/not efficacious, without proper medical context, nor proper scientific disclaimers.
WMBlack belt 5th degreeVerified
1 year(s) ago
But what about Trump and Rogan? They said it's the cure. lol
Whether Rogan talked about Ivermectin or not, or whether Trump mentioned HCQ or not, is irrelevant, as Rogan is a comedian, and Trump is not a medical professional making a medical recommendation.
While I understand Jiu-Jitsu coaches are not medical professionals, and can make lay people statements,
And, I understand that lay people, in general, may make and repeat popular soundbites, even inaccurate ones, that results in harms...
Causing a panic, or a supply pause, for people who were previously on acute or chronic Ivermectin, or HCQ, prior to the Pandemic,
because Rogan or Trump mentioned Ivermectin and/or HCQ in relation to COVID19,
has and had a very cruel consequence for all the people who were on those drugs for other conditions,
that had their supply chain temporarily disrupted, or were told or convinced that they were on horse medicines by Internet ignoramuses repeating political soundbites out of proper medical context.
Likewise, no one should be advising other people to self-medicate with prescription medicines over the Internet and social media...
All due respect to the Rodeo duct tape community aside, which yeah, Rodeo people, or other people in austere conditions, do often rely on duct tape, and medicines based on their content, and not which medicine cabinet or bin, they came from.
But, the Jiu-Jitsu community, is not the Rodeo community, even though sometimes, it seems to have fantasies that it was or is.
I have to make that disclaimer, because yeah, my property's southern border is a working cattle ranch, and real Cowboys do Cowboy.
But, some of them are missing thumbs, when they don't release the rope, when roping, and missing other parts, when the duct tape or lack of antibiotics goes wrong.
So, this is a long way of saying, leave the medical doctoring, to the medical doctors, unless you have no other option.
And BJJ instructors, and/or Yoga instructors, holding themselves out as healers, or therapists, without proper domicile licensing for same, are generally imprudent, and in a lot cases exploiting the vulnerable for money.
Or just giving bad advice, or spreading ignorance, and/or feeding their own egos, for vanity or cult reasons, or both...
While I understand Jiu-Jitsu coaches are not medical professionals, and can make lay people statements,
And, I understand that lay people, in general, may make and repeat popular soundbites, even inaccurate ones, that results in harms...
Causing a panic, or a supply pause, for people who were previously on acute or chronic Ivermectin, or HCQ, prior to the Pandemic,
because Rogan or Trump mentioned Ivermectin and/or HCQ in relation to COVID19,
has and had a very cruel consequence for all the people who were on those drugs for other conditions,
that had their supply chain temporarily disrupted, or were told or convinced that they were on horse medicines by Internet ignoramuses repeating political soundbites out of proper medical context.
Likewise, no one should be advising other people to self-medicate with prescription medicines over the Internet and social media...
All due respect to the Rodeo duct tape community aside, which yeah, Rodeo people, or other people in austere conditions, do often rely on duct tape, and medicines based on their content, and not which medicine cabinet or bin, they came from.
But, the Jiu-Jitsu community, is not the Rodeo community, even though sometimes, it seems to have fantasies that it was or is.
I have to make that disclaimer, because yeah, my property's southern border is a working cattle ranch, and real Cowboys do Cowboy.
But, some of them are missing thumbs, when they don't release the rope, when roping, and missing other parts, when the duct tape or lack of antibiotics goes wrong.
So, this is a long way of saying, leave the medical doctoring, to the medical doctors, unless you have no other option.
And BJJ instructors, and/or Yoga instructors, holding themselves out as healers, or therapists, without proper domicile licensing for same, are generally imprudent, and in a lot cases exploiting the vulnerable for money.
Or just giving bad advice, or spreading ignorance, and/or feeding their own egos, for vanity or cult reasons, or both...
SBBlue beltVerified
1 year(s) ago
The opposite of a culture and training you can relax in, I reason. Everyone has written good details here – but in general, I think it’s a lot about maturity in the ones who run the place, which kind of/often come hand in hand with aspects, like:
★ Low ego / humility
★ Emotional self-regulation
★ Low need to dominate to feel valuable
★ Decent inner drives / awareness of those drives
★ Presence / some level of mindfullness
★ Long-term thinking / patience
★ Healthy boundaries / ability to communicate and set boundaries
★ Being mature enough to not fall too much into groupthink issues, or even vorse; cult-behaviour
This is at least what Ive seen along the way in several martial arts, where lack of it, specifically in coaches, have created (sometimes very disturbing) problems and clear red flags.
But the more of these aspects, the more green flags, better culture, more stability, even lovely =)
★ Low ego / humility
★ Emotional self-regulation
★ Low need to dominate to feel valuable
★ Decent inner drives / awareness of those drives
★ Presence / some level of mindfullness
★ Long-term thinking / patience
★ Healthy boundaries / ability to communicate and set boundaries
★ Being mature enough to not fall too much into groupthink issues, or even vorse; cult-behaviour
This is at least what Ive seen along the way in several martial arts, where lack of it, specifically in coaches, have created (sometimes very disturbing) problems and clear red flags.
But the more of these aspects, the more green flags, better culture, more stability, even lovely =)
