Training Away From Home....................

[hasbeen]

there must be a lot of you guys who are training away from your "mother" dojo as guests of other senseis/styles.

i thought it would be nice if you might share your experiences with the forum
good or bad?

how have you been treated by your hosts,what differences have you noticed,what have you learnt if anything?

perhaps let us know about the whole experience and would you recommend the dojo to other people?

[tmd]

The first rule is - you are a stranger, possibly even from another style? so do as you are asked to the best of our ability, be courteous and keep an open mind; all new experiences are positive, even if it doesn't feel it at the time.

I have been to many a new dojo when for years I could not train Kyokushin, I alway took a white belt with me and asked the Sensei where they would like me to line up. They have never seen you before and may ask you to join in at the back, if after showing your abilities (to the whole class) they want to honour your grade it is honourable to ask you to take your place in the line up according to whatever belt you have achieved elsewhere but man, can you imagine if they honoured your belt straight away and you were crap . I mean you may not have trained for years, you could be out of shape and it could be a differently structured style etc.

I know that does not apply here but I have seen it and it is not only something the Sensei would find it hard to undo but VERY frustrating for those you line up with who have worked their butts off to be there.

I am not blowing my trumpet here, Kyokushins' really but one club I went to I did as described and after a about a month they asked if I'd like to take my BB grading at the end of the next month!, I was only a 5th Kyu in Kyokushin. Unfortunately I busted my ankle and couldn't go back or I'd be about a 10th Dan now in Easyashellkai (name changed to save embarrassment).

[powerof0ne]

A couple of years ago I joined a Kempo dojo that was near me because I had no alternative where I lived at the time. I had no experience in the kind of Kempo that was being taught and only said I had some experience in karate and muay thai. The owner and his son were very friendly towards me and noticed that I had some skill then further enquired about my experience. They insisted that I show up wearing my yudansha from then on and the owner eventually hired me to teach. All I wanted out of it was free tuition but he wouldn't accept that and would leave me checks in my gym bag. I even ended up dating the girl that taught the kid's classes for a while.

[hasbeen]

Originally Posted by powerof0ne

A couple of years ago I joined a Kempo dojo that was near me because I had no alternative where I lived at the time. I had no experience in the kind of Kempo that was being taught and only said I had some experience in karate and muay thai. The owner and his son were very friendly towards me and noticed that I had some skill then further enquired about my experience. They insisted that I show up wearing my yudansha from then on and the owner eventually hired me to teach. All I wanted out of it was free tuition but he wouldn't accept that and would leave me checks in my gym bag. I even ended up dating the girl that taught the kid's classes for a while.

sounds perfect

[Salvador G. Ebreo Jr.]

I agree with you tmd-san,that whenever you visit or need to train in other dojo you need to be courteous and always respect the procedures that they impose,and be polite also....and humbleness can gain you a lot of friend also!!