Do we need to ask permission?

[bushido_man96]

I am glad to hear that you have a great situation with your sensie, Kerry. It sounds like he is a good person, and a great instructor.

[Shotokan-kez]

He's fab Brian, just that he's just turned 60, i hope he doesn't retire in teaching any time soon, he has some great assistants from 2nd to 5th dan but it won't be the same.

[AT]

the guy that i want to go learn from is 77 lol. If he's really serious about his art he'll probably keep going for as long as he's able to.

a little about him. http://seinenkai.com/salute-lowe.html

i still gotta go to his dojo and meet with him.

[hanksohn]

I would ask for advice. Assuming the instructor is competent, they should have at least a surface understanding of other styles that the student may not. If the student can articulate what they hope to get out of crosstraining, the instructor may be better able to help them find an appropriate venue for the crosstraining. It would probably also help the instructor to know what the student is studying to aid tailoring to that student's interests.

If I were "forbidden" or strongly discouraged from crosstraining, I'd bail but that's just me.

[Ziyad]

I was actually encouraged by my capoeira teacher to take up some boxing, thaiboxing or brazilian jiujitsu to supplement my capoeira, but he also stressed that it wasn't necessary.

[Ziyad]

In any case, I think you make a lousy martial artist if you need permission to develop yourself. Doesn't anybody consider the word 'artist'?

[aruder]

It depends very much on your instructor. If your instructor is the type that says "our style is the best, there is no reason to train in another style" don't ask. (I, for one, wouldn't train under such a close minded teacher)

If I told my Sensei I was thinking about cross training, he would probably say, "Cool. Can I come with you to a class? Maybe you can show my class some of the things you learn."

[bushido_man96]

If I told my Sensei I was thinking about cross training, he would probably say, "Cool. Can I come with you to a class? Maybe you can show my class some of the things you learn."

In my opinion, there isn't enough of this going on in the martial arts today.

[Tef]

I, like many others on this thread, don't believe that we should apply to rules of the ancient times to now, but still should maintain the same amount of respect for our own dojo. When I went to go try out another dojo, the sensei there told me to ask my teacher. When I actually asked my teacher, he got a quizzical look on his face and asked "umm...sure. You don't have to ask me."

[ninjanurse]

My current instructor does not allow cross-training because he feels it is distracting. Below black belt one can argue this but there is a place for cross-trainig and should not be forbidden. Each has his own journey.