nomad way

[sheb]

Is it perhaps better to learn Shorinji Kempo (and perhaps every other martial art) in a "nomad" way? Is it perhaps better to move from dojo to dojo to learn as much as possible different possibilities of a technique to learn it as good as possible? ... because every sensei has their own version/way to perform.

[Jaclyn]

Not for beginners. Until you get the basics down, at least, going from dojo to dojo will just be confusing.

[Tripitaka of AA]

Jaclyn got it right. Hopping around from Dojo to Dojo becomes a lot of wasted effort with little to show for it, other than some nifty half-remembered "tricks" to show your friends. There are variations, sure, but the process of learning that works best is when one person does it, you watch them, you copy them, they correct you, you practice, they correct you some more. When you REALLY know it, you can try variations and alternatives... which your own Sensei will be happy to show you anyway.

Seminars and summer camps can be useful to help you think "outside the box". You can see things that you thought you knew well, suddenly showing themselves in a new way. Event slike that can stimulate and invigorate your training, but are not a substitute for training itself. You won't become brilliant by spending lots of time and money travelling here there and everywhere attending every seminar that you can - unless you follow it up with the serious solid, intense training back at the home dojo.

[Nina]

I think that the techniques are basically the same, if you are taught by sensei-X or by sensei-Y. Minor changes in the execution don`t really confuse, if one knows more or less how to do the technique at all, but can help you to get a better understanding of points you didn`t pay attention to before, probably different senseis focus on different things while teaching.
Nevertheless I would like to have a home dojo, because of other facts like allegiance...

[Luar]

The best way to learn is through consistency.

[sheb]

My point wasn't to learn "tricks" to have something to impress my friends.

Sure, for beginners it's more or less confusing to see different versions of one technique. I can say this from my own experience. But if one can perform a technique more or less well, then moving around (or better visit other senseis/dojos/seminars) can help to become aware of the basic principle of a technique in my opinion ... and by this to become better.

I also prefer to have a home dojo (and " serious solid, intense training"), but trips to others are a good thing from time to time.
Moving like a nomad through the martial arts world, what means that one doesn't have a home dojo, is probably only useful if one stays for a longer time in every dojo and has a technical basis before.

[Luar]

On a related note, I heard a story about a kenshi who went to train at another branch for more than a year and then went back to his home branch and asked to be tested but was turned down by the branch master who asked that this kenshi be present in his dojo for at least 6 weeks before he considered testing him.

[Kari Mäki-Kuutti]

On a related note, I heard a story about a kenshi who went to train at another branch for more than a year and then went back to his home branch and asked to be tested but was turned down by the branch master who asked that this kenshi be present in his dojo for at least 6 weeks before he considered testing him.

This could be perfectly reasonable for at least two reasons:
- If the kenshi was not officially transferred to the other branch his training was not reported to WSKO which would then not approve the grading for lack of sufficient training record
- To convince his branch master that he was ready for the grading. If he has been away for a year who knows what the real situation is without checking.

Or it might be something completely different...
Japanese branch master: remember to ask for permission to train elsewhere. Remember to inform your b.m. of your (longer) absences in advance.