If you’ve studied the martial arts for as long as I have, and I know that some you have, there’s a pretty good chance that at some point, you’ve trained in a dojo that was not your own. Either a neighbouring school of the same style or visiting a completely different style, eventually you may find yourself standing on the floor of an unfamiliar dojo. And not always by choice. When this happens, it’s important to bear in mind that their processes and etiquette may not be the same as what you’re used to.
For the most part, I’ve spent my entire martial arts journey training in my home dojo. While I may have dabbled and tried other dojos, I spent almost 20 straight years training at the New England Academy of Karate & Judo in Dalhousie, New Brunswick. Uechi Ryu Okinawan karate was our style but Sensei also held a black belt in judo and often included those techniques in our curriculum. It wasn’t until 2009, when I left New Brunswick to join the Force, that I was ”permanently” out of my home dojo. I put it in quotations because one never truly leaves the home dojo.
For the first few years, I trained on my own. I had the skills and experience that allowed me to do so. My concern was that being transferred and moving every few years made it unlikely that I would stick with another dojo for any significant period of time. It also negated the possibility of opening my own dojo, as i would be effectively abandoning my students come transfer time. The result was a quiet journey of training alone. But as we all know, eventually you need the dojo environment. There’s no substitution for training with a partner.
In 2016, I moved my family to what would be our final transfer. Given that I’m located in a major centre (for Saskatchewan) and the availability of several martial arts schools, I felt maybe it was time to dip my toes in the pond once again. I visited and trained with a couple of different dojos before landing on the one I’ve been training with for the past several years. And there are some processes, good and bad, that I’ve noticed throughout the years. I call them “processes,” because I honestly don’t know how else to refer to them or how to say it politely. But here are some examples…
My style usually wears a plain, white gi with no crests of patches. Some schools like to turn their uniform into a veritable billboard for their students’ skills, including adding patches along the arms or legs for different weapons or skills they’re proficient in. Some schools title and address their head instructor differently, depending on style, background and root language. As a visiting student, some schools may not welcome you or want you there; preferring to keep “outsiders” away from their students so as not to muddy the waters.
Some schools may have a specific protocol regarding visiting belts from another style. For example, my current dojo always has its students turn and bow to me in respect of being a “visiting black belt.” Not sure when that will go away, considering I’ve been going to that school for over seven years, but it’s nice nonetheless. Some schools may be fine with a student wearing their rank from a previous dojo, while some may insist you start from scratch. The latter can be a shot in the pills to someone who’s trained for decades but if one truly wants to learn a new style, this may be the route you have to take.
The important thing to remember is that different doesn’t mean bad. If you walk into a different school with the attitude that their methods are wrong, you’ll have no room in your spirit for learning and you likely shouldn’t stick around. be open to different experiences and methods of training. And most importantly, be open and ask. Wanna know how you should do a particular thing or whether you should wear your home dojo’s gi? Ask the question. And be transparent. For a number of years, I tried to keep my rank as black belt to myself when visiting a new dojo. It’s amazing how it changes a prospective instructor’s perception of you. But honesty and openness is always the best route. Especially if you plan on training with them for any length of time.
Training in a different school can present some fun and interesting challenges, especially if you choose a school that will help increase your overall martial arts toolbox. Being open and willing to learn something different, albeit without compromising your own style, and being sure to ask and get clarification so you can be respectful and mindful while training in someone else’s dojo, are integral steps to good cooperation. And if you’re really lucky, you’ll find a dojo who will be curious enough to ask about your techniques, as well. Food for thought…☯️
The Blogging Buddhist 