alexisbsterry@gmail.com wrote:
>> Have you asked your current dojo who they're affiliated with in
>> Nagasaki?  You may find yourself starting completely over if you don't
>> have the proper introductions.  It's been my experience that karate dojo
>> are more political than the entire Reformation and al Quaeda combined.
>>
>> I've attempted to help friends and members of a couple of other NGs I
>> belong to find places to work out during their stays in Japan and am
>> always hearing stuff like "Oh, that school was founded by cousin Jiro.
>> He never truly understood the True Path and was too lazy to learn.  He
>> ran off to Los Angeles (Atlanta, Minneapolis, Kansas City, New York ...
>> etc., etc) where he has incorrectly trained a whole generation of
>> students.  Of course you are welcome to come to our dojo but you will
>> have to accept Novice status so that we can bring you to Enlightenment
>> properly."
>>
>> If I wanted that kind of training, I'd run for public office.
>>
>> CL
> 
> Wow....haha. Thank you very much for your answer.
> 
> I will have to look into this then.  The system that I train in is
> called Ryu Renshi-Dan, and was founded only 30 years ago.  I'll have
> to look into our lineage to track down the teachers.
> 
> I never guessed about the politics of American vs. Japanese dojos.
> Definately something to consider.  Thank you again!

It isn't Japanese vs. Americans; it is Japanese vs. Everyone Else.  And, 
it isn't just karate; it is in any of the Japanese budou.  The local 
practitioners believe that there is something about the air, water, or 
soil here that makes whatever you learn of their art "better" or closer 
to perfection than any other place on earth.

But, the Japanese aren't the only ones.  I have seen the owner /master 
of a tae kwan do dojo in my neighborhood, ripped a new asshole by a 
Korean "expert" because the dojo's students turned too much away from 
the attack to deflect it... nearly a full half degree too much, 
according to this expert, as the dojo's master told me later.  The 
master of the dojo was a national college champion (Yonsei University, 
IIRC) and did demonstrations at the Seoul Olympics on behalf of the tae 
kwan do association.  He said that if he doesn't return to Korea for at 
least three months a year, the locals start rumors that he's lost his 
edge or no longer has "it" any more.

CL