Politics in your Dojo, how do I stay out of it?

[ramymensa]

This is a problem in many clubs. Instead of focusing on other clubs, each instructor should just focus on the classes and making better students. I would like to train in other dojos too, provided I had the time, and I don't think I need to explain to anyone what I do with my time and my money.

[RichardHangHong]

I would say don't talk about the other clubs you train in when you're in their club. Mostly out of respect, you don't want to be seen advertising the other clubs in their classes. I can see how they might get a little annoyed at that, especially when as you said, they don't particularly like each other.

I train in 3 other karate clubs beside my own and I always where a gi without a badge so not to seen advertising my own club in their dojo.

[marie curie]

I think that it is good that you are open about it-

I ran into this problem when I was young. I train in many now, but all are cool with it.

As far as going to a tourny- we have a guy in BJJ who trains grappling with like 7 clubs (he invented another day just to train, we think). When we all went to a tournament, he was officially "with" the group that he trained at most (3 sessions a week), which we thought was a totally reasonable way to pick. Also, at the tournament, he was cheering for us, and hanging out with us. So it was cool.

Anyway- good luck!

[patusai]

"...no one has said anything yet..." I would not worry about it until someone say something about it. Since nobody has said anyting you do not have to choose between anything so I would not worry about it until you have to make a decision. I assume that when you started with each school you did not say that you would train with them exclusively or anything like that. Don't worry right now. Train and be happy. If this changes then you have to make a decision.

Hopefully the schools and instructors, who are in a position to need all the students that they can handle, would rather worry about losing one student rather than saying something in the hopes of taking one student away from 2 other schools and 4 other instructors.

Good luck