changing clubs/dojos

[MACSTA]

ok let me start another thread.
I know that training at different clubs/dojos is encouraged amongst certain clubs. But what about changing clubs altogether apart from obvious reasons such as moving away. Just a thought???

[Hongsermeier]

I've never heard of anyone just changing dojos. I am pretty sure it would be considered disrespectfull. One reason to go watch a couple practices before you just up and join. :cross_eye

[Inouye02]

you must approach your head sensei, tell him why you want to change, let your fellow kenshi know too....

if your a newbie and want to change well..... i dont know the repercussions about that ...

[kendomushi]

There are valid reasons to change. For example in the dojo I am really part of, most everyone except sensei is of lower level than I am. Many sensei have encouraged me to join other dojo where I am one of the lower ranked people. This is to enable me to "practice up" instead of always "practicing down."

[JSchmidt]

For most of us this is a hobby which we are paying for, so if for whatever reason you think you will be better off at another dojo, change...or practice at both :)

Jakob

[James]

Kendo is a small community and if you suddenly disappear and start training at another dojo someone's nose may be put out of joint, so as Inouye02 says, good idea to let your fellow kenshi, dojo leader know. They are going to know you are there sooner or later anyway.
On the other hand if the reason you want to change is that you have some grievance with the current club or are unhappy there, this is 'your' kendo journey, no one elses, so as Jakob advises, find somewhere you are happier.
Kendomushi needs to practice with some higher grades, but if he leaves his dojo , he is taking one more higher grade out of the dojo for others to practice with, so might be good to just visit other dojos. Or join another dojo and go back and visit the old one to help sensei.

I would be interested in knowing what circumstances prompted MASCA to ask this question as he doesn't say and any answers will depend on the reasons for wanting to move.

[Hongsermeier]

I think James is on point. I go to two different dojo's. Nothing wrong with my original dojo. Just wanted a little different practice. Tired of always getting beat up by the same people. :cross_eye

[MACSTA]

Hey James, did i get you all curious? haha...
well actually i have no intentions of changing clubs at the present moment, but like i said in the first post it is just a thought, something that i thought would be sort of interesting to post to get different peoples view on it. I mean you never know which club you will end up with right?:p

[kendomushi]

James, your suggestion is spot on and that is what I try to do. I stay with the original dojo, help sensei, and get to other dojo whenever I can to be beaten about the head and trunk again.

[James]

Originally posted by MACSTA
...something that i thought would be sort of interesting to post to get different peoples view on it. I mean you never know which club you will end up with right?:p

Yes, topic is good.
My opinion is that in a dojo, if you are happy there, you develop a loyalty, in that those seniors helped you to progress, and as you get better you help those below you to progress. Sounds like what kendomushi is doing, ie giving something back. I think it is the honourable thing to do.
Sooner or later you are going to want to visit other dojos, just to practice with different people - this is fine when you are ready for it. Your sensei shouldn't mind. But you should be aware to some extent you will be representing your dojo and should behave accordingly.
If on the other hand if a beginner wants to hop from dojo to dojo becoming member of several, I think this will impede progress. He who chases after two hares catches neither. Better to get good foundations with one teacher first.
Naturally if you are having a bad time at your dojo, being abused etc. just get out of there.
Just my opinions.

[Hai_hai]

Hmm, that's interesting.
This point is moot for those who only have one dojo in their area, and visiting other dojos would entail a major road trip.

[Nishi]

I have been apart of a club where disagreements have split the club in two halves. For political reasons both halves of the club remained under the same name but in different areas. Our head instructor(5th dan) at a third location probably felt this was a good way to keep the seperation positive, as being in another area has aloud kendo to spread.

The disagreements came between the sensei(4rthdan) and sempai (3rd dan)...sensei asked him to leave the club, sempai left! Disagreements reagrding the student body.

Because i had trained with sempai longer, i had to make a choice regarding where i would go, so i balanced out the facts...sempai always new where my kendo was going, and when my next test would be, and what i needed to do to get better....he also remembered my grade and name which was important to me as sensei never really paid much attention, and at times myself and others felt we were more in his way than anything else. Nobody in the world has the right to make you feel unwelcome, so we left.

[MACSTA]

Nishi, i think ya made the right choice going with the sempai who knows you and your kendo.

From reading some of the posts, i think one of the worst things in "adult" clubs is the presence of "politics" and by that i don't mean the government.
kids clubs don't have any of that, they just have fun. maybe clubs should act more immature and just have some fun, that is why we joined the club right?:)

[Inouye02]

hows this for fun ...sensei and student having a farting contest during warmups ...our kids have fun at keiko, sometimes 4 on 1 against a sensei, keeps them from getting burned out ..we had to tone down a little since we had 2 girls join our dojo now..but its cool we all get along ...

[Hongsermeier]

I really hope French wasn't the student. That could cause practice to be cancelled. :cross_eye

[Nishi]

Originally posted by MACSTA
From reading some of the posts, i think one of the worst things in "adult" clubs is the presence of "politics" and by that i don't mean the government.

Well said.....in my experience in budo i have the definate opinion that if politics arise it is due to the caliber of training declining, beacause a high caliber of training should extinguish most traces of ego and self which are really the "root of gain" through political means. However, the presence of a good sensei is the best form of harmony in the dojo.

[m_french]

I really hope French wasn't the student. That could cause practice to be cancelled. :cross_eye
You didn't seem to mind during those cold nights in palo alto :beard: