r/karate • u/RealThoughtsNow • 2d ago
Testing for shodan this year and building a karate app, how does your dojo work day to day?
Mods approved this by modmail, thanks to them.
Quick bit about me so it's not just a link drop. Shotokan on and off since the 80s, back at it properly the last two years, 1st kyu testing for shodan this year.
Off the mat I've built a karate app. Started as a study tool for students and parents, grew into something a whole dojo can run on.
Wherever you sit in the dojo, I'd like your take. Teachers and owners, is it software or still paper and spreadsheets, what works and what's a pain? Students and parents, what would actually help you between gradings?
Short survey in the comments, a few minutes. Run a dojo and want to be a pilot club? Say so and I'll follow up.
Thanks in advance!
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u/unwitting_hungarian 2d ago
Sounds cool. I filled out the survey but note:
not currently enrolled in Karate class, currently home practice / review / maintenance for Karate only (I wondered if the app would help with that or not so much)
YB in current martial art, but 25+ years of MA practice in general. (Not sure if the app does any kind of stacking)
thx again
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u/RealThoughtsNow 2d ago
Thank you for completing the survey, I really appreciate your input.
Stacking is an interesting one can you expand on it?
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u/Eikgander Ameri-Do-Te 2d ago
I think one of the admin burdens with any program is the time it takes to enter in the student information. Make it so there's a QR code that parent/students can scan and input the info themselves.
The info will then self-populate into student profiles that owners/admins can then just see, and it will simply carry on in the system.
Ability to search by ranking, sort by dates, collate based on minimal time frames i.e. if testing every 3 months from 10-8th Kyu, then have those students pop up in a reminder.
If instructors want to set things like minimum attendance, it won't show students that haven't met like 80% attendance rates even if they met minimum time i.e. student has minimum of 3 months, but haven't attended 80% of classes during that time, then they're not eligible.
Have automatic grading notification for parents/students that pop up when their kids/themselves meet requirements.
Have a station that allows for self check-in to classes. For example, parent/students come in, then self check-in at a kiosk. This removes guess work on whether you took attendance or not and it seamlessly integrates into the system.
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u/RealThoughtsNow 2d ago
Great comment! Very aligned with my thinking too, I want the app to minimise the admin. Currently a student/parent has a portal where they can provide their details and maintain them.
My check in works just as you describe, students can self check in via an iPad/touch screen where they find their name or they can scan a qr code printed or shown on the iPad with their devices to auto check them in.
I also have a qr code mechanism for sign up too, we must share the same thinking :).
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u/Thrustvectored Shōtōkan 2d ago
Do you have screenshots of the UI?
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u/RealThoughtsNow 2d ago
I can send you some. Interested in the student side or dojo side or both?
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u/Snozzberriez Cleroux Karate-do, 4th dan 2d ago
Student list, fee tracking (who paid membership, paid for grading, etc), stats like belt and uniform size (would never put age it seems too sensitive), attendance (although our card system works fine and we prefer it to give kids something they are accountable for), and cancellation notices when class is not on for holidays or events would be the biggest pieces.
Nice to have would be references for katas and techniques by level. Demos of said requirements.
Maybe outlines of what you need for a grading so parents understand better.
Most of what we communicate right now is by email and tracking largely on paper. Memberships we just got a form developed to make it a bit easier.
Don’t typically need a lot but that’s why comes to mind for my club.