Thinking about quitting...

[Paedde]

I'm really frustrated right now but I'll try to keep the thread as neutral as possible...

My dojo has really upset me in the last few months, it started when they skipped my blue belt test because "nobody was attending", but I told them that I wanted to try and sensei agreed, he just wasn't there that week and now I'm still orange (that was 3 months ago). But that wouldn't be really a problem because I don't care much about my belt...

I can only train on thursday and friday, because on the other days it's not worth coming for just 1 hour (I need about 3 hours to get there and get home). Friday training was skipped most of the time, always late when I already had my packed bag with me the whole day in school. Last friday I waited about 2 hours in front of the dojo until I got a sms that there was no training... (I'm always earlier there and everybody knows about it, when I asked why I was told so late I was told that they just forgot...)

Another thing is we always play soccer for warmup (Every soccer player plays with shoes, shin protectors and warms himself up before playing...), so there are a lot of injuries from that. Today we spent more than an hour for that... (2 hours training).

There are a few other things like techniques you really cant use (moving out of the way when someone punches you [1 punch]. How should that be possible with physics...)... When I mentioned anything, soccer or anything, I get more or less the answer that I'm just a orange belt and don't know...

I guess you found out that I'm a little hot headed now... I hope I can get some advice from all the sempai and sensei here who can think clear...

Maybe this is all because I started training BJJ and I see how it can be handled, 5-6 days training a week, always training and no problems... With a lot less trainers than in kyokushin...

Maybe just I can know what to do now, but I still hope that I can get some advice here, I still love kyokushin and I don't want to quit kyokushin, just the circumstances are really killing me...

Thanks if you read the whole text...

Osu

[Lucy]

Sorry to hear your story Paedde, yes i read the whole post

Its hard when you put all the effort in to go to training and it doesnt meet up to your expectations. I have felt like this before which is why i train at 4 different dojo's regularly, but im lucky to be able to do this because i have 2 other dojo's in neighbouring town and the other i train at is only an hour away. Obviously if you don't have other dojo's you can get to then thats very fustrating. Is there any others you can train at? I find that what i don't get out of training at one club i find at one of the others.

If not another kyokushin dojo is there other martial art/karate clubs that offer similar training to kyokushin? May someone else from the forum here could advise you on places nearby to you. Don't quit

[tmd]

Paeddle I sympathize with you, the first time I left Kyokushin was because my Sensei had moved away and the club was not as it had been, it was hard as I too loved Kyokushin and what it stood for but I did what I felt was right for me at the time and left to try out other things, part of me regrets it as my flitting around has caused me to not make the progress I would have had I stuck with one style and secondly when I came back I realized what I'd been missing.

But I also tried out a lot of other things and grew as a martial artist, Kyokushin is a state of mind, if you have it you always will and you can return to it when you feel ready and find the right Sensei.

One last note: I do find the soccer thing strange, lots of niggly injuries happen from not properly warming up and soccer is a game which can quickly escalate and become competitive not a warm up, second when I used to play a lot I found it reduced my flexibility for certain kicks so not exactly complementary to Karate training.

[Lucy]

Good point tmd, i used to play soccer and trained karate when i was younger. I had to give up the football for the exact reason you stated and the risk of injury was too high! I had alot of problems with leg/hip joints from doing both. They just don't go together!

[kakatootoshi]

Dear Paedde,
Well if you do not want to hear negative comments please skip my following message. WARNING!

I think you are a bit self-centered. The belt-test I know you are okay with that (I am not hinting you are not okay with that!), but the point you mentioned it I think is to let people think "that is something wrong" even if you are okay with that. I just want you to know really it is okay to cancel the belt test because too few people are attending.

If you think it is not worth coming, then do not come. There are many people out there travelling for long hours just to come for a short lesson. And there are people who cannot even find a dojo.

If you think some techniques are not useful because of its contradiction against physics, then please do not use it and use something of your own in Kumite. If you can beat the others then you have the truth.

If you think BJJ can let you train 5-6 days a week and you enjoy it, then please quit Kyokushin.

For soccer as a part of Kyokushin warm-up, in case you do not know, soccer has been used in preparation for some big Kyokushin tournaments by Japanese fighters.

I am not being angry or personal, just that I think you are being a bit self-centered as an orange belt. And I do not judge you by your belt, as I will say the same thing even if you are a Yudansha.

OSU!

[Paedde]

Osu kakatootoshi

The belt test was not cancelled by the sensei, he just wasn't there that day and nobody else knew about it. I mentioned it to show the lack of organizing, I don't care about the color of my belt. I wouldn't be a bit better if I had a black belt right now...

I'm already travelling a lot for short lessons, in fact I spend my whole free time for martial arts, I have to wait after work for 1-2 hours, then travel to the dojo, after training back home and it's about 11pm and I just go to sleep.

Maybe it's self centered, but I use a lot of time and also money for training, and not to play soccer for an hour... (And it's not because of the EM, it's always...)

Thanks for the answers yet

Osu

[GJEChamberlain]

Osu! Paedde,

I tend to disagree with some of the comments above. The most important thing for those starting training (apart from your own effort) is proper coaching. By your descriptions that seems to be lacking here. Some instructors care about their students, some expect beginner students to accept whatever they say as "they know best" - even when they clearly haven't a clue about structuring sessions etc etc

If the instruction is top class, it is worth travelling long times and distances for. If the instructors are not showing an interest it is invariably not. As for football, use it as a fun recovery session on your local park, but not as part of your technical training!

Unfortunately, no matter what the name over the door, no style has the monopoly on good coaching. That is down to the individual instructor(s)

My opinion? Find a dojo that takes proper care of it's students.

