Sniping?

[evergrey]

Hey there!

Have you ever visited a school other than your own and had the head instructor try to snipe you?

Say you visit because a friend takes classes there, and the head instructor notices you in the "watching" section and introduces yourself. You introduce yourself back, telling him or her what your discipline is and who you are training under.

After the class, say the instructor tries to talk you into coming to their school and training with them instead. How do you respond?

I responded with "Thank you, I'm honored by the offer, and I can tell that you run a good school here. I know that there are holes in every discipline, and perhaps someday I will come and fill in some holes by learning with you. For now, however, I need to focus on learning my core discipline and training with my sensei."

The instructor I was speaking with immediately backed off, and the conversation ended well. He told me that, as I was a friend to the person attending classes there, his school was a friend of mine and that I was welcome there any time. I liked the instructor, and enjoyed my visit to his school.

My questions are this:

Did I respond well?

Is there something else I should have said?

Is it common when someone visits a commercial school to have that school try to convince them to leave their own school and come train with them instead?

Has this happened to you?

Thanks, and

OSU!

[ps1]

It happens often. Afterall, the instructor probably makes his living this way. But you handled it perfectly.

[GeoGiant]

I've only been to one other dojo with the intent of "maybe" taking a few classes. The instructor was nice, he even let me take a class. I went back to talk with him again and he was kinda giving me an attitude like why are you wasting your time with that other style. I didn't end up signing up for his class, mainly due to money. I would have been paying $90 a month and only been able to attend 4 classes a month.

[evergrey]

Thank you both for your replies.

It was kind of funny actually, when I told this instructor my style he kind of got this "oh.. whoa" look on his face, and then he glanced down and saw the bruises on my arms. He said "oh... yeah we're not so hard on our beginners here. Kyokushin is a very very hard art, right from the beginning."

He used to live in Brazil, where it's a lot bigger than it is here, and he saw it in Japan too.

So he didn't tell me that it was a waste of time or any such thing. I think he might have tried subtly to convince me that his style would be easier for me.

But why would I want that?

[bushido_man96]

You handled it well. You probably said more than I would have. I'd have just left it at "no thanks." But, at the same time, your politeness and approach has left you an open invitation, and a contact in the future. Good things.

[ps1]

Thank you both for your replies.

It was kind of funny actually, when I told this instructor my style he kind of got this "oh.. whoa" look on his face, and then he glanced down and saw the bruises on my arms. He said "oh... yeah we're not so hard on our beginners here. Kyokushin is a very very hard art, right from the beginning."

He used to live in Brazil, where it's a lot bigger than it is here, and he saw it in Japan too.

So he didn't tell me that it was a waste of time or any such thing. I think he might have tried subtly to convince me that his style would be easier for me.

But why would I want that?

Lol...I don't think anyone who knows of or about Kyokushin would tell you it's a waste of time or impractical. IMO...it's the most proven karate system out there in terms of actual fighting.

[GeoGiant]

You handled it well. You probably said more than I would have. I'd have just left it at "no thanks." But, at the same time, your politeness and approach has left you an open invitation, and a contact in the future. Good things.

I agree, an open invite means you left a good impression and nothing bad comes from that.

[shujika]

I think “making the offer” (to attend his class) wasn't necessarily an attempt to “steal” you away from your present system. I have individual's who train in other system's “check out” my classes all the time. The decision to (actually) “quit” one system's study (for another) is an individual's choice. Practicality of a system is determined (ultimately) by the student (not the/an Instructor) by what they are seeking to gain from a system's study. IMO, your responses were perfectly acceptable (ie. “respectful”) and shouldn't cause concern by either individual.

The fact that he “noted” your “bruises”, wasn't (necessarily) a sign of being “impressed” or (even of “respect”), he may of merely been offering you an “alternative” to your present path.