Dojo hopping

[Shogun of Harlem]

I am curious when we go out of town how many people ever go try out a new Dojo ?

[Rateh]

When I was a kid I would beg my mother whenever we would go on a trip to look at all the dojos in the area. She never let me because there wasn't time. Now that I'm grown the only time I leave town is to visit my family for holidays, and dojos are closed at that time. I find it very disapointing. If I had the means I'd love to just travel around visting dojos. I'd learn all sorts of new ways to train and teach and organize a school and class. I'd learn many new techniques and different ways of doing the same techniques. I'd meet a ton of other martial arts enthusiasts....

Darn I wish I could do that O.o

[karatekid1975]

I do TKD, but I started out in TSD in NJ. I always go back to my TSD dojang to train (when visiting family in NJ). I don't think that's "dojo hopping" since I trained there before. But, then again, I don't travel much. When I go to PA to visit my hubby's family, I don't bother. Weird.

[tekki]

I have only gone to dojos where I have been a member before or are somehow affiliated with where I train or used to train. I never really had the nerve to just show up anywhere and ask if I could take part in class without some kind of personal contact there already.

FWIW, I did visit a TKD dojang the other day while in another part of the state on business. The school has an extensive MA supply store attached, carrying items for various arts, and some miscellaneous Asian-themed gifts and knick-knacks too. The head instructor of the school was manning the shop and of course, he asked me if I practiced martial arts. When I told him that I did, and I told him of my background, we got into a pretty good discussion, and he showed me around the school. It was amazing how many people we both knew, despite living 80 miles from one another and practicing two different arts.

So basically, if I'm not in Syracuse, Rochester, Albany or NYC, I don't take class. On vacation, I simply rely on gym facilities in the hotel or on the ship when available and either just practice by myself or do other stuff for exercise altogether.

[bushido_man96]

Every time I hit a city I have never been too, I look in the Yellow Pages for MA schools. I have visted some different ones before, but have never had a chance to work out at one.

I think it is a great opportunity to exchange ideas and information, and is great for networking martial artists together.

[JackCrevalle]

A good way to do this would be to contact someone on the board who is located in the city you intend to visit and ask about participating in a class. Then that person could inquire if it was ok with their dojo.

[bushido_man96]

A good way to do this would be to contact someone on the board who is located in the city you intend to visit and ask about participating in a class. Then that person could inquire if it was ok with their dojo.

That would work, if it is someone that you have contact with. Sometimes, I go somewhere that I don't know anyone who does any of the training. I would think that the school owners/instructors would be willing to accept you in to at least watch, and ask questions.

[cathal]

I'd only bother if I were out of town for a while.

[a_ninja]

I would love to have done that, but for some reason my mom never alows it

[ninjanurse]

If I ever visited anywhere I would!

BTW Laurie, Goofy Rules!!!!!