http://www.manta.com/coms2/dnbcompany_5zhqn

Anyone have any information on this style?

Brian S

No clue, just off the top of my head the guy seems to be mixing his languges a bit.

I thought that too, seems weird. But, I'm the curious type and I like to see what other people are doing. I might go have a look-see.

Sheesh! CXT's being polite. They could be really great technicians, but my bet? TKD wrapped up with a few other things and sold as something different to sound more attractive and official-like to the non-MA going public fishing for a close by school for their kids.

Korean sounding first part of the name, then add Chinese and Karate and you not only are you left scratching your head, you are left wondering what the hell is it? Like I said, could be good. But sometimes calling a daisy a rose does not smell as sweet.

If you take a look see, let us know what you find out.

Hey, Brad, if you ever get tired of Ashihara, there's a thought for ya: Guru Butterfly's School of Hoso Maki Muay Korean Kung Fu!

I am wanting to change my 8 year old son to a karate school closer to home and the Mong Su Dom Tai studios are pretty popular around here. They started in Neosho, Missouri a few years ago and have spread like fire and pretty much dot the map for about a 50 mile radius.

I took my son for his free class the other day and I really liked the look. Of course how much can you see in 1 class period? It was a private lesson. Anyway, afterward I asked the instructor about the origins of the style and he said the history was posted on the wall. I didn't take time to go read it but I will next time I go. I asked what style it could be compared to and he said, "Nothing really, but if you just HAD to compare, similar to the Chinese Kenpo styles."

I asked him about the words being both Chinese and Korean and he said they were Chinese. I have my doubts since in this thread something different is said, but anyway, I liked the looks of what he was showing my son. Some pretty cool techniques better than what I was seeing after 2 and a half years taking him to study Okinawa at Joplin Karate in Joplin, MO.

One thing I like is the private lesson. You pay $100 a month and get 1 30 minute private lesson and 1 group lesson each week. The whole family can go for one price---$100 a month.

Another thing I liked, at the dojo I was taking my son to, he would have had to reach 11 years old to learn weapons. They said within about 2 months he will be working with weapons here. My son is fanatical about weapons so I think this style will appeal to him for that reason and maybe he will study harder.

I will look at the posted history they have on the wall and let you know more later.

Any advice from anyone?

Caution.

Clue #1: Schools "spread like fire". Those of us who've been involved in MA for a while can attest that a quality school/organization takes a while to grow. Ask yourself why there aren't more 5-star generals around. What would you think of a military w/ 200 5-stars?

Clue #2: Could be compared to "nothing really". He wants you to believe that his style is SO unique but in reality if you knew the background of the originator, you'd probably see a little of this & a little of that. I don't like MA-stew.

Clue #3: The words are a mix & he's just repeating the party line. Funny he couldn't explain the lineage & just referred you to read the wall.

Clue #4: I have no idea what "pretty cool techniques" look like. I know that the most effective techniques are your "bread-&-butter" skills that are basic - not fancy & cool-looking. That cool movie stuff is just that - fantasy on parade. Real MA is often boring until you realize what you're actually doing.

Clue #5: Within 2 months, your son will be working w/ weapons. Obviously not real weapons or real techniques. How could he? He doesn't have a grasp of basic body mechanics. This POV doesn't apply to the Filipino MA or kendo because those are weapon systems - my point is aimed @ non-weapons bases systems. This is just another way of hooking you & your son in, playing to his fantasies & your pleasure of seeing your son happy.

Sounds like another glorified child day care center, to me. If you and your kid are happy with what the instructor is offering, however, by all means let him (your son) have his fun. Just keep in mind though, that you do not paint a horse with stripes and call it a...unicorn. And, you almost always get what you pay for, right?!

I have been doing MSDT for a little over 4 years now. I do not have any previous MA experience, but it has been very educational and helped me in more ways than just self defense.

It looks like many people have jumped to a derogatory conclusion based on little more than the name of the school. We have many students that transferred from other arts and stayed around. Yes, it is a new art so there are not many schools yet.

BrianS/Togihill - There is a special program for young children to help get them started, and the free group classes also include sparring. Each belt builds upon the previous so techniques that you are seeing at the introduction level will constantly be refined and tweaked as the student progresses in their knowledge and abilities. If you don't like it after your free lesson then you are not obligated. Otherwise, good luck with your lessons!

I studied Mong Su Dom Tai several years ago and worked my way to Purple belt before getting distracted with other activities.

Mong/Hmong = people living in S China for the last 2,000+ years, also now in Laos, Thailand, etc...
Su = technique or skill
Dom = not sure/don't remember this word- could be spelling variation
Tai = highest

From what I recall, it is an ancient Chinese Hmong style, but new to the USA. It was brought to the US by the people who started the Mong Su Dom Tai studio in Joplin Missouri, and former students opened studios in Neosho and NW Arkansas (where I studied). There is nothing written on this tradition... which fits with the Hmong people who are very private. It was passed from elder to younger family members through direct instruction. It is both non-weapons and weapons-based. My experience was excellent- I wish I had stuck with it.

My young nephews also studied, ages 4 - 12... they had separate classes that were age-appropriate, and if i remember correctly, their belt rankings were modified as well. By "spread like fire," I believe the poster simply meant that the studio, which has been in the same location for at least 14 years, has become popular in town because of its reputation for quality instruction and affordable training opportunities. Former students from here and Missouri have gone on to open their own studios, thus it is growing. From my experience, Mong Su Dom Tai is not full of know-it-alls and show-offs like I've seen come out of other martial arts facilities... there is honor and humility in the learning and teaching. I trained under and know the owner the gentleman is referring to, and I can vouch for him. He didn't say he COULDN'T explain the lineage, he simply didn't at that time. He certainly did when I started my training. He always shared the meaning of the names of the kadas and moves as well and expected us to memorize them all.

Before criticizing something, perhaps its best to have some solid first-hand information.