The dojo or the art?

Is it the dojo or the particular art that does it for you?

For me I tend to say the dojo overall as I could do almost any art if I liked the people, but I'm finding that I prefer BJJ over my aikido...don't tell my senseis!

I've never attended a dojo where I didn't get along with the people.  So, that's never been a concern for me.  Hence, my primary criterion for selecting a dojo is the art.  I want the best self-defense skills per dollar per unit of time.  Though, at my current dojo we practice a little of everything, which is nice.

When I walk into a dojo it should feel like a second home to me.  There are some that do and some that don't.  I find that most of that is due to the attitude of the sensei and the senior students.  Those with very rigerous rules really don't work well for me while those with more of a relaxed attitude that are more focused on helping rather than perfection are a better fit for me.  Having said that I really have no interest at the moment in the arts that are not gentle...aikido, judo, jiu jitsu are those that currently have my interest.

Ahh, yes, the "gentle art" of jiu-jitsu, said as we manipulate an unsuspecting attacker into a position where we can WRENCH his shoulder from its socket!

LOL!!

But I totally get what you mean.

I think you're spot on when you suggest that the sensei (or, in my case of Kung Fu, the sifu) sets the tone of the school.

Having studied close to a dozen of other styles (NOT in any way, shape manner or form mastering ANY of them, mind you!) I feel confident that my style has everything; from the school attitude to the actual practice (which, of course, is part of the temperament of the school).

Can I brag a bit about my style? It's very practical in its approach (for example, we NEVER march down the dojo floor, doing those insane upper or lower chudan blocks in a totally UNNATURAL wide "training" stance). We train EXACTLY as we'd expect to perform, so we move from a "casual" stance (as if we were simply standing and then attacked) and we blend and counter. Very "Aikido-like" -- using our partner's energy and redirecting it. Yes, we do chudan blocks, but NEVER marching down the floor as we did incessantly in, for example, the Okinawan karate styles I studied (and in which I achieved sho-dan).

blah-blah-blah.... that's not intended to sound like, "MY style's better'n YOURS!" I simply have a fantastic perspective on what DOESN'T work, I guess. It seems ridiculous to me to practice ONE way, and then say, "Okay, I know we practiced staying low in a horse stance while we block, but, in a REAL confrontation -- what we'd REALLY do is THIS..." It's like we trained ONE way, and then, during kumite (i.e., controlled sparring) do it COMPLETELY different. Does that make sense? Why not practice EXACTLY what you want to perform? Your body doesn't know the difference from what works and what doesn't; it simply will do what all of our muscle-memory training has taught it.

In any case, my sifu teaches an excellent mix of devastating counters, escapes and Chin Na (basically, joint locks/isolation). So much so, that, even though I'm CERTAIN that BJJ (which I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE!) would expose me to and help me attain grappling (as well as other) skills, I'm very content being in a school which emphasizes what it does, and HOW it does.

The instructor makes the school, hands down.

=D

hmmm... i am kind of stuck in/with my dojo.  on the one hand, i grew up with them... several poeple from the Dojo attended my wedding, my dad's best friends are there... very family.  on the otherhand, that makes it difficult to set up boundries or consider going somewhere else.  and top that with judo being the only sport, martial or otherwise, that i have ever done...outside of playing on the playground or something... i don't feel like i could go anywhere else, and leaving would just leave a gap in my life.  kind of pathetic...

however... hubbie and i have been considering buying a house in the next year or so... and proximity to the dojo came up.  to avoid limiting our options too much ( or for the wrong reasons) i am open to the idea of finding a different art if we buy too far away to justify the trip.  was thinking keeping my mind open for akido or jujitsu if that happens... but there are time and tons of unknowns before that happens.

I've done aikido at the same dojo for 25 years.  For aikido there truly isn't another dojo anywhere in town that has anywhere close to the same "feel" I'd say it's aikido with a twist of judo.  Most dojos seem to practice the steps and disregard the feeling of the techniques.  Attending a different aikido dojo would just be ridiculous for me.  Unfortunately my sensei's energy is much lower and as a result the number of students they have are very few which leaves a lot of responsibilities for the few students.  I'm already in a time crunch and driving 20 minutes to and from makes it worse for me.

Finding the BJJ was truly wonderful for me, I never expected that I would enjoy it nearly as much.  The added bonus is that it is significantly easier on my  knees than aikido and there are a ton of classes offered.  I really like the sensei and the boys are sweet plus the art is just so much fun.  It's also just a few minutes from my house and work so I can actually attend more of the classes and don't have to leave work early to do so.

Hi all.  I have to say "Art" for me.  I've only been involved for a couple years, but I have learned so much!  I attend classes with my 17 year old son.  He goes for the technique/sport/sparring, but at 42, I attend for clarity/health/healing/social interaction.  We both benefit and have enjoyed doing this together.  It is pretty cathartic to be able to beat eachother up in sparring and walk away smiling!!  We practice Tae Soo Do, but hope to go on to study Hwa Rang Do in the future.