r/karate • u/lostsoul14808 • 2d ago

Switching karate schools

Hello all, I did traditional Japanese karate as a kid when I was a teenager for 3 years. I stopped training when I was in high school because life got busy. I’m in my 20s now and I wanted to go back to that same dojo but when I called and asked to see if I could come back the business person/ assistant to the sensei (not the owner of the dojo) said people who leave are not welcome back. I was also told by others who later tried to join the same dojo say that those who study other forms of martial arts aren’t allowed to study at this dojo. Is this common?

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u/Boyscout0071 Isshinryu 2d ago

What Dojo is it and what style? I'm genuinely curious.

6

u/lostsoul14808 2d ago

Washin Ryu karate in Vestal NY

10

u/Boyscout0071 Isshinryu 2d ago

It's crazy, in my experience only people who are extremely insecure in their teaching act like this, I do Karate (Isshinryu as it says above), but I also do BJJ and I regularly visit my Aikido friends dojo's, did Aikido for over a decade so keep the contact in, also randomly visit dojos/gyms of all styles when I travel, guess how many times my Sensei has tried to stop me or criticised me for cross training? Yep that's ZERO.

Pay no further mind to these people, you did well to warn others so they can go in with their eyes open if they ever choose to train there.

3

u/ChrisInSpaceVA Shidokan Shorin Ryu 2d ago

For a small/medium sized town, it looks like there are a lot of martial arts options. Be glad they did you the favor of showing their true colors. Go find a new place. If you discover a good one, let the other former students from your old school know so you can have a big reunion!