It’s unfortunate that even Brazilian jiu Jitsu has its politics to deal with. I have read that there are some BJJ instructors don’t like it when their students go to other academies to visit and train at.
I guess there is an unspoken rule that this is a big no-no, or that you should at least inform your instructor that you are looking at training at other places. It all comes down to representation. If you are going to compete then stick with one instructor, but if you are not competing there should not be a problem, some would say.
Now, I would never train at a different academy where I live, but I would visit other academies when I am out of town and there is a BJJ academy.
I believe my instructor is okay with his students visiting other academies out of town. Actually, I know he is aware of some of his students who have. He even informs us when there is going to be a seminar near by.
My instructor has done so much for me that I would never think about leaving his school, or do anything disrespectful. I have never attended a different BJJ academy locally or out of town, but I would like to visit some out of town academies in the future.
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I agree with you. A few of my students have come to me to ask for permission to train at another school. It has been either a issue of convenience or looking for a facility that also teaches MMA. I have never been one to be selfish about my students. We have to realize the world we live in these days. The reality is that students will come and go. Only a handful will stay for the long haul. The only issue I’ve ever had was when one of my white belt students went to another school for about two weeks while he was on vacation in another state. The instructor awarded him a blue belt on his last day there. Lucky for me, my student was smart enough to understand the complications this could have created, but it still created an unwanted situation.