Gary

[Dent]

Osu! Paedde,

I haven't seen this extent of disorganization in any Dojo before. I have to ask, is it an internationally recognized school?

If not, I'd follow KakatoOtoshi, and stick with only the BJJ. If it does have a good lineage, ask to help. You seem motivated and organized, so maybe you are the best person to get the Dojo moving in a consistently positive direction.

Osu!

[seienchin]

Paedde...I agree with...everyone.

I particularly like Dent's suggestion that you offer to help. This is a great way to demonstrate your committment, and it gives you, even as an orange belt, quite a lot of control.

It is a shame about so much soccer time, but once you are warm, you can work on your evasive footwork while you play footy.

At the end of the day, it has to be worth it for you, and we can't decide that for you. Maybe you should take a brief sabbatical and see how much you miss it. that will answer the question for you.

[Spirit]

Originally Posted by Lucy

I have felt like this before which is why i train at 4 different dojo's regularly, but im lucky

mmm arn't you Lucy???? not Lucky ahhh to funny for 5:30a.m.


Paedde:
We all go through some sort of B/S no mtter if it is Karate, soccer etc their is always some type disappointment you have to deal with when relying on others.

I will not bore you with what I have dealt with but take this as a piece of encourgement... I got my Shodan 30 years ago this Jan... even with all the B/S I'm still train and you !!!

Kata has a few good points as well
an Dent to It is not a matter of style and sensei it is a matter of you and the sensei getting along as I aklways say.
Find another dojo that gives you what you wish don't focus on style but fit.

Sure Kyokushin is Kyokushin and it does have some points that other styles don't, but a true Karateka gains knowledge from all things not from one... knowledge in the box.

[Deaken]

OSU,

I trained for a short while at a dojo that also warmed up with soccer. It was for the kids mostly, but the game which started before training for fun to keep the kids occupied lasted well into the training time (30 minutes+) and often the adults would just be waiting and watching, it was clearly not part of the training. The Sensei would cancel classes and often not let people know in advance, once even shut down and changed locations without letting students know, talked during a whole class about politics, complained that his students didn't support him in long speaches during training time etc.(surprise surprise). Know what I did? I left.

I think that you need to evaluate the situation and really determin if the incidents are just your issues or if they truly are like above, and they are with the Sensei/Dojo. If the former, get over it if you want to study Kyokushin, if the latter move to somewhere that you like even if it's a different style. You should be able to tell if the soccer warm up is actually for training or for waisitng time, and the intentions of the Sensei and his respect for the students, their time and their training. Every school cancels a class at some point, and things happen that are unplanned and unfortunate. How the things are delt with and how the students are respected in these situations will tell you the true nature of the dojo and sensei.

[BigAl]

Can't really add too much more, most of it's been covered. I can see how wanting to spend your time on training and getting stuck playing soccer can be negative. Any way to work something out with your sensei so you can show up when soccer usually ends? This way you get your training in and save some time for yourself.

[Bloke]

As an aside I have had worse injuries playing football than through Karate.

[milwaukeecop2]

I think the big question is "are you happy?" It sounds like you not. Life is too short too stay somewhere where you are not happy. you can find a club that trains they way you want to train if you look hard enough.

[Dent]

Osu!

So how are you feeling about it now, Paedde? Any clarity? Made any decisions? Talked to your Sensei?

Osu!

[hasbeen]

osu paedde! imo anywhere that starts off with 1/2 hour football as a warm up needs to be avoided, unless the experts have developed something i know nothing about?

when wushu started doing well in the british competitions i asked if i could attend one of their training sessions to see what it was all about, they were very accomodating and said just turn up. i got there a bit early before their[i think they are called sifu`s]instuctor arrived. the guys that got there early were kicking a football about,shouting and screaming....being used to a very disciplined dojo i changed and left..i just could not get my head around playing football in a dojo....what has football got to do with karate?

i`m not having it that this is a good way to warm up because footballers stretch before they play and that`s a fact!!!!!! why do they do this..to avoid pulling this or injuring that........i rest my case

i understand there might not be a lot of training opportunities near you but i would hold out for a well run, reasonably disciplined dojo.

my thoughts are karate can be a dangerous thing and if the senseis have a
layed back attitude to warming up, have they got the same sort of attitude towards their teachings? never mind mr a. gressive is going to spar with mr b. ginner ...time to nip out for a smoke?

well run schools of any description have to have respect/discipline both ways and those which get the balance right get the best results.

again spirits words of wisdom are spoken, it`s not the style it`s the instuctor!!

try going to hanshi arneils dojo and getting a football out and see what happens?...maybe i`m a bit old fashioned.............but please don`t give up if you really enjoy karate..keep stretching,work on your flexibility and try and find another club, before you join spend a bit of time watching the sessions and make sure before you join that you are not jumping out of the frying pan into the fire.time is on your side!

if david beckham turns up at the british open to fight, i promise you will never see any advise offered by me again!!

paedde i wish you well....don`t give up!!

pheezy, i hope you and your monsters don`t play football in the dojo?

end of rant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Paedde]

Osu

I wasn't in the kyokushin dojo since last week, but I'm going to today.
Everyone encouraged me to not stop and I don't feel like anymore, I just want proper training... I'll speak to sensei and senpai today after training.

Thanks again for all the answers.

Osu

[Nix]

Please keep us updated on how things go.

Osu!

[Dent]

Osu!

Remember Paedde, by asking in a respectful manner, and offering to help, you're likely to get a positive response.

Personally, I wouldn't bother about the negative too much, but focus on getting more of the Karate training. Your Sensei may not yet realize there's a real problem.

Osu!