Dojo leaving

[NightOwl]

What have been your experiences leaving dojos/dojangs/gyms/clubs? What have you taken away from those experiences and how did you grow from them?

[dineshm]

I left my former dojo, after a dispute between my instructor and a fellow student and the way they were treated.

Did I regret it?Nope.

Heck I sure did grow from them. I know now how petty people can be, and think that because you PAID them to teach you, they think you owe them something.

[cross]

I have left the dojo i currently train at a couple of times before for various reasons.(mainly personal ones, not to do with the dojo or instructors).

The main thing i would suggest is that you leave on good terms if possible. That way you will always be welcome back.

[bushido_man96]

Heck I sure did grow from them. I know now how petty people can be, and think that because you PAID them to teach you, they think you owe them something.

I have had some similar experiences with instructors before as well. I didn't necessarily leave, but it makes me concious about how I treat people, and what I expect from them.

I had to leave my own school when I left for college. It was on good terms, and I took away a lot of experiences with me, especially teaching experiences, and I still carry them with me today. I know now what I would do the same, and what I would do differently, if I ran my own operation again.

[NightOwl]

I've had the equivalent of a foster child experience during my martial arts training. First it was a joining of schools, then the split (I stayed with my original group), then that gym shut down and I found the instructor at a smaller dojang, then they went out of business. Fortunately I got the information that my old assistant instructor started his own school and went there. I eventually left both the school and the art because I felt that I wasn't growing except in rank and wasn't getting what I was looking for from my training (although I liked the teacher and many of the students very much). However I felt that children's teaching and forms (and lots of exercise) was basically what I was doing. I was out of martial arts for quite awhile, then stuck with wing chun for a couple of months before leaving that after deciding the art wasn't for me. Finally I found a great MMA gym that unfortunately due to college I've only been able to attend in blocks of time but I've gotten the best training in my life at that place.

Now I train at the kodokan...I've never left a place on bad terms- in fact I've never left a place on terms at all, usually just leaving things behind. A lot of people seem to leave only after something bad has happened which is something that I have always been fortunate enough not to have happen. Needless to say though, I've never really gotten attached to a place since my TKD days. I figure that at this point I am some sort of martial gypsy

I guess I've learned what I am seeking in martial arts training from my experiences if I had to narrow it down one thing. That principle has changed how I've look at training at any location since I left for the first time not due to conditions outside of my control. Fortunately, Judo looks like it is in for the long haul (due to logistics on returning I might take up BJJ as a complementary art). At the very least I am determined to get proficient so I can shout 'JUDOOOOOOOOOOOO!' as I leap from the shadows at passing evildoers

[Adonis]

I was at a TMA school that had an instructor there for awhile who taught a little bjj, he was a high white belt at the time. I gained a passion for BJJ because of him but had to leave him a few months later because we didn't see "eye to eye"

I a couple other schools and instructors, but that was because of moving, I haved visited before and I was always welcomed back. It was on good terms. Cross said it best with

"The main thing i would suggest is that you leave on good terms if possible. That way you will always be welcome back." -cross

[Rateh]

I've been to 7 schools, either from moving, trying out different styles to broaden my experiences, etc. I've had at least 20 instructors in my 10 years. I think that this has only helped me as I have so many more experiences then any 1st degree I've met.

[DWx]

In TKD I've been with the same instructor since the day I started training. My first lesson was actually his first lesson teaching at our club as he was taking over from our current assistant instructor. I've never felt the need to swap dojangs and actually most of the other places around here are substandard so I'm kinda lucky really that I get excellent teaching and train with some great people. I'm leaving around September-ish though as I'm going off to uni but I expect I'll be back in the holidays (or when I take my washing home ). I've only just started within Tai Chi really so I've had the one instructor for that too.

[harleyt26]

I was with my first instructor for seventeen years,we had a disagreement over some dojo politics and I decided it was time for me to find who I was on my own.Actually there was more than just myself there was seven of us that moved on together.That was five years ago,we still are all together.It was the best thing we could have done.It did not take long before we found we had been kept in the dark like a bunch of mushrooms.We have since trained with some of the best martial artists available.And our own arts have improved tremendously as has our understanding of the principles involved.And our opportunities and possibilties for the future are unlimited.We have heard that our old instructor has invoked a new rule,no training outside the dojo.I suspect that would be to keep the mushrooms happy in the dark with out letting any light in.Once you see the real thing it knocks that type of instructor right off their pedestal.Don't get me wrong loyalty is a very honorable thing but blind loyalty is not honorable or intelligent.It is your training you are paying for if the service or quality of service is not there,is it the intelligent thing to continue to pay just out of loyalty.You can be a fool or you can go get what you are paying for.The martial arts are very widespread now and with the assistance of the internet there is no good reason to support an inadequate instructor,school or style.As the consumer it is your right to get what you are paying for without complications.

Tom Hodges

[Shotokan-kez]

Well i trained in shotokan most of my young life but then i ended up out of training for a while. In the end i decided to try Shukokai. Anyway i was made to start from the beginning and it was a long slow process, i felt like i wansnt reaching my full potential and so i decided to contact my old shotokan sensei to see about returning to his club.

Of course he accepted me back and also accepted me back on my old belt of 4th kyu. Leaving the shukokai club wasnt very nice though. I think the sensei spat his dummy out and basically said we could never return. I have also heard since then that the sensei and adult students at that sukokai club consider me as a 'joke' and laugh about me all the time.

Anyway who cares i'm settled now in my original dojo and i love it, cant see myself ever leaving it again!