Coming Back to the Dojo After a Break
As we near the end of the summer, I start getting emails from students who took a break from their training for whatever reason. Some use the summer to explore other interests, usually some sort of outdoor activities like hiking, paintball, triathlon racing, etc. Some go on extended vacations. Some have seasonal jobs like being a lifeguard or a farmer. Others just find it unappealing to go and train indoors when Vancouver summers have such lovely weather.
If you take a break from your training, whether the reason is related to the season or other circumstances related to family, career, injury or whatever else life throws your way, your instructor, if they’re at all like me, will welcome you back with open arms. As much as I love the martial arts, for most people it’s a hobby on the side and therefore lower in priority compared to other things. I get that. Sometimes people need to take a break for whatever reason. It may make
it less awkward to go back to your dojo, if you said if you were up front with your insctructor and said goodbye before your break. But even if you didn’t, most instructors would probably be cool with it. For me, I’m just happy that the dojo was important enough to the person that they wanted to come back after a break.
So if want to go back to training and you’re hemming and hawing over when to go back or whether you should. Just get in touch with your instructor. They’ll probably be really happy to hear from you, and will give that little extra motivation you need to kickstart your training again. When you do get back on the mats, however, be sure to take it a little easier, especially after a longer break. Your body may not be up to the level of training you enjoyed before you took a break. There’s no point in killing yourself the first day back then having to take another break to recover. 😉
Ever take a break and go back to training? If so, were you well received? Please share your reunion stories in the comments. 🙂
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I had to take a long break from Tae Kwon Do, mainly because I couldn’t afford classes and pay for my divorce at the same time. After a year and three months (when the divorce was final) I contacted my instructors and we worked out a trade where I work in the office twice a week in exchange for classes. I really wish I’d thought to talk to my instructors before leaving, as I may not have had to miss so much time. Upon my return, I was greeted with open arms, and quickly rediscovered how much I love martial arts. Working in the office allows me to see what happens between classes and behind the scenes, which fuels my curiosity about teaching and possible becoming an instructor myself. Taking that break allowed me to really miss something that has become a part of me, which I hadn’t yet realized. I just cannot imagine my life without martial arts in it.
I have taken a break from Taekwondo due to personal issues and of course, I was welcomed with open arms upon my return, though after a while, I injured myself during training and was unable to attend for a few months. Coming back for the second time, I was again welcomed warmly. Unfortunately, I re-injured myself and I have not been back for over six months. During this time, I have been longing to return, though I am not able to re-train until I am confident that my injury has fully recovered. I am still missing it dearly.
In this time, I have received calls from the owners regarding my injury, which meant a lot. That’s one other thing I love about martial arts: The people you meet and interact with. What can compare to people like that?
I totally agree! Without a great support network at your dojo, you lose have the fun and benefit of training at a dojo. Sounds like you have a great place to train. 🙂