How do you choose a dojo?
When you decide to practice martial arts, you need to clarify a few things in yourself. Don't approach it like a new hobby that will quickly bring you a sense of success! I know it can be scary at first, but martial arts don't fit into our fast-paced world. However, if you commit yourself and practice persistently, you can expect a positive impact on your entire life.
If you have chosen the traditional Japanese martial arts and you decide that you want to learn Budo Taijutsu, that is, ninjutsu, then you need to find a school where they can teach you with adequate knowledge and credibility.
WHAT IS TRADITIONAL NINJUTSU EDUCATION LIKE?
The formal requirements for this, which were determined by Hatsumi sensei:
Only those with the 5th dan degree can found a school. This also roughly assumes that the person has been to Japan at least once in his life. This is the grade at which the practitioner is registered at the central Honbu dojo. In order to be taught, you must obtain a Shidoshi permit and have a valid membership card for the given year. If someone already has 1st dan (Shidoshi-ho) but has not yet passed the chess test (5th dan), they can only teach if they have earned the Shidoshi-ho paper under the supervision of a Shidoshi and that Shidoshi supervises their work .
It may happen that there is no instructor in a region that meets the official standards, then there is a way to create study groups, who also work under the guidance of an official instructor, go to him to learn and further refine what they have learned at home. In this case, they cannot be considered an independent dojo. From now on, the human side and the attitude towards learning and teaching matter a lot.
WHAT MAKES A NINJUTSU INSTRUCTOR GOOD?
The instructor must lead by example, so he must constantly educate himself. Keep going to seminars and Japan when you can so you can learn directly from the source. Fortunately, there are several such instructors in Hungary. Teaching Budo requires patience and empathy. It is not an exact science, it cannot be taught from a book.
The instructor presents the techniques from his own experience and understanding, but must allow time for others to discover them as well. Education is not about satisfying the ego, both parties should learn in a training session.
Look behind the marketing and try the rooms yourself! Trust your instincts, and if you don't like a workout, feel free to check out other dojos later.
