cross training

[Zorba]

Hey,

Just wondering how many people train in multiple arts, and what your instructors think about it.

im currently doing both TKD and shotokan. my TKD instructor isnt overly happy about it but he accepts it, but my Shotokan sensei is very much for cross training.

i would like to start something else, but money and time are constraints

[glockmeister]

I would imagine most people here cross train. I love crosstraining and 3 of my main styles I take all at one school, wheer my Haganah imnstructor encourages cross training. I just began BJJ there and I think it is a great addition to my self defense and kickboxing styles.

I have a hard time understanding why your TKD instructor would be against you cross training. Most good instructors like to see that their students are constantly reaching for new goals and seeking new knowledge. At least that's been my experience so far.

I understand what you are saying about time and money being a prob. With me, alot of it is time. Soon after starting BJJ, A Judo school has opened up very close to me and the rates are great. I wanted to take Juso for a long time, but now with yet another style i practice, I have no idea where I would find the time to take on yet something else..

[shogeri]

I have yet to meet a higher ranked TKD instructor that openly accepts a students desire to cross train.

Now, they might be open to such, if they have had cross training themselves.

But, if they have not, then generally speaking (not collectively), they shun away from such, mostly out of pride, but there are other reasons, such as;

The pride that comes with believing that one system (or instructor of such system) has all the answers.

The fear that doing other systems might hinder a students progress within their own.

Or the misunderstanding of how all styles are actually related on many different levels, and when a student pulls that all together, then that is a good thing.

Quite frankly, what I do on my own time, is my business, and not that of my instructors, so long as I am not breaking any laws, or doing anything imooral or unethical.

Now so far as money goes, try buying a DVD at first, and just watch them do shotokan (or whatever), and see just how far you could go with it.

You could alsoo go to some other schools, and just sit in and watch. Open up to people, and start your own network of resources. You could easily eliminate the money factor in that way.

It might be best to have an end goal in mind with TKD training, and then move on after that, especially if your instructor gives you any grief over time.

You could always return to TKD if things didn't work out.

Anyhow, good luck! I wish you best!

[niel0092]

I have yet to meet a higher ranked TKD instructor that openly accepts a students desire to cross train.

Really? Cross training is very common at my school and even encouraged.

[pineapple]

My instructor allowed me to train in other schools but he advised me to make one school my main school and art instead of jumping from school to school.

My instructor also encouraged his students who had other styles under their belt to teach his students new techniques.

I believe that many instructors fear that if their student trains in another school, they might like the other style better.

[McNerny]

Hello,

When I told my sensei I was going to begin wrestling he encouraged it because it supplements karate with its grappling. Since we don't do a great deal of grappling in karate, wrestling is really helping. Besides it being good grappling training, it's also great conditioning which helps when doing seemingly endless rounds of kumite.

McNerny

[shogeri]

When I say cross training, I meant karate and tkd at the same time.

In oklahoma, there seems to be an unspoken rivalry going on.

And it's not every instructor, just many of those that people tell me about.

The ones I know personally, are somewhat neutral about the idea. That is, 1 out 5, say something negative either about another tkd system or karate.

Just some thoughts...

Later!

Edited December 27, 2005 by shogeri

[Aodhan]

I teach TKD, and I don't really see the fuss, personally. I think everyone should crosstrain and get exposure to as many MA as possible. If they happen to like another instructor or school better, then shame on me and I need to improve!

Aodhan

[elbows_and_knees]

I train thai boxing, judo and capoeira.

[Anbu Alex]

I crossed trained in different stlyes i thnk its good to have exposesure to other styles to at least know what you may have to deal with out there my teacher in fact encoureges cross training cause it helps us with training and the instructor too so he can be able to improve his teaching style