Originally posted by Shuri-te
I would imagine that in the San Francisco area there may be several schools to choose from. If not, and you really want to train in Kenjutsu, why wouldn't you want to give this school a try.
If you visit the dojo and the students train hard, and it looks like what you want, what would it matter whether they have some formal affiliation with a Japanese system.
This idea of associations has received a whole lot of attention lately. I for one can't seem to understand why. Good instruction, is good instruction, is good instruction, regardless of any Asian affiliation.
There are lots of reasons Americans choose to break away from Asian-based organizations. Money is often a factor. Obnoxious politics can be another. There are others.
The thing I understand the least is that people seem to think that time training in an unaffiliated system could be wasted time. But time spent training in a good system is never wasted time.
It almost sounds like people believe that if they were to train in unaffiliated dojo A for 5 years, that affililiated dojo B would never take them as a student. In my opinion if dojo B wouldn't take someone with 5 years training, then you should really beware of dojo B. They sound like losers.
Some seem to be worried that their rank might not be recognized. This is the most mystifying to me. Isn't the goal to train? IMHO, many people just might be better served if they could make rank issues secondary. I passed my black belt test in 1980. Since then, I have been in dozens of schools, mostly karate. Whenever I visit a new dojo, I always bring a white belt as well, because many schools don't recognize my rank, and the custom is to have all new students where white belts.
Does this make a difference to me. It does, but not like you might think. I like wearing a white belt. I like being reminded that in this world of many arts, I am really a beginner at so many of them. It also kind of takes the pressure off. I can relax more, and don't feel like I have to compete with some brown belt who would like to prove my former training wasn't worth all that much. (Believe me, this is not uncommon.)
One really strong influence for me comes from Taika Oyata. He and his senior students wear white belts. I don't know all the reasons for it, and frankly really don't care. It is just a great symbol to me. It makes a white belt very respectable, as it should be.
I always tell people it is the teacher, not the system that matters. If the teacher is a good person, and his art is good and his students are good, then you will probably benefit from training with him. And in the long run, IMHO, that is all that really matters.
