I don't like this Sensei

[Revario]

Hello to All, I have a bizzare question/ dilemma. I wish to learn certain specific aspect of a style of Karate in my area. To cut it short, me and the Sensei (instructor as we are clearly not walking the same path, in many aspects of life) do not have the same understanding or vision of what Karate is and how it is to be treated and practiced. 

Him being on the theorical side of things and very much into hierarchy.

I am into practicality and informalities; not because my "rank" is higher then someone that this person does not have valuable information, experience or tips to bring. I welcome comments questions critics (based in logic and practicality not aestethisicm) from anyone.

He is the reverse of that, if you are not of his rank or higher your word is doesn't mean anything and it is preferable to not speak at all. 

 

My question or dilemma is this, I want to learn and he may be one of the only one who specialise in this style, that I can have access (I still pay them as well).

 

Should I attend classes in silence, not involve myself with students anymore then necessairy and let it be? 

Wait until I have a teacher that understands things the way I do (there is one, we just have scheduling conflict)?

 

Go to a different school where I will most likely face the same challenges as most do not practice Karate for its practicality so they learn and teach in a "How" mindset when I focus on the "Why". I dont mind it as much as long as Sensei can understand my path is not the one they may follow and are able to still teach me. I feel this person wants clones and copies of himself, not Karateka. 

 

Without lies, might be an ego thing on both sides I am uncertain. I want to learn, he wants to dominate is the feeling I get. 

 

Any ideas or options? 

[sensei8]

That’s sure does sound like an unfavorable situation. Sorry you have to endure that, and nobody should. I don’t envy the situation you are in.

There are those who bend to the will of others. As though the statement of, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do”, applies to MA training…and imho, that statement does NOT apply to MA training.

Short of it all, if you’re not happy, go somewhere else. Learning will be affected drastically by staying where you’re not happy.

Here’s the bad news. That sensei doesn’t have to get on the same page with you across the board. As the student, you have to get on the page with that sensei across the board. You came to him, he didn’t come to you. As crazy as this sounds, it is what it is in a lot of MA schools.

That school is a business, you’re the customer. If you’re not satisfied with the service that that school is providing, voice your concerns to that sensei, but no not whine. That still might be a waste of time, from what you’ve described about that sensei.

No sensei is THAT good where you have to be unhappy in your training and put up with a one-sided relationship.

Rank gets in the way of everything, especially for those who put rank above all things. Those who think that they’re all that and a bag of chips are a lost cause. The reality for those that put rank above all things lack a lot of important things, like self-esteem, to begin with. They lack a billion tons of humbleness across the board!! Being humble escapes them in the Nth degree.

Just because someone’s a human being doesn’t mean that they know how to be a human being!! 

4 hours ago, Revario said:

Should I attend classes in silence, not involve myself with students anymore then necessairy and let it be?

That’ll not solve anything!! Learning will still be greatly affected; not a good way to learn.

4 hours ago, Revario said:

Wait until I have a teacher that understands things the way I do (there is one, we just have scheduling conflict

Remember, you’re the student, but I hear what you’re saying. If this is where you want to be, then try your best to work it out.

Grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Every MA school is going to have pros and cons, there’s no avoiding them. How you deal with these issues tells a lot about one’s character.

Does the sensei in question lack integrity?!? If so, dump him fast!! If his integrity is solid and intact, then decide whether you should stay or leave his school.

I’ll compromise with a student, but that has its limits. If the student is worth my effort, that student tries and is respectful, then I’ll compromise, but only to a point!! If the student isn’t worth my time, doesn’t put forth any effort and is disrespectful, I’ll kick that student to the curb in a flash. I’d NEVER EVER compromise my integrity for anyone…that’ll never ever happen!!

Imho!!

[Nidan Melbourne]

Thats a frustrating situation that you are in! 

8 hours ago, Revario said:

He is the reverse of that, if you are not of his rank or higher your word is doesn't mean anything and it is preferable to not speak at all. 

I find that annoying in a lot of instructors, BUT I do find that a lot of instructors also forget that there are people who have knowledge and skills that exceed their actual rank and chose not to grade because of various reasons. 

For example one of my instructors, has been a Godan for a long time and is content at that grade. If you looked at his training history, and if he graded like a "normal" student he very much would have been an 8th or 9th Dan by now. But his knowledge and skills is at that level. 

People have said the same thing to me, I may be a classed as a 2nd Dan - but have been eligible to grade to 3rd since 2018/2019. So by Time in Grade if I did grade (and pass) when i was supposed to grade, I would have technically been a 4th Dan by now. 

8 hours ago, Revario said:

To cut it short, me and the Sensei (instructor as we are clearly not walking the same path, in many aspects of life) do not have the same understanding or vision of what Karate is and how it is to be treated and practiced. 

I believe that everyone after a while develops their own vision of what Karate is, and how it is treated and practiced. 

For me I am at the Tai Chi stage of my Karate Training, where the fast flashy stuff isn't appealing. 

It has changed so much over the years for me, even when I was teaching. 

8 hours ago, Revario said:

Wait until I have a teacher that understands things the way I do (there is one, we just have scheduling conflict)?

You can always wait for that teacher, BUT it could be a long time before that happens. 

OR you can train with someone that has opposite views to you, and how they understand things can be different to yours also. This is where we are able question what we learn and develop our minds even further. 

Yes the instructor needs to have an open mind to questions and be ready to answer them, but also be able to push you to question what you have learnt and to understand how things are taught and why. 

8 hours ago, Revario said:

Go to a different school where I will most likely face the same challenges as most do not practice Karate for its practicality so they learn and teach in a "How" mindset when I focus on the "Why".

I totally understand that you focus on the WHY over the HOW! 

From experience, everyone is one or the ot                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          her and less often both. 

When I learn (anything not just Karate) - I learn the HOW do I do it and along with the biomechanical movements. But fortunately my instructors have incorporated both the WHY and HOW. We get show shown how to do it, but then why it is done in a particular way. 

For instance the Jodan Uke - I learnt the HOW we do it, after a while we learnt the why,                     j