Finding and settling in a new dojo

Finding and settling in a new dojo is a real test. Unless you have something specific in mind, first you need to explore what options are there, then try some classes, and see if you can fit in the dojo. Then you can start training and settle down.

I tried to follow the logical steps of what I imagined about finding a new dojo but at the end I simply took the choice that was the easiest. I visited two dojos, both good, and choose the one that was closest. I had some thinking in the summer break and I actually thought that the other dojo is the more rational choice if I wanted to improve more quickly, but then the utility of not having to travel an hour at night after classes was the decicive factor.

Since the end of August, I've been training in my new club and try to learn as much as I can. Not just about the techniques but about others, how to relate to them, and about myself.

Let's start with techniques: the way we do techniques now is very similar to what I am used to, probably because both my previous and current teachers had substantial influence from the same Japanese teacher. However, there are small differences, and I'm trying to figure out whether the new or the old way works better for me, and whether the old and new way of doing a particular technique are different at all. I attribute the differences to two factors: 1. Two people simply can't interpret the same teachings exactly the same way, and two teachers will have somewhat different ideas no matter what; 2. the traditional Japanese way of teaching (which I see more in my new dojo) is that there is not much explanation, students should try to copy the teacher and learn from what the see and then try.

For example, there is an interesting difference in executing tenchinage in my old and new dojo: the 'old' one teaches that first you step out of the way, pointing into the irimi point of the attacker, then step forward parallel to the line of attack, while controlling the head with the inside hand. The 'new' dojo says to step out first, point to the irimi point, then step back to the line of attack (still maintaining a general advancing movement forward), so the actual steps you make will be a 'zig' and a 'zag'. Small difference, but difference. Which one does work better, I asked myself, and here's what I found after a couple of week's thinking: it depends. Both dojos agree that to throw the attacker off balance, we should point into their irimi (unstable) point at the back of them. Now, if the first step throws them off balance so much that their feet stay in one line (=the line of attack) then the irimi point will be next to them, i.e. after my stepping out I just need to move forward and the attacker is thrown. However, if the head control is not so tight and the attacker can turn even slightly towards me when I step out, then their unstable point will move behind them, so I will need a 'zag' move to point into their irimi point. No conflict between the two approaches. I think it's just that the two people learning from the same person understood different aspects of the same movement. And this is how I imagine how various aikido styles came to existence.
I have to admit, however, that I think if I hadn't had the experience I had when I moved here I would have been pretty confused by the seemingly conflicting ideas of two different teachers. And I guess this is why some senseis prohibit their students from visiting seminars/classes of other senseis/organisations. This might make sense but one has to keep an open mind, I guess. The teachers need to recognise when the student is ready to learn different aspects which will not confuse them but enhance their knowledge. Students should also keep and open mind and when visiting other dojos/seminars they should accept the local rules, and they should not start correcting others because 'that cannot work'. And the whole business of letting/not letting others do things and the whole readiness thing is just a question of balance. If I'm too open my student might get confused (and my dojo will be thrown off balance), and if I'm too closed I might stay alone after a while (and my dojo will be thrown off balance). So on an updated note coming from a blog I read, life is balancing.

Other aspects of settling down to follow this post soon.