Well THAT'S a first!

[draconis]

Well, THAT'S a first!

Since January, I've been working out with a local Goju Karate club. They're good folks. There are a couple of places where we disagree, and that's fine.

I made the decision that after December, I would discontinue my training with them. When I paid my monthly dues on Monday, I told the instructor that this would be my last month.

His face shut completely down. "Why?"

I didn't want to cause a problem, so I just said, "Eh. There's just some things that don't fit well, and I feel like it's time to go on."

But that wasn't good enough, and he kept pushing.

I have three rules about questions. The first one is: don't ask a question you don't want the answer to.

So I told him a few of the things that had led me to this point, only one of which was in any way a reflection of him or his teachings.

And we left it at that. Other students arrived, we had class, after which he said he hoped I'd change my mind.

Tonight I texted him that I wouldn't be able to make it, but "have a great class and an even better weekend, and I'll see you guys Monday!"

His response: "I have given this a lot of thought and given your view of me and my teaching, think it's best we just cut ties now. Please come get your money, I don't need it and wish you farewell."

WTF? "You can't quit, you're fired"?

Eh, I'll go by Monday night and collect my refund, and wish them all well and let them know that there's no hard feelings on my part. But this is definitely a new experience for me! LOL

Comments

[senmut]

I don't get it, but I also don't want to associate with people like that.

[gingicat]

That.

[draconis]

Yeah. The surprising thing is that up until now, everything has been very cordial -- even when I stated explicitly (and privately -- things have to get pretty bad before I'll argue with an instructor in front of their class) that I disagreed with him about something, we were both very reasonable about our positions.

[kickair8p]

Looks like you made the right call.

~

[draconis]

Sadly, I have to think that I did. I'm just really perplexed about where this hostility came from.

[dewline]

...wow.

[draconis]

I know, right?

[draconis]

So as I mentioned, I went by last night to collect my refund.

One of the traditions of this school is that whenever someone enters for the first time that day, they announce their presence by saying a Japanese phrase that basically translates as, "Please teach me." And those already inside the school echo it back to them.

Last night as I was walking up to the door, the instructor (I'll not address or refer to him as "Sensei"/teacher any longer -- he made it clear he no longer wishes to inhabit that role) saw me and his face took on a very angry tone.

My inner Imp of the Perverse hopped up onto my shoulder, and as I walked in I skipped the standard greeting and called out to everyone there, "Hey, everybody! How's it going?" [cue confused faces around the room, but that phrase was no longer appropriate]

The instructor didn't QUITE meet me at the door, but close to it. His bag was right by the door and he immediately reached in, pulled out the money I'd given him the week before, and thrust it out at me. I took it, thanked him, and told him I was sorry he felt the way he did. I called out a farewell to the students, and took my leave.

+sigh+ Oh, well. I'm not going to lose sleep over what appears to be his bruised ego.