Changing organisations

[aefibird]

My karate instructor is thinking of leaving our parent organisation, due to severe disagreements with the Chief Instructor/Head of the organisation about the way it is being managed and run.

 

He is very loath to leave, as he knows that if he does leave, at least 2 of the other Senior Instructors (my Sensei is also classed as a Senior Instructor)will also leave and take their students with them. My instructor does not wish to split up the federation (which is what would happen if he left and the other Senior Instructors followed him), however, he wishes to do the best for his club and his students.

 

If he left our present organisation he is unsure whether to strike out on his own and not join any other association, or whether to join an association that is for all martial artists, not just karate practicioners.

 

This is a very difficult time for my club and my instructor. It is a hard decision that he has to make. He has been a member of this organisation since it was first founded in the early 1980's but he feels that business, administration and regulations are getting in the way of karate.

 

Has anyone else been in a similar situation? Has anyone else here had their instructor change the club to be members of a different organisation?

 

Please share your experiences (without referring to specific names and dates), as I believe that it would be helpful for me & the other members of my club, as well as other members on the forums, to hear stories from people who have been in similar situations.

[tommarker]

 

That doesn't sound like a very fun situation, and it's not always something that the students will fully understand (or in some cases, notice.)

 

There are nice ways to leave an organization, and not-so-nice ways. The best thing you can do is be graceful in the process and not trash the organization you are leaving, and hope the organization pays you the same courtesy. There will always be people who just don't understand, but you sometimes have to make the best decision for you and your studio.

 

Not an enviable siutation...

[delta1]

My karate instructor is thinking of leaving our parent organisation, due to severe disagreements with the Chief Instructor/Head of the organisation about the way it is being managed and run...If he left our present organisation he is unsure whether to strike out on his own and not join any other association, or whether to join an association that is for all martial artists, not just karate practicioners...been a member of this organisation since it was first founded in the early 1980's but he feels that business, administration and regulations are getting in the way of karate... Has anyone else been in a similar situation? Has anyone else here had their instructor change the club to be members of a different organisation?

 

I was in a Kenpo organization, headed by a very well known and excellant Kenpoist (you'd probably recognize his name, so I won't mention it). Several of the senior people thought that the organization was taking too much and not giving enough back to the membership, so they split off and formed their own organization. It is incredable the difference it has made! We get a lot more high quality seminars, the cost is less, and our manuals and other organizational support have improved. As tommarker said, the split was accomplished with a minimum of conflict, and we DO NOT ever badmouth the other organization, or those who chose to stay with it.

 

So, it can be a positive thing. But it took time and hard work to accomplish. I'd advise that your instructor take his time, research the needs of his school and his students, and find an organisation that can meet those needs at an afordable rate. If you have enough like minded seniors, you may be able to strike out on your own. And allways leave the door open to work for change in your present association. As for the students, they should remain low profile, but support your instructor the best you can. Try to gently squash rumors and dissention, but try not to get into fights or factions. If it goes that way any how, make it clear you support the instructors choices (assuming you do- if not, maybe you should look at changing).

 

Good luck.

[AngelaG]

Hiya

 

My instructor left the KUGB to be with the OCI, which is an open organisation. We have practitioners from loads of different martial arts within out organisation and get together for seminars to learn what different styles have to give. The rest of the time we study our Shotokan the way our head instructor wants us to study it. It is very much still HIS dojo.

[Shorinryu Sensei]

I'll try to keep this short and sweet (yeah, right!).

 

Back in 1990, I went to Minnesota to train with a 6th Dan for a week, as I had been on my own for the past 9 years without anyone to my knowledge that i could turn to for guidance and training. While there, this 6th Dan promoted me to my nidan.

 

When I got back home I contacted the head of our association in this country (in Texas) and he said that the 6th Dan had advised him of my promotion, but he suggested that I either come down to Texas to test with him, or to Seattle to test before the visiting head of our system in a few months. I asked him why, having successfully tested under a legitimate, and well respected 6th Dan in our system, did I have to travel yet again to test under him (a 7th Dan), or the head of our system? He didn't have a good answer to that question, just said that he wanted to verify it.

 

So, a few months later, I went to Seattle and tested before the head of the system....and passed for a 2nd time.

 

A week or so later, I contacted the 7th Dan in Texas to find out what the fee's were for the test, and he told me I had to come to Texas to test under him.

 

Now..since when can't a 6th Dan, or the 9th Dan head of the whole friggin' system, not promote someone to Nidan without this Texas guy's OK?

 

Long story short (believe me, I'm leaving out some stuff...but you get the idea), I..and the 6th Dan in Minnesota, quit the association because of this crap. I understand that about a year later, the 7th Dan was "relieved" of his position as head of the American association because of this thing with me, and many other things he'd done. Up until about 2 years ago, I had been on my own again. I am now a member of a good, non-political association that I'm quite happy with.

[Shane]

I dont care much for organizations that try to govern over a school. I see that there can be some good from some organizations but also bad, that can be pretty much with anything. I say let the instructor instruct and do it his/her way.